I tried this new Salida restaurant with 64.7k Instagram followers. It was picture perfect

When a new restaurant is so anticipated that a local social media food influencer shows up to the grand opening, you know you it’s a place you have to try.

I, too, attended the grand opening of Tequileros Taqueria in Salida on Sunday afternoon — and it has a following of its own. The taqueria boasts an impressive 64,700 followers on Instagram, and I couldn’t say how many people total showed up to eat on the first day, but there were at least 60 in line with me waiting for the doors to open.

“It’s not just a post on Instagram, we really stand behind our product and what we do,” owner Edgar Gomez said.

Not only do the menu items look good in photos and videos, they taste delicious as well. I commonly get asked for recommendations for good tacos in the area, and Tequileros has entered the chat.

Tequileros started as a taco truck in Lodi in 2021 and quickly has established more trucks, as well as restaurants in Elk Grove, Galt, Lodi, Stockon and Salida, with a Sacramento location opening soon.

It also offers catering . The business is family owned and operated.

The menu has quesabirria tacos, loaded fries, bowls, classic tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, nachos and my new favorite snack: jalapenos with melted and crisped cheese.

Protein options are carne asada, chicken, pastor, birria and shrimp. There’s a veggie option, too. Sides include rice, beans and fries.

I also ordered the horchata, which is a must-try.

Prices range from $1 for a large cheese jalapeno and $2.50 for a taco, to $10 for shareable loaded fries and $12 for three quesabirria tacos.

There is a selfie station inside the restaurant — a wall with greenery and neon lights — to photograph either you or your meal (or both).

Tequileros is at 4925 Sisk Road in Salida, where Blaze BBQ Mediterranean Fusion used to be. Blaze quietly shuttered sometime at the end of 2023 with no notice to the public or the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources .

The taqueria is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sign Up for Local Breaking News