Wednesday, August 26

AVOID: Ken's Tacos and Subs

A few of you have emailed us and asked if we have ever tried Ken's Tacos and Subs at the corner of Rundberg and Cameron in Northeast Austin. We actually have never heard of it and after seeing a few good reviews on Yelp we decided a trip was in order.

Cornbiter D. and myself were pleased by the menu's small number of offerings and decided to try one of almost all of the tacos (we didn't try any subs, 'cause that's not what we do!) The tacos arrived a few minutes later and to say they were big is an understatement, these things were monsters and for 2 bucks each, things were looking up! That is until we ate them :(

Big Ass Tacos

The tortillas were store-bought, soggy and not warmed beforehand, the Beef Fajita was chewy and flavorless, the Chicken Fajita was probably the best thing, but the tortilla drowned out anything good about it, the Bean & Cheese was mediocre, the Egg Potato & Bean tasted like wet cardboard and the Carne Guisada what not great and had tons of fatty parts.

Let's start by saying, what the fuck, Yelpers?? 26 of you reviewed this place and it has a 4.5 star rating, seriously? seriously!?! That shit is ridiculous, there is no way that many Austinites think these things are edible. There has to be a taco conspiracy happening here. Whatever, I'm done with this place, stay away if you can.

Ken's Tacos - 1 star - jarod

9408 Dessau Rd
Austin, TX 78754
(512) 837-9370

23 comments:

Ruralist said...

You should really repost this to Yelp.

Mando Rayo said...

I think you just went Yelp on the Yelpers!

the maternal unit said...

I used to LOVE to get breakfast tacos there, so if you asked me I'd say they're great. Buuuuuttt...it's been years. Sorry to hear they've gone downhill. :(

Ducky Loves Minnie said...

Totally agree, especially since there is so much good food to be had elesewhere.

Anonymous said...

The sausage, egg, potato and cheese breakfast taco is good. But this is hardly a taqueria. You are comparing apples to oranges.

Ulysses44 said...

I worked in the neighborhood for 10 years and ate at Ken's about once a month. The first time I went I got a breakfast taco, and gave it the thumbs down. It was my last taco form Ken's.

The philly cheesesteak special on Wednesdays is a different story. Best cheesesteak in town.

erik said...

thank you for saving me from this mistake.

Unknown said...

I have to say I have never eaten there but with a name like "KENS" I doubt I ever would. I think you have to take yelp reviews with a grain of salt. Where did many of these people grow up and what kind of food did they consume? So many people have no sense of what good food is which is why we have so many mediocre and outright bad food establishments that keep on cranking it out.

Ian Morales said...

I ate there once when I had a meeting in the area. I agree about the tortillas. Store bought and plastic tasting. I scraped out the meat and ate it bye itself and that part was "okay". My philosophy on taco places is this:

"If the people that work there and dine there don't speak English, I'll eat there"

The Commish said...

@kim: Hey, Ken's DONUTS is good.

Anonymous said...

Not surprising. Yelp isn't a good place to find real advice; it's mostly bored housewives whining about, uh, everything. They're pretty often at odds with reviewers who know what they talk about.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm, so many people love the place. Could it be perhaps that you just caught them on a bad day? I have eaten at Ken's for years. My fav is the picadillo, potato, bean, and chz. It is truly awesome. To those who have not yet been there.... don't let this guy stop you. On second thought, DON'T try it, their parking lot is crowded enough and I want to be able to find a spot! :-)

Anonymous said...

Ken's is good for the price. You definitely get your money's worth.

And I actually do like their food. The salsa is definitely nothing special and probably should be avoided.

But hot, fresh ingredients, and quick service at a low price is a good thing.

Anonymous said...

I think they have good food. The burgers are excellent. The only problem is the last three times I have been there to get a burger to go they have screwed it up. Nothing like taking it back to your work to find out they didn't put the mushrooms or bacon that you paid for on it. What are you supposed to do? I took mine back yesterday and demanded my money back. Will never go there again.

Anonymous said...

That place is great and cheap, dont believe one person's dumb opinion

Anonymous said...

I have eaten at Ken's for years. I've never had a bad experience with food or service. I would have complained. They would make it right if alerted to a problem.

Anonymous said...

good, we don't need no stinking sxsw out of towners clogging up the already crowded parking lot...

Anonymous said...

The food is fantastic, for the price... This isn't some fancy taco shack or wtvr you are looking for but for two bucks, you're not going to find a better taco that actually fills you up.

Anonymous said...

I haven't tried their other food..... but their breakfast tacos are the bomb.com..... everyone one I know that have grown up in this area and surrounding areas only eat the breakfast tacos. Sooo maybe thats what the yelpers are raving about....

Briank said...

About 10 years ago I worked right by Ken's. A coworker and I started going to every taco place nearby to see if we could find anything better and we never did. I maybe uncultured to the world of breakfast tacos, but cannot believe you didn't try their chorizo and egg. My favorite is chorizo, egg, potato, onion, and cheese. THE BEST!

I mean really, who eats beef fajitas or chicken for breakfast. I'd think you would try bacon, sausage, or chorizo.

All this being said I don't live anywhere close to their anymore and haven't been in years so maybe the quality had dropped.

Finally, and this may show my ignorance, but is the tortilla really the most important part of a breakfast taco? For me its all about what's inside. That's probably why I don't like cheese pizza either.

-Bri

Anonymous said...

Excellent Breakfast Tacos!!! - been there many times! If you are an affluent customer that requires in-house made tortillas and an elitist atmosphere then you shouldn't go here. If you want the best breakfast tacos next to Maria's Taco Express then go here. I always get Potato,Egg,Bacon n Cheese, Yum!!!!!

Anonymous said...

this place has the best breakfast tacos ever!!!!!!
this guy is crazy.

Greg Milner said...

If you like chicken "fajitas" you are automatically disqualified from commenting on Mexican cuisine. Might has well have said you like vegetarian "chili."

Ken's is great. I eat there often and have for years.