The soft chicken tacos! (Three blue corn tortillas filled with chicken topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and red onions. Served with a side of salsa) So fresh, delicious and flavorful! The best chicken tacos in the world! :) Â My husband and I have been coming here for many years. We crave those tacos all year and always go and savor them multiple times when we are in town.
We love the patio, the inside is very cute, very colorful, very New Mexican. Love it!
This place is great- a bit away from the tourist trappy center of Taos and amongst lots of other great restaurants. There is a nice outdoor area but the decor inside is definitely worth checking out- funky and very fun. We got the green chile cheese fries which were the best I've had in NM- the cheese and chile was layered onto the fries, not just topping it like a lot of places. The cheese was gooey and delicious and the chile was top-notch. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in Taos.
Also- we were staying in La Kachina hotel (not recommended) and we walked to Orlando's, which was quite far but also absolutely beautiful.
One word. Â Great! Â Came in here with high expectations from being from Texas and enjoying great Tex Mex, and our expectations were exceeded. Â First off the chips and salsa were excellent. Â Salsa was hot, and i kept eating eat, since it was so good. Â The waitress kept the ice tea refills coming, so i didn't mind. Â Ordered the combo plate. Â Excellent. Â Chile Relleno was the best i have had. Â The rest of the platter was great too. Â Small restaurant in the north out skirts of Taos, was great, since we didn't have to hassle with traffic in town. Â Came on a Wednesday, seated quickly, drinks ordered quickly, and couldn't find anything wrong at all, and great price. Â Would recommend to anybody looking for some good Mexican Food and don't have to wait in Taos.
Review Source:omg, this was deja vu. Â At least three people in my circle said I should eat here. Â When I drove up, I remembered visiting not long after it opened so many years ago. Â And to think that Orlando's held tits culinary lead for so long!. Â It didn't disappoint this visit either. Â I loved the burrito and poblano. Â The margarita was so potent that the skeletons started dancing with the Madonna over the bar.
Review Source:Good Mexican food. Â Cute atmosphere and nice outdoor patio area (although pets are not welcome on the patio, which is atypical).
I'd recommend the fajitas and make your own bowl salad, which my wife and I have been repeatedly happy with.
Very good service where multiple waiters check on you as they pass your table to make sure you don't need anything, like a refill, so you are never waiting for service.
Would highly recommend trying.
Bison enchiladas were outstanding!! As was the chili relleno! Chips and salsa are not free. So we didn't get them. Tried the fried french fries instead and they were very good. They green sauce here is delicious. Service was great through the meal...
For some reason getting the check and paying took forever. Maybe it was the waitress' break time? The service changed from friendly to disinterested and different wait staff brought the check and finally returned to pick up the card info.
They have patio seating but oddly do not allow dogs. (I found the no dogs on the patio to be strangely fairly common in Taos.)
Food is above average, service has the potential to be very good, might go back if I was in town, but would prefer they allowed dogs on the patio. Oh, and would prefer draft beer all the beer here is in bottles.
Absolutely the cutest restaurant we've been to in NM so far. Food was 4 star but with the atmosphere and service, I have to give it 5. Great use of small space. I had shrimp tacos and the cucumber pic was delicious. We both had sangria and it was YUMMM. Husband had chicken fajitas and they were tasty. Salsa & chips are extra but they were worth it.
Review Source:Los colores! Â Yum x 3. Â So good. Â Excellent. Â I really wish I could have eaten here twice so sample more of their menu. Â
There was a bit of a wait but it's nice being outside by their fire absorbing the atmosphere and chilly night air. Â
Their interior is very southwest, and you really feel like you're in an old diner complete with places to eat at the counter. Â The waitstaff was pretty attentive. Â Food was top notch. Â Where can I get this food in SoCal? Â
Frozen avocado pie was basically key lime but made from avocado. Â So unique and good.
What a wonderful restaurant. We, a family of 5, just arrived from Houston a couple of hours ago (March 9) & the local folks suggested we try Orlando's. Â We arrived at 6:00 pm, it was still snowing & quite cold. We were told it was a 20 minute wait & there were two spots to wait. Â Either in the outside where a wood stove was blazing or a small tent with a propane heater. This type of atmosphere was conducive for an open conversation with other guests. In 15 minutes we were called in. Â The restaurant is very small & the kitchen is small too. Â The waitress was absolutely well versed with all the dishes. Â She was exceptional. Â We ordered various dishes, from the house special to soft shell chicken tacos & the vegetarian burrito. Â The food is spicy, this is not a negative just know about it. Â The food was awesome! the cost was reasonable & the atmosphere exceptional.
Review Source:I really can't believe I haven't reviewed this place. It's hands down my most favorite place to eat in Taos. We drive down from Red River just to eat here. The inside is pretty small, so if you get there during the busy times you will probably have a wait. We love to eat outside when it's nice out. They have a really nice patio.
Chips, salsa, guacamole are extra charges, but the dips are fresh, the salsa spicy, the guac cooling. Worth the added expense. I've had several options over the years, but my recent favorite is the supreme nachos. These guys are piled high with chicken (or beef if you want it), green chile, tomatoes, beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole. Way too much for one person to eat. I always end up with some left on the plate. I've had the enchiladas before, the chile rellenos...all very very good. The hubby had the layered buffalo enchiladas this last time (special of the day) and ate them up so fast I barely got a taste. He loved them.
If you can't tell, we will be back. I'm trying to talk myself out of finagling another trip down there while we are in Red River this week, because going 6+months between visits is just so hard. I dream about Orlando's It's a hidden gem in Taos, a place full of lots of delicious options and never enough days to try them all!
I make a point to go to Orlandos whenever I'm in Taos. It never disappoints. It's a family owned and operated restaurant with a fun, colorful decor. The food is consistently delicious and the service fast once you get a table. It's Northern New Mexican food at its best.
Los Colores is a good way to sample all three of their sauces. The dish consists of three blue corn enchiladas one with red chili, one with green chili and one with adovada sauce. Blue Corn Enchiladas are my favorite. When they ask you if you want red or green chili, ask for Christmas. That way you get both red and green chili on top. Posole (hominy stewed in red chili) comes on the side of most of the dishes instead of rice. The chili rellenos (green chili stuffed with cheese and onion breaded and fried with your choice chili) are delicious too. If you want a little less food, order it a la carte and skip the beans and posole. In the summertime, the fish tacos are refreshing. Â If you're not in the mood for mexican food, the burgers are good. They're served open-faced topped with lots of green chili. Flavorful and messy. The fries are pretty tasty too.
It's a popular place, so there's a wait most of the time, but it's worth it. In the winter you can wait for your table outside around a fire pit. If you're in Taos, you have to go to Orlando's at least once!
We loooved our meal at Orlando's and would definitely return if we are ever in Taos again.
Orlando's offers classic, delicious New Mexican cuisine, with excellent green and red chile sauces, posole, and blue corn tortillas. My BF and I both ordered the combination plate so that we could try as many things as possible; it came with a chile relleno, a cheese and onion enchilada, and a beef taco. All were delicious, but our favorite here was the chile relleno, which was perfectly executed. The posole on the side was also perfect.
The desserts in the display case looked amazing, but we opted for avocado pie, since we had never had something like that... It tasted like a mixture of avocados and sour cream blended together and frozen, perhaps with some lime as well. Served chilled in a graham cracker crust with whipped cream, it was refreshing and different.
Service was excellent, and the decor and layout of the restaurant suited its offerings. We especially loved the stamped metal lighting fixtures and the open kitchen.
Another great meal in Taos... New Mexicans are very lucky!
Wonderful New Mexican food. Love the blue corn tortillas. Very busy and does not take reservations, so expect to wait. In warm weather there are tables outside, in cold weather, a heated tent. Service is fast and friendly. No bar, but offers a few table wines and a nice selection of beers. Prices are very reasonable - about $50 for two dinners including appetizer, desserts, and two drinks.
Review Source:We had our meal here in July of 2011, its been a while but i doubt the food has changed, from the reviews.
If first impressions are forever than I am in love. Orlando's was amazing. The food was full of flavor and the restaurant had a lovely out door eating area. Fast service, friendly staff, and huge portions make this place a definite come back place for us. With all the amazing local flavors (blue corn tortillas are sooooo good) including locally made Root Beer. The price was very good for the meat it self. Definitely recommend this for anyone who is on a first visit to Taos.
Wow, you must go to Orlando's when in Taos! Â Get the enchiladas. They were fantastic. The chips, salsa and guacamole are worth it as well. We went for lunch and didn't have any trouble getting a table. The service was top notch. We're thinking about going back with our full group of 10, but it looks like we'll have to split up on table seating. I don't see how they could seat a party of larger than 6 at one table.
This was the best mexican food I have ever had!
Nice little spot on the north end of town with a patio and fire-pit. This time of year, it's a great spot to relax with a few friends and stay warm.
For lunch I had blue corn enchiladas, one chicken, one beef. I got them Christmas style: with both red and green chili. I was impressed overall, but the green chili was fantastic. It was a little on the spicy side with lots of flavor. My meal came with a side of posole, which was a little lackluster.
Our post meal coffee was good, and the cream that came with it was cold. I feel this should be noted because cold or cool cream in a restaurant is sadly a rarity.
Our waitress was quick and efficient and the price was pretty good for Taos. I will most certainly be returning to Orlando's next time I am in town.
Orale!
This is a place that, I think and hope, sees more locals than tourists. The atmosphere is cozy and colorful; the waiting area is a group of chairs around a tripod of fire (very nice). The prices for the food, for Taos, are reasonable with most dishes going from $8 to $12. The drinks are bit pricey and the dessert if very pricey, with most delicacies chilling out at $5 or so. (I never got why I should pay so dearly to feel fat and sugar-logged...)
The food as a whole is hit and miss. I think this is the kind of restaurant that makes a few things amazingly well, and the rest is painfully mediocre. Â The Carne Adovada, tamales, and papas con chile we had were very good. The Caribe spice that they use tastes fresh, smokey, and delicious. The beef and chicken taco (separate), the posole, and the cheese and onion enchiladas were much less spectacular. The tacos especially were missing something...flavor. They were totally bland. The posole and enchiladas were passing but lacked finesse and control.
I would probably come here again but stick to the few items I know to be good and then slowly branch out. It's worth a stop, but don't go crazy in here.
I think I am in the minority here, but I didn't love my veggie burrito. It was super bland and no flavor. Â I did get take out and the food was hot, but tasteless. Service was fast, even though they were busy.
I don't know how often I will make it to Taos, but I probably won't return here first thing if I do...will try someplace else.
I think this is the second best New Mexican place in a town full of options--and therefore (after Rellenos, my top pick), a must visit on a trip to Taos.
The ambience is cute, a bit off the beaten path with a good mix of local folk and city slickers. The food was fantastic--the guac was fresh and perfectly blended, the pozole, an absolute treat especially given the chilly weather.
Check it out!
What a great find in Taos. Â It's off the tourist map a bit and I found it to be a welcoming, vibrant place. Â Service was excellent-not sure what happened to people in the below reviews, but they constantly checked up on my party, refilled our drinks and salsa, and brought the bill in a timely manner. Â Our food was great. Â It wasn't excellent, but it certainly is better than most New Mexican restaurants. Â I had a blue corn enchilada and a chile relleno. Â Their red sauce is good, and the relleno actually had a crunchy, flavorful batter (which is hard to find). Â I'm a vegetarian and they had many options. Â My partner had the shrimp enchilada and it looked absolutely delicious (and she confirmed that).
The atmosphere is fun, colorful, and vibrant. Â They have a great patio for the summer. Â All in all, I would go again and recommend it to others.
I found this place to be just what I was looking for when we headed south to Taos. Â We went before the dinner rush and were promptly seated out front on the patio area. I loved the patio. Â It was well shaded. Â I had to laugh because this little kitty kept sneaking in and the staff kept trying to shoo him away, but he was diligent and kept coming back. Â Then the customers started to feed him & the staff just gave up! Â He knows where the good food in Taos is at!
So, the food.  It was pretty darn good.  Our server recommended we try all three of their homemade salsas, he said each had it's own unique flavor and each was worth trying.  I ordered the Los Colores which was an entrée that had three rolled blue corn enchiladas, one chicken with green chile, one beef with red chile, and one cheese with chile caribe. I loved all of them.  The red chili has got some heat!  I also loved that the entrees were served with a side of pasole.  How often do you see that?  Not very! And it was g-o-o-d!  My hubby had a smothered burrito, and he even liked the pasole,  which was a shocker! Oh, how can I forget the Ritas! They cooled us down after some hot salsa & chips.
We also had dessert, I couldn't resist the flan. Â Super sweet & sticky, just the way it should be. Â We also shared a buscochito-a traditional New Mexican cookie with a hint of anise topped with cinnamon and sugar dipped in dark chocolate. Â What a sugar high!
The price is just right too. Â We were road trippin on a budget. Â Some places in Toas are way over priced, but not here. I recommend Orlando's to anyone passing through Taos.
We've been to Orlando's many times over the years while visiting Taos. It seems to have gone down hill a little bit. I like the atmosphere (colorful, festive, etc.) but the service was downright strange. There were plenty of tables but it felt like the server was hyped out of her mind. She kept coming to our table and rushing everything along. She looked like a teenager or maybe in her early 20's - so maybe she didn't know how to handle her own pace.
I had the fish taco, etc. which was just okay. It was breaded - which just seemed odd inside of a tortilla. The other meals were fine - but nothing special.
If you want a GREAT meal check out LOVE APPLE for a fancy delicious meal and RELLENOS CAFE for a casual but incredible meal. Both in Taos.
Without a doubt, in my top 10 restaurants anywhere. This place is fantastic. I was in Taos for 3 days back in February and I went here twice. Get the chile relleno plate with green chile and posoles.
I absolutely love New Mexican food and this is one of the best. Their margaritas are not the best in town, but are satisfying. They are always very busy. Try going for lunch on a weekday and it will be a little quieter.
As soon as we drove up to this place I got excited. Â I am a huge fan of spicy, authentic, New Mexican cuisine and by the looks of it, this was just the local dive I was looking for.
It is a small place with a small kitchen and tons of tables crammed inside and on the patio. Â Clearly the place is more popular and draws more people than was intended. Â This isn't necessarily a bad thing but I was a bit bummed when I saw they sell t-shirts, glasses and other stuff with their name/logo on them. Â This just screams tourist trap, mediocre food and sub-par service.
I would agree with the tourist trap part, but the food and service were actually very very good.
First we ordered some chips and salsa and guacamole. Â The chips were good but the salsa and guac were just eh. Â I was expecting something spicer. Â The salsa was just weird and was sort of like tomato paste. Â Not bad..just different.
It was highly recommended by some locals that I order the blue corn and shrimp enchiladas. Â It was an excellent dish but again lacked the heat that I desperately needed but I would definitely order it again.
Another Yelper summed up Orlando's perfectly: if you don't eat New Mexican regularly you will probably enjoy your meal. Â Otherwise, you'll probably think it's just okay. Â Thanks Rachel P.!
I ordered a combination plate with an enchilada and carne adovada. Â The carne was a bit tougher than I would have liked and the overall flavor didn't impress me. Â On the other hand, I really enjoyed the enchilada. Â Unlike many other New Mexican restaurant's the enchilada was rolled. Â The chile was flavorful but mild enough for me to eat. Â I also liked their chips and salsa. Â The chips were crisp and the salsa was more tomato based than chile. Â I could actually eat the salsa here, something I can't say about many places in New Mexico.
Our server was very absent minded and was a bit too over the top for me. Â We had to ask our server several times for the same thing and didn't even receive some of the things we ordered. Â It seemed like he was trying so hard on impressing us with his personality that his service suffered. Â
If I find myself in Taos again I would probably try another restaurant but wouldn't hesitate recommending Orlando's as a safe choice.
I seriously think all these good reviews must be from people smoking crack-seriously. Â How can they possibly think this place is any good at all?
This was not only the absolute worst meal of a three week roadtrip around California and the southwest, but one of the worst meals of my life. Â My husband completely agrees here as well, and he's usually pretty mellow about complaining.
We heard all the hype about the place, and saw the good yelp reviews (usually a good sign, but yelp- you've let us down big time here!), plus our inn owner recommended it- and it was one of the only places open on a Sunday night. Â Well all these things led us there, unfortunately.
We ordered a three item combo plate with a tamale, enchilada, and taco, as well as a combo plate with posole, beans, cheese, veggies, chile, etc. Â We also ordered a beer and lemonade. Â The food, in a word, was bland. Â In another word, it was HORRIBLE. Â There was seriously no flavor to be found, not even in the lemonade. Â It tasted like water and had to send it back asking for a sprite instead. Â The sprite also tasted like water which leads me to believe they just water down all their drinks to save money. Â I only mention we also ordered a beer because honestly, that was the only redeeming point about the meal, in my husband's eyes. Â He said it helped him wash out the bland flavor of the food.
Service was also crap. Â My husband theorizes that since the food is so awful the tips are usually low hence it cannot attract and retain good wait staff. Â As good an explanation as any I think. Â It's a vicious cycle. Â I wouldn't want to work there anyway! Â We were asked by about three different people for our drink orders but they all refused to take our food order. Â They also forgot to bring the corn tortillas that came with one of the combo plates, and then when asked brought flour tortillas instead- by that stage we didn't care enough to complain or ask for the corn tortillas. Â We overhead every single table around us complaining about something or getting their orders messed up.
The fact that there is a 20 minute or more wait for this place and it's so popular is completely beyond us, do yourself a real favor and AVOID, unless you like painful unnecessary experiences and crappy bland food.
Summary: If you have never had southwestern (or good Mexican) food before this will be a great experience. Â If you have, then this will fit into the category of average. Â
I dont understand where all the fuss comes from. Â The beans and posole were pretty bland and generic. Â Neither the red nor green chile had any kick to it (the flavor was ok though). Â We had a combo plate with chicken taco (decent, but not outstanding), chile relleno (OK), cheese enchilada (OK).
There is much better food at this price all over California (and I assume New Mexico). Â I am quite surprised that in the land of chile that a place this uninspiring could garner such good reviews.
A very festive New Mexican eatery on the northern end of town. If it looks like there isn't parking, just pull through to the back where there's tons.
The food was good. We had a couple of combo dishes and the chile rellenos were the most memorable. I'd probably order the relleno plate if I were back. Chips and salsa were a bit pricey, if I remember correctly. (Why no free chips? I guess tourists will pay for the pleasure, and we did.)
The service was a bit spotty. It was pretty hard to flag them down to get anything.
Out on the patio there was a firepit where you could wait with a drink for your table. We didn't have to wait, but when we left there were a bunch of people out there and it looked kind of awesome. Like a backyard bbq with everyone chatting together. Great atmosphere.
Every winter, I visit Taos, mainly to ski but partially to get good Mexican food. Â Based on the recommendation of the hosts, I stop in Orlando's at least once a trip. Â I pass that recommendation along now to Yelp. Â
The restaurant is very small so be prepared to wait. Â There is normally hot chocolate outside though and a fire to keep you warm. Â They just added a "warming hut" as well. Â Either way, the wait is worth it.
The burritos are filling, and if you get the chicken (which is marinated in chile all day) they are also tasty. Â The salsa and guacamole is a good way to start off the meal. Â On an odd note, the french fries are excellent here, and I recommend you try. Â
The service has always been top notch. Â The owner works the door and keeps the place moving at a high pace. Â I am sure a few mishaps can happen but I have never experienced one.
4 out of 5 delicious green chiles.
A good place to take the 'rents. It has a multicolored umbrella seating area.
It is a family run restaurant. Orlando helps with concierge and isn't afraid to step in.
Their guac and salsa with the multicolored chips are good and crispy.
I had the blue corn tacos.
They are filling, but the seasoning needs work.
Their service is very good and it is a great place to go hang out with friends, kick back, and watch the world go by.
I am a gustatory lady, so put some more ancho chile, a little more garlic, a tad more pepper, with some roasted tomato mole in those tacos and then we'll see about five stars.
Wait. That's when I open up Joy's here in Taos. shh...
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