El Pirul Asadero

El Pirul Asadero is one of the most firmly established grill-taquerías in Mexicali: nearly 10,000 Google reviews place it among the most-rated food businesses in the entire city, and Tripadvisor has given it a Travellers' Choice badge.

The flagship sits on Urbano Vásquez, in the González Ortega neighborhood —they themselves call it "the Palaco location"— recognizable from a distance by its wooden facade with yellow lettering and the red counter where half a dozen taqueros work the griddles at once.

What to order at El Pirul

Their thing is the big taco, on a flour tortilla made by hand to order, with charcoal-grilled meat: adobada —the house al pastor— and carne asada are the two most ordered. In 2022 San Diego Red's food show came to try them and scored them 8 out of 10.

The menu stretches well beyond the taco: grilled platters to share, tripita, burros, quesadillas, baked potatoes, tortas and fresh aguas, with agua de cebada (barley water) the undisputed house favorite. And the salsa and topping bar is part of the ritual: pico de gallo, guacamole, radishes, cucumbers, onion and grilled chiles come out in little bowls so everyone builds their own taco.

Hours, locations and payment

It opens early and closes in the early hours —until 4 AM on Friday and Saturday— so it works for breakfast as much as for closing out the night.

Two practical warnings before you go. First: the flagship is cash only, no cards. Second: its two locations rest on different days —the flagship closes Sundays and the Esperanza branch closes Mondays—, so on a Sunday you head to Esperanza, which does take cards and has its own parking lot. They also offer event catering and taquizas through a separate phone line.