In a former life, I was a HUGE taco fan. I’m not talking about the American-style, crunchy-shell, Taco Bell crap – I craved the authentic stuff, with perfectly-seasoned meat scooped onto fresh, piping-hot corn tortillas. (Okay. In a former FORMER life, I was a big fan of Taco Bell as well). I still love Mexican food, but since going Paleo, I rarely order tacos. Those damned tortillas can be tough to resist. But is there a better time to have an illicit taco rendezvous than when on vacation in Mexico?

After some due diligence, I found Gordo Lele – a hole-in-the-wall known as one of the best taco joints in Cabo San Lucas. Like it or not, my family was getting dragged here for lunch.

Gordo Lele isn’t easy to find. It’s just a couple of blocks from the tourist magnet known as Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo, but it’s got a non-descript storefront, and the interior’s as tiny as a shoebox. 

Once you step inside, it’ll be a little difficult not to notice that this taqueria is also a shrine to the Beatles. The walls are plastered with Fab Four-related memorabilia and magazine clippings (and an occasional Elvis poster, too). 

Javier, the jovial owner, chef, and waiter, is a bit of a renaissance man – he’s a huge Beatles fanatic (obviously), and the cover of the menus declare him to be the fifth Beatle. (Sorry, Pete Best.) In addition to making ridiculously good tacos and yummy tortas (Mexican sandwiches), Javier often breaks into song with microphone in hand, serenading his patrons with Beatles tunes.

But the main event is the food. Gordo Lele’s lunch menu is short and sweet: Just a handful of savory fillings for tacos or tortas. Given that it was our first time here and the prices are cheap, we ordered a ton of food for the six of us.

Fitbomb and I shared four (yes, FOUR) platters of tacos: Carne asada…

…pollo…

…pescado…

…and camerones.

Javier brought each table a couple of bowls of tangy guacamole and smoky salsa, so we made sure we put them to good use.

The tacos came on flour tortillas, so Fitbomb and I just ate the fillings. (I later asked and found out that you can get ‘em on corn tortillas – perfect for those of you who can’t stand the thought of eating tacos without a tortilla but want to avoid a gluten bomb.) 

The carne asada tacos were my favorite. If you’re avoiding dairy, steer clear of the shrimp tacos ’cause they’re served with a good amount of oozy, gooey cheese. Also, if you’re unwilling to cheat a bit and eat some corn, you should know that the chicken and fish tacos both have it mixed into the filling. 

We tasted some of the corn, but left most of it uneaten. You can take the girl out of her Paleo kitchen, but you can’t (entirely) take the Paleo out of the girl.

Meanwhile, my in-laws – who are decidedly anti-Paleo – ordered a ham-and-egg torta…

…and a carne asada torta.

The sandwiches looked tasty: Soft, crusty rolls filled with meat, avocado, and tomatoes. But we didn’t partake – except to grab the leftover meat from their sandwiches and use them to make salsa-and-guacamole rolls.

We loved Gorgo Lele’s – even our resident three-year-old carbivore. 

Or maybe he was just excited to listen to Beatles songs and pose for pictures with Javier and his brother while wearing a newly-purchased lucha libre mask. (Admittedly, Javier’s mask is just a hair net, but it’s pretty awesome nonetheless.)

We left Gordo Lele stuffed and satisfied – and we spent less than $40. If you’re in Cabo San Lucas, you’ve got to visit this place.

About Michelle Tam

Hello! My name is Michelle Tam, and I love to eat. I think about food all the time. It borders on obsession. I’ve always loved the sights and smells of the kitchen. My mother was (and is) an excellent cook, and as a kid, I was her little shadow as she prepared supper each night. From her, I gained a deep, abiding love for magically transforming pantry items into mouth-watering family meals.

Other Recipes You May Like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *