Category: Mexican (52 listings)
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On May 27, 1918, in Chihuahua, Mexico, Esther Hernandez was born. the oldest of three daughters to Pedro and Amelia Hernandez. In 1923 the Hernandez family decided it was time to make a better life for themselves and moved to America, the land of opportunity. They migrated throughout the South as Mr. Hernandez was a crop picker. They settled in Colorado for three years and then moved to Los Angeles, California where the Latino community was much larger.
Esther then found the man of her dreams, Manuel Gonzalez Santana. the two fell in love and were married on April 29, 1939. They began a wonderful life together and had four beautiful daughters, Mary Lou,Gloria, Yolanda, and Linda.
Manuel was an upholster and hid job transferred him to Long Beach. The family moved to Downey in 1954. this is when Esther had a dream, a dream of opening a "taco house." She loved to cook, and was always told she had tasty recipes. In 1957, Ether and her mother, Amelia, opened the first Taco house in Downey, California. At this time it was strictly take-out food with one table to sit and wait for your tacos. Beverly Grisham has the honor of being Esther's first customer. She still comes to Esther's after 50 years.
All the customers wanted to sit and eat their food, so when the shoe repair shop next door went out of business, Esther expanded her restaurant to add a dining room. Customer's and friends would refer to the taco House as "Esther's" and that's how the name got started.
The second Esther's opened up in Long Beach during the summer of 1972. This restaurant had a full bar (cantina) and dancing on the weekends. It was the place to go. After the death of Esther's Husband Manuel, Esther sold the Long Beach store. It was too much for her to handle by herself, even with the help of her daughters who all worked at the Taco House at one time or another. They were a closely knit family.
In 1957 Linda went back to help her mother run the restaurant, and in 1987, as a teenager, Brian began working for his grandma and mother. He enjoyed it just as much as his mother did. Grandma had the pleasure of seeing both her grandsons, Brian and Russell work at the Taco House. In 1994, Esther suddenly died, and the legacy was now passed on to Linda. Wanting something closer to home, Linda opened the Esther's Taco House in Placentia. Brian began managing the restaurant as Linda oversaw everything.. Linda and Brian, have kept the family business alive and are proud to open the newest Esther's Taco House and Cantina in Yorba Linda.
Our family takes pride in out business and hope you feel a part of the family. As the saying goes, "Mi Casa, Es Su Casa." Welcome from our family to yours.
BEEN GOING TO ESTHERS SINCE I WAS ABOUT 14 AND NOW 64. DOES THAT TELL YOU A STORY. MY MOM USED TO TAKE US TO THE DOWNEY ESTHERS FOR DINNER. SHE WORKED AT ROCKWELL AND WAS HER FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT. MY FAMILY STILL GOES THERE IN PLACENTIA EVERY CHANCE WE GET. STILL REMEMBER ESTHER SITTING AT THE COUNTER AS SHE GOT OLDER WATCHING WHAT WAS GOING ON. HER DAUGHTER LINDA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB KEEPING THE SAME QUALITY OF FOOD HAS HER MOTHER DID THOSE MANY YEARS AGO.
This is the best food I've had in a loooong time. And I don't like Mexican food!!!
This place is amazing.... You owe it to yourself to try the hard shell chicken tacos. I ate there several times a week during my pregnancy and never regretted it!
Esther's Taco House is my favorite restaurant! They have the best Mexican food in Orange County and great service to top it off!
Yummmmmmmmmmmm! That's why!!
esters taco house has a great staff with great food and service. i go there a good 5 times a week.
Great food, the owners are spectacular and good local friendly restaurant.
The "Son" owner is an idiot...and I will never go there again just because of him, and they will lose one star because of that...however, the food is excellent and I miss it! :(
simply the best. from the freshly made salsa and chips to the famous chicken tacos. not to mention the ice cold beer!!!!!!
my grandma went to high school with ester in downey. my family has been eating esters since the original one opened in downey. my now travels from all over southern california to eat at the new locations and we freeze food and send it to my dad in washington. Esters is the bench mark for all mexican food.
Chili Rellenos are awesome. I judge a restaurant by those.
Great service, excellent salsa, chicken taco's are my favorite, enchilada's are a close second, great price, children friendly, big beers, sports on the TV
The food is amazing and the service is awesome! They are like family!
Best Tacos in Town with the best service in SoCal. Whenever I go back to visit SoCal I make sure I stop in for some tasty chips and salsa with some tacos.
I love this place!
the full bar is awesome! Tana by far the best bartender!!!!
Hot Bartender!!! Check me out on tuesdays!!!
Great Food!
Chicken Tacos are delicious! and the cooks are hot!!! :)
I went to Esthers in Downey since I was a little girl... i am the grand daughter of Bertha Carrion... who knew Esther in some way... and they have the best wet burrito's the one in downey has a new owner now... and now that i know that there is one in oc... you better believe my family will be there... i have a picture of me as a little girl sitting on a stool at the counter in Downey...
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Best Mexican in Orange County
