Cheap movie tickets and $1 tacos? We tried these Sacramento-area deals on a budget
At the corner of a Sacramento-area shopping center are two businesses that make the perfect pair for a budget-friendly outing.
Taco Express, 181 Iron Point Road in Folsom, stands out immediately with its bright orange exterior and large photos showcasing tacos, burritos, and carne asada fries.
Right next door is Cinemark Century Folsom 7.
The Cinemark movie theater at 261 Iron Point Road in Folsom rises tall, glowing with neon lights. Inside, moviegoers line up eagerly for popcorn, oversized drinks, and classic theater snacks.
A Sacramento Bee reader recommended that I try their favorite Tuesday combination — Cinemark Century and Taco Exxpress — as part of The Bee’s On a Budget series, a reader-driven series focused on finding fun and affordable ways to connect with the community.
Sacramento Bee reporter Camila Pedrosa and I visited the Cinemark movie theater and Taco Exxpress on a recent weekday to see how far we could stretch our $25 budget.
Here’s what we discovered:
What are Folsom movie theater, Mexican restaurant like?
Camila and I headed to Folsom on a recent Tuesday evening to take advantage of the businesses’ weekday specials.
On Tuesdays, theater tickets at Cinemark Century Folsom 7 cost $5.50, compared to the normal ticket price of $10.99. The deal runs every week, excluding holidays.
Taco Exxpress also offers a Tuesday deal, selling crunchy tacos for just $1.50 each.
We arrived at the Folsom movie theater around 7 p.m. and found the theater fairly busy.
Families, couples and groups of friends filled the lobby, standing in line to grab snacks, check out themed blankets or pick up collectible popcorn buckets.
The menu had all the usual options — hot dogs, chips, candy and ice cream — and of course, popcorn. I ordered a large popcorn since I refuse to watch a movie without the crunchy snack.
The auditorium was roomy and clean. While I’ve gotten used to the leather reclining seats that many theaters now offer, the standard seats were still comfortable for the length of the film.
We watched “The Phoenician Scheme,” Wes Anderson’s latest film.
As a longtime fan and card-carrying member of the Society of the Crossed Keys, I’ll never pass up the chance to see one of Anderson’s films in theaters. I found this one visually clever and fun overall, though the action dragged in a few parts.
After the movie, Camila and I headed over to Taco Exxpress.
While the indoor dining area had already closed for the night, the drive-thru was still open.
We knew exactly what we wanted to ordered from the restaurant’s large menu, which includes burritos, all-day breakfast, tortas and taquitos: tacos.
The tacos were hot, crispy and exactly what I wanted post-movie.
Parking was free and easy to find at the Cinemark movie theater and Taco Exxpress, which made our experience feel relaxed and affordable from start to finish.
If you’re looking for a low-key Tuesday night with good food and a movie, this combo is hard to beat.
What I got for $25 at Cinemark and Taco Exxpress
Altogether, I spent $23.85 before tip on my movie ticket, snack and dinner.
At Cinemark Century Folsom 7, I bought a ticket to the 7:15 p.m. showing for $5.50 and added a large popcorn for $8.35. The popcorn was light, buttery and just the right companion for the film.
At Taco Exxpress, I ordered a veggie burrito packed with beans, cheese, rice, lettuce and pico de gallo for $9.99. The dish was massive, warm, flavorful, and so filling that I ended up saving half for later.
Still, the standout of the night was the cream-filled churro that Camila ordered. It was hot, crisp, generously dusted in cinnamon sugar and oozed just the right amount of sweet cream.
Here’s what Camila had to say about her experience:
“Making a pilgrimage from the Cinemark to the neighboring Taco Exxpress is a must. Going on a Tuesday night, with ticket deals and Taco Tuesday specials, is a perfect week night pick-me-up to get you through the rest of the workweek.
“Taco Exxpress’ birria taco is comforting and well-balanced with the birria de res and melty cheese dipped in consommé.”
Is Taco Express in Sacramento affordable?
Yes, very much so.
The Cinemark Folsom movie theater’s Tuesday ticket deal can’t be beat, and Taco Exxpress offers many affordable options.
Prices for food at Taco Exxpress range from $1.50 to $15.99, while drink options range from $1.99 for fountain soda to $3.99 for bottled Jarritos and Coca Cola.
I would recommend the Tuesday combo of a movie and Mexican food.
For $25, you can see a fun movie, enjoy some Mexican food and enjoy a perfect ending to Tuesday night.
This story was originally published June 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
