El Roy’s Opens Late-Night Drive-Thru in Santa Rosa for Tacos on the Go

The popular taqueria’s new drive-thru serves up street tacos, super burritos and its signature Mexidogs straight to your car window — no shoes required.


Santa Rosa’s late-night munchie game just got a lot tastier with the opening of El Roy’s Express Mex drive-thru. Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, the taqueria’s new brick-and-mortar location serves up street tacos, super burritos, sopes, gorditas and its signature bacon-wrapped Mexidogs straight to your car window — no shoes required.

I’m no stranger to drive-thrus — the stains and drips on my car upholstery tell the tales of a thousand car meals. On a daytime visit to El Roy’s new pickup window, I breezed through, with about a five-minute wait for my usual order of three tacos and Jamaica agua fresca. My shirt and seat had been anointed with salsa by the time I pulled out of the parking lot.

Yelpers have reported longer waits during peak hours, but I’m fine kicking back in my mobile with a true crime podcast if it means avoiding the shivering (or sweltering) that comes with standing in line at their nearby food trucks. Not to mention I can do it in my jammies.

El Roy's Express Mex has opened a brick-and-mortar and drive-thru in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
El Roy’s Express Mex has opened a brick-and-mortar and drive-thru in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
El Roy's in Santa Rosa
A plate of tacos at El Roy’s Express Mex truck No. 2 on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)

The new location at 602 Elsa Drive also has indoor counter service and seating for those who prefer a less mobile dining experience.

Known for their bright orange fleet of taco trucks in Petaluma, Roseland and Santa Rosa, El Roy’s has been named the “Best Food Truck” by The Press Democrat readers for more than a decade. The family-owned taqueria closed its longtime Petaluma brick-and-mortar location on Edith Street in January.

One notable perk at the new site is easy parking. The Edith Street location was notorious for its lack of parking, with customers often resorting to double parking, blocking driveways or using the spots of neighboring businesses while picking up takeout.

El Roy’s Express Mex operates food trucks in Petaluma (401 E. Washington St. and 175 Fairgrounds Drive) and Santa Rosa (1569 Sebastopol Road, 2728 Santa Rosa Ave. and 505 Santa Rosa Ave.). Follow their Instagram (@elroysexpressmex) for more details.

You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.