Grand Bazaar Shops (3631 S Las Vegas Blvd, Ste 310)

Sunday  – Thursday 10 am – 2 am

Cash and Card Accepted

Chilangos Tacos was established in 2019 in Dallas, Texas, by Joel Mendoza and Jon Garay. This eatery specializes in authentic Mexico City-style tacos, utilizing traditional methods such as grilling meats over mesquite wood and preparing tortillas on-site.

After paying $25 to park in the nearest garage, the journey to Chilangos Tacos turned into a mini maze, zigzagging through a hotel and casino with no clear sense of where the restaurant actually resided. Eight minutes of wandering later, I finally found it tucked between two walls and a set of stairs located outside instead of inside. The building was just barely visible between the two walls. When we first arrived, the dining area was relatively calm, with a handful of tables scattered around. But within moments of ordering, the restaurant quickly filled up, leaving just one table available. Our order was taken by a staff member whose energy suggested a very long shift, yet despite this, she was very polite and very efficient. 

For my first dish, I tried the Birria Tacos ($13.95). This dish is commonly known for being served with a beef broth soup, which it was. However, what I was unaware of was that it came with a guacamole hot sauce, which was extremely unexpected and unusual for a Birria taco. Despite me being unaware of why it came with hot sauce, it was still enjoyable. The flavors felt like savory Pop-Rocks with bursts of flavor in every bite, and the soup only made it better with a juicy texture and a slurp with every single bite I took. The shells weren’t too hard or too soft, but just right, still given with an amazing crunch. However, despite all these delicious flavors, I did notice the meat was a little cold, most likely since the location is outside. Otherw

ise, these tacos were worth every slurp and crunch given.

Next, I tried the El Pastor Tacos ($4.25). These tacos felt drier as every bite felt colder than warm. I had to add some hot sauce to moisten the tacos more. It came with corn tortillas, but also came with the option of flour. Normally, El Pastor Tacos come with pineapple; however, these did not. The size was pretty big compared to an average, authentic taco, which made it more enjoyable. These were not as greasy, but a little expensive for what you get. Still giving a nice crunch and

delicious flavors. In the end, these tacos did not give off the burst of flavor that I was searching for. Not to mention the plating was terrible; it looked just like someone had thrown sauce all over the place with no respect for what the person was being served.

For my final meal, I chose the Los Elotes ($5.95). When I took a bite, I expected a creamy mixture of corn and all the other components of elotes, such as chilli powder, a thin layer of mayo, and parmesan cheese, but to my surprise, I instead got an unexpected amount of mayonnaise in my mouth. As I continued to chew, the overwhelming amount of mayonnaise dominated every other flavor, drowning out the sweetness of the corn and the kick of the hot sauce. The texture was off-putting, slick and heavy, making it hard to enjoy the dish I had looked forward to. I expected a vibrant blend of spicy, savory, and sweet, but instead, it felt like I was eating a spoonful of salad dressing. This was extremely frustrating.

My experience at Chilangos’ Tacos wasn’t what I had hoped for. I expected it to be something like another Mexican restaurant I enjoy, such as Tacos El Gordo with their fresh, spinning meat, and my hopes were high for a location on the strip; however, I was let down. Despite the fast service and constant crowds, the hidden location, cramped seating, and high prices complicated the dining experience. While it’s a good place for a quick sit-down meal if you’re walking the Strip, Chilandos’ Tacos is sadly not worth visiting in your free time.