Los Gatos Tacos originated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and was created in 2020, but it was initially a “Ghost Kitchen”, where a restaurant is operated without a physical storefront. Los Gatos Tacos is likely referencing the city of Los Gatos, California, where there is also a taco restaurant called “Los Gatos Tacos.” It turned into a great success, which led them to open a storefront location in Rochester Hills in August of 2023 and their other location in Bloomfield Township on February 15, 2025.
Los Gatos Tacos has been mentioned by a few students recently, and I decided to taste test and review a few menu items with my parents to test the place out and see if it lived up to all the amazing things I had been hearing these past few weeks.
My dad was the one to pick up the food, and the night started off well. Our food was ready quickly, on time and our order was made correctly. While the most popular menu items are the Chicken Baja Bowl, Original Nachos and Classic Steak Burrito, our three meals of choice were the Original Nachos, California Club Quesadilla and Taco Tuesday Americano special.
We started with the original nachos, priced at $13.99 for the standard size, and were topped with ground beef, queso, lettuce, jalapenos (but we took them off), pico de gallo, chimi-ranch, cilantro and scallions. My dad, my mom and I rated the nachos 9.5 out of 10. The chips were warm and homemade, and since we got takeout, the toppings were on top of the chips for 20 minutes, but the chips were still mostly crunchy, not soggy. The nachos had a different delicious flavor, but we took a half point off because we all agreed there should be more toppings for a better chip-to-topping ratio.
Following the nachos, we then tried the tacos. We ordered on a Tuesday, which allowed us to get the special called the “Taco Tuesday Americano Special,” which cost $9.99 for three tacos. If you visit Los Gatos Tacos on any day other than Tuesday, for three tacos, it is $13.99. These tacos came with chicken, but you can also get ground beef, pico de gallo, lettuce and Mexican cheese blend + crema, all on a flour tortilla. Our average rating for the Americano Tacos was 7.5/10. We took points off for a few reasons, including the tacos being a little dry. We all agreed that if there was another sauce on it, the tacos would taste better and less dry— especially the chicken. One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy the tacos as much as the nachos was that I prefer corn tortillas over flour. However, the tacos were full and stuffed with toppings, which we all enjoyed.
Lastly, we tried the small California club quesadilla, which was $10.99 and included chicken, or you could get carne asada for your choice of meat instead. After you choose what meat you prefer, options for toppings include bacon, avocado, lettuce, ranch and Mexican cheese blend on a flour tortilla + side of salsa verde. My mom and I both gave the quesadilla a 10/10, and my dad gave it a 9.5/10. He didn’t have a specific reason, just that nothing is perfect. But it still was one of the best quesadillas I have ever had. All the flavors meshed together perfectly; it was warm, soft and stayed together, making it easy to eat.
To get an outside opinion, I interviewed Groves’ Senior Sophia Wilson on her opinion on Los Gatos Tacos, since I heard about the restaurant through her. Wilson tried the churro bites and the crunch wrap, which she loved. She experienced kind employees and quick service during her visit, and as she and her friends were leaving, she received a helpful tip from an employee.
“As we were walking out, they told us next time we come in, to say we are students to get a student discount,” Wilson said. The food is already fairly priced, and if you are a student, you are able to get it cheaper!
Overall, we all agreed our order of preference (from least favorite to favorite) was the tacos, nachos and then the quesadilla, but we all want to try the restaurant again and experience different menu items. With the wide variety of menu options, reasonable prices and a close location for many people at Groves, Los Gatos Tacos is a must-try if you are looking for a new food place to enjoy.
