Tustin: Original Taco Factory 

The Original Taco Factory  is a little shack located on the corner of Newport Avenue and Walnut, and it is small! The parking lot is funky, and there’s only 4 spots in the front, and most customers will double park so they can run in/ out with their order. You’re better off turning right on Walnut and park in the strip mall behind the restaurant.

I came here on a Tuesday at 5:30 and there was a small line inside the building. The cashier was taking orders as fast as she could, and the staff was cranking out the orders with most of them being take out.  The Original Taco Factory offers Taco Tuesdays with tacos at $1.39. They are meaty full size tacos, and you dress them up the way you like it at their salsa bar. Their salsa bar has everything from mild to hot salsa, pico de gallo, picked vegetables, and even shredded lettuce and tomatoes.

Karen chose the 2 types of chicken: Grilled and shredded. She picked at her food, so I don’t know if she didn’t like it, or she wasn’t that hungry. I asked for the 2 types of beef: shredded and carne asada (steak) style. Apparently I miscommunication and got 2 shredded beef tacos. The tacos were full of meat, and they were juicy. As for flavor? It was ok. Thankfully it wasn’t dry and thankfully they have a well stocked salsa bar. The tacos came with a side of chips, which were stale.

Inside the restaurant there’s 2 counters with 3 or 4 stools, while outside is the covered dining area with plenty of seating, but you deal with the element and flies. Maybe I expected too much, so I”m giving this place A-OK as they were meaty tacos, and they were cheap, and fulfilled my Taco Tuesday.