El Vaquero Taqueria in Helena - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

A walk up shop with some of the best food in Helena.

The most amazing Mexican food! Food is so fresh and tasty - highly recommend! Bring your appetite because everything is DELICIOUS!

Food was excellent - flavorful, big portion, very tasty all around. However, the line is VERY long, with some really obnoxious people taking FOREVER to order and the owner is in no rush to hurry them in consideration of all these poor people waiting in the sun for 30 minutes!!!! Honestly it is blistering out in the parking lot and they are just taking their sweet time ordering and diddling daddling!!! They really should try to hurry up the ordering process and be considerate of the poor customers.

Our favorite Mexican place in Montana! Definitely worth the trip!

It's a walk up taco stand with really good food. Large portions at a reasonable price. Very good !!

A great family owned Mexican place. I gave it low atmosphere cause you mostly have to eat outside or take it to go. The building is really small.

Not authentic Mexican food Very disappointed 😔

Great walk up taquria. Erika is great and provides amazing authentic food. Street tacos are best in helena, burritos are also amazing. My girlfriend also.loves the taco salads. One of the best in the state. Can not go wrong with Erika.

Best Mexican food I have had in Montana. Highly recommend! I had the steak burrito and all the ingredients were great! A lot of steak too.

This is my favorite quick service Mexican restaurant in Helena! Their chips come with extra seasonings that put them a step above the rest, and every entrée I've tasted has been delicious. 😋 Be sure to follow them on FB as well!! During weather related closures, they offer family sized meal pickups that are very reasonably priced.

This is one of those magical little hole-in-the-wall places. The food is phenomenal and authentic and the prices are more than fair. I'm glad I stopped by to see what the buzz was about!

Never open when they say they are and only open 4 hours of the day. I show up on a Tuesday at noon and closed like they are shut down. I have been wanting to try there food and never get too due there poor service hours

Literally never tasted anything so good!

1st time here. Awesome food. Had the Steak burrito...wow!!

Not many days in November do you get to eat the best authentic Mexican in Montana outside in the sun!

As someone who lived in Texas for 14 years, I haven't found "real" Mexican food in Montana. Until now! I got the burrito with pollo ranchero (chicken) and omg this is what I have been missing! Perfectly cooked chicken, pico, pinto beans and salsa. Plus some chipotle hot sauce. It was amazingly flavored and REAL. Very reasonably priced at $6, Mexican shouldn't be a luxury or bland. This burrito here is true perfection!

Best Mexican food in Helena hands down

Line was long for lunch on a Monday but well worth the wait. Visiting from out of state- food was excellent and was a good portion to have leftovers. Got the chicken enchiladas- mine did not need hot sauce- also had the tacos Al pastor which was yummy. Was able to find parking- small parking lot but great to get food to go or eat outdoors at the picnic table if open. Prices were $10-15 for what we got

This place is top notch Mexican food at its finest. Using fresh ingredients and classic flavor combinations, every meal is satisfying. The street tacos are my favorite, with many fresh toppings to add. And this place is serious bang for the buck with generous portions.

A family run authentic Mexican spot. Takeout only and the line is usually long but always worth it.

Whenever I bring their pork enchiladas back to my desk, I usually have a coworker message me, asking me what I am eating because it smells amazing! Great service as well! They always remember my order. Best Mexican food in Montana in my book.

nicest people I've ever ment and the best customer service that I have ever had.

Really tasty and a good value. Stopped here on a road trip, but I wish I lived closer!

Adam and his family are the best. The lines are long for a reason, good food, friends and atmosphere are worth the wait.

Solid Mexican food staples, big (huge) portions, and reasonable prices, if you don't need table service or even indoor seating this is a great place to go!

Great food , excellent service, visiting my daughter and will always return here for lunch.

We were on a road trip from Florida for 2 months and this is the best food we've eaten in the whole trip!

Great food and amazing service. Horchata is a must try.

I’ve eaten here a handful of times and each time the service and food has been spot on. El Vaquero adds so much flavor, tastiness, and authentic goodness to Helena. The only bummer is that I wish they could be open for dinner — But that makes me appreciate their lunches even more.

Best lunch spot I’ve found in Helena. Delicious food, perfect atmosphere, and friendly service. Will be back, and can’t believe I hadn’t tried this sooner.

One of the best places to go and eat Mexican food!! Great Service!! Amazing Atmosphere!!

Best Mexican restaurant in Helena!!!

I ordered carnitas and al pastor tacos, the meat they used was wrong for those plates, as a Mexican I know, lack of flavor, Horchata was the powder one, not homemade, and I order a tres leches which wasn't put on my bag and because I was passing by helena I called and leave messages never got a call back even for an apology, the only decent thing there was the cashier lady was nice. Never stop to eat Mexican food on a town that doesn't have at least 10% of Mexican population.

This is my first time going there and it would rather good I had the Macho nachos and my husband had the steak burrito there was a line but it wasn't that long and when there's a line you know it's open and good

Tons of great options. Some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in Montana. I’m glad it’s here. Been searching for some good Mexican ever since I moved here years ago. Glad this place exists! Just wish they were open more often

The prices are OK and the street tacos and I ordered a tostada but because it was cold and kind of snowy that afternoon we took our food home to East Helena witch the tostrata was all over a place and I'm very soggy so was the street tacos So best 2 plan on Eating thereTill the food is not so soggy

Had great street tacos. Best I've had on Montana by far.

It was super delicious, the only reason I gave four stars is the time spent in line waiting to order. I wish they didn't have a long wait or a better setup for ordering and then waiting... Food makes it worth the wait.

I love Mexican food and have tasted Mexican food all over the planet- authentic Mexican is in Mexico is hard to beat, or match but El Vaquero is it!

I love this place, it reminds me of home and when I was a kid, the food my grandma would always cook. To the owners thank you for what you do

Wow, possibly the best tacos I've ever eaten. Pam and Den had burritos they loved. Fresh ingredients, perfectly prepared by great people. Too bad it's 200 miles from home.

Really love the food here. I wish they were open more, but I respect their system. Love to get there a bit early to beat the line that forms, and it forms for good reason. Really solid food, good price. We have tried a number of things here, nachos were good, burritos and tacos also solid. Just go and try it!

so darn good got the big burrito with all of the things now im over full and happy... wont be getting much done the rest of the day lol

Authentic Mexican food. I would try this if you haven't yet.

Some of the best street tacos I've ever had.

Best burritos in town and maybe best carnitas options ever. Place is just full of great food options and wonderful folks. Their dinner take and bakes are announced on Facebook, supposedly for four, but will feed a party twice that size. My kid loves their pinto beans and rice. Don't forget to get their salsa ranchera and pico. Everything is good, but I get #1 carnitas burrito every time.

Their guacamole made me question my atheist-ism, because a god must exist and must have given them the means to create such extraordinary guacamole

This place is amazing! Best takeout Mexican this side of the great divide 👏

So delicious!! Best nachos I’ve ever had that someone else made!!

So good, so authentic- NEVER open ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

It was fantastic. Amazing, authentic Mexican food. We had street tacos and a bean and cheese burrito and all the food was delicious. We would definitely recommend to others

Bar none, this is the best Mexican food in Helena. You can judge for yourself by the long lines at the takeout window every day they’re open (and I do wish they were open more often). Every now and then they’ll offer a meal (aka FEAST) deal—a lot of food for very little money. Great food cooked by really nice people.

Sooo good. We even had leftovers for dinner.

The best Mexican style cuisine in Helena. They are only open for lunch though but their food is incredible and really cheap!

Delicious food at great prices! The daily specials are a great deal. We'll definitely come back!

Best place for Mexican food in Helena. Only open for lunch 4 days a week.

Fantastic authentic Mexican food. Try the carnitas street tacos with some horchata.

Huge portions and delicious foods. I recommend a visit here, or maybe many visits!

Says they are open 11-2. Iv tried 3 day in a row to get here close to 2. Closed signs are up way before. Food is good but the people dont care to be open long.

Best Burritos in the Northwest. Family run so hours may never be accurate. Good luck on catching the best burrito ever.

Most authentic street tacos I've had in town. Delicious! Love the carnitas and carne asada. Only place I've been to that gives you the limes with raw white onion, and cilantro on the street tacos. 😋 it's worth it to stand in line for a few mins. The salsa is also very good.

The best kept secret tucked away for lunch, the line you wait in is really worth it and to add an extra tip too it...

Absolutely amazing food! Worth the wait!

The most authentic and delicious burritos in town! Walk up orders only, which is pretty rough in the winter. Limited hours (no dinner) and it gets busy at lunch time.

Awesome food, but only open some days for lunch. Easily the best Mexican food in town. I wish they were open more often.

Great Mexican food! Delicious pork borittos.

The wait was long, so I was hoping that the food would be exceptionally good. The prices were decent and the service was good. The food however, was just okay. I was a little disappointed honestly at the lack of flavor. The good side is that there was actually a lot of food. It wasn't my favorite, but maybe you'll like it..... give it a shot.

Love this place! Probably one of the best Mexican joints in town.

I hope one day this place does dinner. It would make so much money! This place is super good. Football sized burritos

The best Street Tacos I've had in awhile! Definitely worth a stop to check out for yourself.

Large portions of delicious authentic Mexican food! We had the pork street tacos and macho nachos. Like their menu says, their meat is seasoned well but if you like spicy, ask them to add one of their salsas on the side. Found this place after reading reviews when travelling thru. Sign says they are only open weekdays 11am to 3pm. No indoor seating, a few nice picnic tables, and you may have to wait in line outside for your food..but worth it!! The locals eat here so you know it's good.

Hand down, best street tacos I've had in Montana. Also have to try the salsa!

Drove by this place in my RV and had to come back. MAN, food like that should not come out of a window! Don't let the lines scare you, it's worth the wait. My mom couldn't make beans like that, food was awesome. The line was running 20 deep when we got there. They are only open on weekdays from 11-3 and that speaks volumes.

Maybe the best Mexican food I've ever had. If you order it extra spicy, it's actually pretty spicy.

Saw reviews for this restaurant while visiting town and knew we had to try it out! There is a line, but don’t let the line scare you away! This place is worth the wait! We got tacos, burritos, quesadillas and everything was so good with very generous portions. Also, short walk from the Capital building and Last Chance Tour Train.

Great tacos! I really enjoyed my lunch here.

When my friend and I arrived the line was long. Surprisingly with the long line the service was quick and the food was excellent. I have not been there in a long time but I definitely will be back the portion were generous it lasted me two meals. I will definitely be back

excellent, great spot for lunch

Great authentic Mexican food. The burrito was so big and so good! My husband and I should have split one. The service was so friendly and fast.

I order chicken enchiladas at every taqueria, and these are now at the top of my list! The horchata was lacking, it didn't taste homemade. It tasted like the powder stuff you get from the grocery store, but I didn't let it ruin my experience!

Delicious carne asada, quick service.

Super yummy and spicy. Truly enjoyed

Easy and fast window service with a honkin' huge burrito. The carnitas were perfect.

Excellent burrito and nachos. We’ll be back often

The best Mexican food in Helena!!

Real Street Mexican food in Montana. A rare find.

Great buy on the food. Large portion ..was a bit spicy hot. But good.

Definitely best Mex in town wish I could get some on the weekends

This is some good Mexican food in Helena best I've had since Los Angeles where I grew up 👍👍😊

Huge portions of very good food.

This is easily, hands down, the best place to get burritos, enchiladas, beans and rice, and so much more. Five outta five. If you are in helena and haven't tried this you're missing out. Thank you for all the hard work your little store does making this food. It's my favorite restaurant in helena.

I eat here once a week (When not closed for covid) and I think it is the best Mexican food in Helena.

My montana burrito was excellent

Fast service, friendly people. Delicious food!

The food here is always and I mean always the best ever! Owner's are so nice! We bought the street tacos for work lunch had one taco was filling enough plus if you scraped up all the dropped meat had enough for another one.

This place is so good, all the time and everytime. Not the fastest at service but the quality makes up for the wait lines. Great job El Vaquero Taqueria, you will see me many times over!

Love that they're gluten free friendly!

This isn’t just authentic Mexican food — this could compete with the best taquerias in SoCal!

The best Mexican food in Helena hands down.

Found this place by accident for a takeout lunch. One of the daily specials was a carnitas burrito and it exceeded all my expectations. Even the flour tortilla was excellent, nice and chewy. This was the first of many visits.