La Estrella Liquors & Deli

You would not know this from driving anywhere near this place but if you want some comfort food this is my stop. Fresh handmade corn tortillas (not many places in Salinas can say this). I’ve been coming here for years. My advice order the ‘Steak Picado’ it is not on the menu it use to be. It’s basic but wonderful. Skirt steak, bell pepper and onions grilled with side of fried rice and refried beans. You cannot go wrong and you can thank me for the recommendation.

Must have the crunchy tacos dorados their good went here while waiting for tires to be installed at bruces tire :)

I came in here after my tires almost fell apart, forcing me to go to the Midas next door. This «Taqueria» as the Midas employer called it was recommended because it was cheap. So being the cheapskate that I am, I came in.
Boy was this place sketch as FFFFFFFF… in appearance that is. I’m not sure if there’s a mini red light… or ahem a «semaforo rojo» district in that area but I could have sworn I saw 5 questionable ladies trying to offer their questionable lady parts and questionable services for a little bit of dough or… «lana»
But that’s beside the point, I’ll write a Unilocal review about their business if I find it.
So this place looks like it was going through some remodeling or demolition… couldn’t really tell.
The prices were very fair I thought. Not knowing what I wanted to get I decided to go on an old favorite of mine from my childhood.
I decided to get a Torta de jamon (basically a grilled ham and cheese type of toasted sandwich with the works) I usually pick this because in my experience, if a Mexican restaurant can’t make this correctly or tasty, then the rest of the food is not worth it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was. the last time I had a torta this good was from a «puesto» in Mexico back in 1996.
So having enjoyed the deliciousness that was my unintentional appetizer, I used the remainder of my cash to get two carnitas tacos and a burrito.
oh man, I think I found one of my favorite questionable hole in the wall food joints.
seating is minimal but that’s to be expected since it technically is supposed to be a deli — ish type of place and a liquor store.
Still, the food is great and best of all, cheap.

Really good authentic Mexican food, hand made tortillas. Great tacos and burritos at a really fair price.

Excellent Mexican restaurant, extremely reasonable prices, tacos at $ 2! Cooks hand make each crunchy taco. Meat filling is tasty, like it should be. Rice and beans are good. I hear the burritos are good but I have yet to get past the tacos. They are my favorite.

Mom ‘N Pop at its best! Love this place as it’s right near where I work, and i look forward to the days I «forgot» my lunch, so I can go grab some delicious grub! It may not look like much, but Gloria and Co. are cranking out homemade Mexican food done right! My favorite are the carnitas tortas, or the carne asada tacos, but this place has everything you could want or need. Plus it’s a mini-​mercado so it has a bevy of supplies. Try it and you wont be disappointed!

yes, great food, prices fair

Seriously amazing Mexican food; and they’re fast. Total hole-​in-​the-​wall place, but those are always the best, right?

Not sure what all the fuzz is about, I had several people tell me is the best Mexican food in town but it disappoints every time. I normally ordered the carne asada burrito and the meat is very bland, no flavor, no kick. Handmade corn tortillas are average at best, it does have to seem its regulars and most swear by this place. Like most business it doubles as a butcher shop, but not many cuts of meat available.

I don’t speak Spanish. Yes, I took three years of Spanish in High School but that doesn’t mean I speak Spanish (I went to college in Missouri … not exactly a great place to work on your buenos and buenas.)
Because I don’t speak Spanish, going anywhere in Salinas is intimidating, especially a Mexican market. Estrella Liquors and Deli, however, is located across the street from my work, and when the taco munchies hit, they hit hard.
So, one day, I said «What the hell, I will go to that taco place across the street and grab a few tacos.» And that is what I did.
Sure, Estrella might not be what some consider «clean», and they might have food that causes irregular bowel movements. But damn their tacos rock. And in the end, isn’t that what really matters?

My favorite place to go in Salinas for tacos. Hands down, the best I’ve had. The tortillas are handmade, the meat is succulent and flavorful and the prices are awesome.
Don’t let the ascetic storefront or the dust-​covered bottles of liquor on the shelves inside fool you. The food is as fresh and authentic as it gets. The tacos ($ 1.50) are filled with your choice of meats and topped off with onions, cilantro and delicious pico. You also get your choice of red or green salsa. I always get the pollo (which is not fried or soaked in grease… the chicken is stewed to a perfect tenderness) or the asada. Gloria will ask if you want one or two corn tortillas; a single tortilla is thick and hearty but so, so satisfying.