El Vecino Taqueria Review

El Vecino is a taqueria — a Mexican-style restaurant located in Paris. Honestly, it’s a question I’ve asked myself before: why isn’t there a great, straightforward spot in the city where you can simply enjoy tacos, tortillas, and guacamole with a franchise vibe? I’m not particularly a fan of franchises, but they do have the advantage of being easily accessible and well designed in their experiences.

This is where El Vecino steps in, aiming to fill the gap with a restaurant that keeps things simple yet delivers a solid and satisfying option for both eating and drinking.

The location

The El Vecino we visited is located on rue Saint-Honoré — one of the most upscale streets in Paris, nestled between Opéra, Place Vendôme, and the Louvre.

This Mexican restaurant is designed to be more of a fast-casual spot — a place where you can enjoy a quick bite and a beer with friends, without the long, drawn-out experience you’d typically have at a bistro.

That’s exactly why we chose this spot as a family with two young kids — we were looking for something quick and easy to eat, all while enjoying the comfort of a terrace.

The Menu

What I appreciate most about this restaurant is the simplicity of the menu — no burritos, no elaborate dishes. Just the essentials: chips and guacamole, salads, quesadillas, and tacos. That’s it.

The rest of the menu focuses primarily on soft drinks, beer, and cocktails. While the prices are on the higher side, it’s understandable given the prime location.

The experience

My wife and I had been craving a good beer — it had been months since we’d last had the opportunity. A cold Corona with a slice of lime was exactly what we needed. This spot serves draft beer, and you can even ask for lime wedges to go with it.

I honestly miss sitting on a terrace, enjoying a beer, especially on a beautiful sunny day in Paris. As parents of young children, we’ve had to let go of most of those moments.

The tortillas appear to be freshly made, or at least of better quality than the boxed ones you typically find. The guacamole was fresh and perfectly seasoned, though we would have appreciated just a bit more spice.

The tacos are a mix of hard and soft shells, and they’re a good size. I’d say three of them, along with the tortillas, would be enough for most people.

The beef taco came with lime wedges and had a mild spice — enough to add some kick, but not too much to deter regular eaters. The meat was really flavorful, and I noticed they have a kebab-style rotisserie inside.

The pork tacos, or “Cochon” as listed on the menu, were also quite tasty. My wife preferred them the most, while I thought they were good, but in my opinion, the beef tacos were definitely more flavorful.

The quesadillas featured the same slow-cooked beef, but without the spice and with cheese, which our son really enjoyed, along with his pineapple Jarritos. It was served with a tangy, slightly salty lemon sauce. I tried some pieces of the quesadillas, and while they were tasty, they weren’t as rich in flavor as the tacos, which come with veggies, herbs and spices. Nonetheless, it’s still a great option for kids.

Verdict

8.0 out of 10.

In the end, this restaurant was exactly what we were looking for — enjoying some Tacos and Guacamole under the sun in the streets of Paris with a cold Corona, without spending three hours chatting and drinking.

This place truly delivers, and I can imagine it gets quite busy after work. We found the prices a bit on the higher side, as we paid 76 euros for our family, but it’s understandable given the location and the two pints of draft beer.

On the other hand, if you’re simply out with friends, this place is perfect for sitting down, enjoying a a little exotic meal, and taking in the lively streets of Paris.