Sal’s Tacos has been serving up traditional Mexican cuisine in West Sacramento for over 30 years. The eclectic ambiance of this family-friendly restaurant is also a popular lunch hour destination for professionals during the week. Whatever your favorite Mexican dish, Sal’s can likely cook it as close to authentic as possible.

About Sal’s Tacos

Owner Sal Galvan opened the modestly sized taqueria in the 1970s, and it has since become a hot spot for authentic Mexican cuisine in West Sacramento.

Located minutes from downtown and Old Sacramento, Sal’s offers a full array of Mexican food items including burritos, tacos and tamales. For those not feeling the Latin love, cheeseburgers and fries are also available for purchase. The restaurant has remained reasonably priced over the years, and service is fast. This makes it a perfect destination for weekday professionals on their lunch hour, as well as a Saturday morning gathering for families. Eating at Sal’s will make you feel as if you’re being served a meal at the home of a traditional Mexican family – the staff is small, the restaurant modest and the food delicious.

Sal’s Tacos Décor

Over the years, Sal Galvan has expressed his passions for Mexican food, the Sacramento Kings and mosaic art. While it may seem like an odd combination of interests for a restaurant design, it has worked well as his mosaic art has become as notable as the food.

When you walk into Sal’s, you are welcomed by colorful booths and tables, some designed in tiles of different shapes and sizes.

The walls and ceiling are adorned with mosaic art pieces, many depicting former Sacramento Kings players. Another popular focal piece in the gallery of mosaic pictures is Frida Kahlo. Combine this with plenty of paintings and mosaics representing various portions of Sacramento along with traditional Mexican art stylings, and it’s easy to see why Sal Galvan has become a bit of a celebrated artist to his customers.

Witty signs also adorn the shop, including one that reads, “If you like our food, tell your friends. If you don’t like our food, send your enemies.” This laid-back wit jives well with the location of this restaurant – a small, tucked-away building just off Jibboom Drive in West Sacramento.

What to Order

Sal’s Tacos is counter service, and the entire menu is scrawled out in colorful chalk above the register. A complimentary chips and salsa bar is available to all customers, and an impressive array of heat levels are ready to be served up. From a very mild tomato salsa to a wildly hot white sauce, be sure to try some spicy cucumbers if you can take the heat.

Sal’s offers a wide variety of meat choices, but one of their specialties is potato tacos. Served on grilled flour tortillas, these tacos include cubed potatoes, light sauce and lettuce. Subtle yet flavorful, they are a popular menu choice with many regulars. Sal’s also serves “extra wet” burritos – a giant flour tortilla containing beans, rice and your choice of meat, covered in a generous amount of red or green sauce. These giant burritos, along with many other menu items, come with homemade carnitas as an option, and even those who aren’t big carnitas fans will love the tender, flavorful version served up by Sal.

Sal Galvan also makes his own wine and serves it in the shop, along with a wide variety of both domestic and imported beers. Soda and iced tea are served in oversized schooners, offering instant refreshment while you wait for your food. A television displays current news and other programs for those who sit in the main area of the restaurant.

Sal’s is a great place for a get together – be it a birthday party or work meeting. While the restaurant is small, there is an elevated section with plenty of tables, as well as a comfortable patio area.

Sal’s Tacos is located at 400 C St
West Sacramento. Hours vary.