A family-run Mexican restaurant serving Lynchburg, VA
El Gordo's Taquería cooks the food our family grew up on: corn tortillas off the plancha, slow-cooked meats, salsas made in-house and plates that come out fast enough for a lunch break. We're minutes from Lynchburg on Forest Road, and you can order online for pickup before you leave the house.
- Where17980 Forest Rd Ste D, Forest, VA 24551
- Kitchen hoursTue–Sat 11am–8pm · Sun 11am–3pm · Closed Monday
- How to orderOnline pickup ordering or call (434) 213-2810
Real taquería food, a short drive from downtown Lynchburg
Lynchburg has plenty of places to eat, but taquería food is its own thing. It's built around the tortilla, not the plate: masa griddled to order, meat that has been cooking long before you walked in, onion and cilantro, a wedge of lime, and salsa you actually choose. That's what we set out to do at El Gordo's — keep the format simple and put the work into the parts you taste.
Everything starts in the back of the house. Meats are seasoned and cooked in-house rather than pulled from a bag, sauces like chipotle, cilantro-lime and salsa verde are mixed here, and tortillas hit the flat top so they're hot and pliable when they reach you. The menu stays tight on purpose. We'd rather do tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, nachos and loaded fries properly than run a page of items that all taste the same.
The room is family-owned and family-run, so you'll usually see the same faces behind the counter. Bring the kids, bring a work crew, or grab it to go. If you're coming from Lynchburg proper, put in an online order on the way and it'll be bagged and ready when you pull in.
- Order-ahead pickup through our online ordering page
- Closed Mondays — open Tuesday through Sunday
- Catering available for offices, churches and parties
- Vegetarian-friendly builds on most menu items
What Lynchburg orders most
A quick tour of the menu if it's your first visit.
Tacos
Soft corn tortillas, double-stacked, finished with onion, cilantro, salsa and lime.
Quesabirrias
Griddled birria tacos with melted cheese, crisped on the plancha and served with consommé.
Burritos
Hand-rolled and packed with rice, beans, your protein and the works.
Quesadillas
Crisp on the outside, cheesy in the middle, straight off the flat top.
Nachos & loaded fries
Built to share — chips or fries under cheese, meat and all the toppings.
Tres leches & aguas frescas
Sweet finish and a cold drink: horchata, Jarritos and rotating aguas frescas.
Why people drive out from Lynchburg
Slow-cooked, not shortcut
Birria and other meats cook low and long so the flavor is in the meat, not the sauce.
Made fresh daily
Salsas, sides and prep are done in-house each service day rather than shipped in.
Fast enough for lunch
Order ahead online and pick up on your break — no waiting in line to order.
Family owned
A small family operation cooking recipes it actually grew up with.
Build it your way
Choose your protein, sauces and add-ons on nearly every item.
Catering for groups
Taco spreads and party trays for offices, churches, teams and events.
Getting here from Lynchburg
We're at 17980 Forest Rd Ste D in Forest, VA — straight out Forest Road (Route 221) from Lynchburg, past Boonsboro and into the Forest corridor. From most of Lynchburg it's a 10–20 minute drive with no downtown parking to fight.
Parking is out front, so a pickup order is genuinely a park-and-grab. If you're heading home toward Boonsboro, Timberlake or Bedford afterward, we're already on the way.
Not sure what to get? Call the shop and we'll talk you through the menu, or check current pickup times on the ordering page before you drive over.
17980 Forest Rd Ste D, Forest, VA 24551
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Order ahead and skip the wait
Put your order in online and pick it up hot at Forest Road, or call us if you'd rather order by phone.
Frequently asked questions
Where is El Gordo's Taquería located?
We're at 17980 Forest Rd Ste D, Forest, VA 24551, just outside Lynchburg on Forest Road.
What are your hours?
Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We're closed Mondays.
Can I order online?
Yes. Our online ordering page lets you build your order and choose a pickup time before you drive over.
Do you take phone orders?
We do — call (434) 213-2810 during kitchen hours and we'll get it started.
Do you cater?
Yes. We handle catering for offices, churches, parties and events. Send the details through our catering page and we'll put together a plan.
Is there anything for vegetarians?
Most items can be built without meat — quesadillas, bean burritos, nachos and loaded fries are the usual picks.
Keep exploring
More about the food and the shop.