Review – Taco Escobarr

I’m not as deeply embedded in the restaurant pipeline as I once was, that’s for sure. However, I still hang out with enough industry people to have known about Taco Escobarr’s imminent arrival for a few months. I have anticipated visiting this street-Mexican joint, opened by the Nosh crew and located directly across the street from their first location, since I first heard about it.

 Well, today was the day! Danny Boothby, arguably Nosh’s #1 fan, was in town, and we met to scope the place out.

The space was clean and new-feeling. Tons of natural light, and the high ceilings gave me a sense of roominess, while the floor plan made me feel cozy at the same time. My eyes were first drawn to the “Mexican” colored walls…bright pastel green, yellow, and blue, which contrasted nicely with the curvy, modern bar, which was topped with marble and accented with corrugated metal.

And then….my eyes drifted to the wall, where I beheld a giant mural painted in a comic book style, depicting a ripped Luchador busting through the brick wall, taco in one hand, burrito in the other, accompanied by a heavy-chested female sidekick carrying a loaded tray of eats.

At that point I knew I was sold on this place.

 The drink and food menus continued with the comic book motif (the cover features the same superhero Luchador standing atop a pile of vanquished foes, a buxom blonde AND brunette rushing to his side carrying both tacos and the championship belt), and inside, were refreshingly simple.

What I found most appealing about Taco Escobarr, before ordering, was the unexpected options it offered to customize an extremely limited (and rightfully so) menu.

This is a taco joint, and they hardly deviate from this mentality. You are there to get a taco, or there to get a burrito. (There are several delicious sounding salad options, but the main draw is evident)

 The choices come in the details- you choose your meat filling (all were delicious) salsa topping (mild, hot, or “stupid”), and – my favorite- the tortilla itself (soft, crispy, or puffy).

The tortilla option had me. I wanted to try all three, which cost me a few extra bucks (Tacos were 3 for $7.50 if you ordered the same kind, otherwise were $3 each) but was well worth it.

Soft tortilla tacos with "stupid" salsa

Crispy, Puffy, and Soft tacos (L to R)

 The “crispy” option, far from what you might imagine (Old El Paso, taco “shells” falling apart as you eat them) was delicious and flavorful, an ingredient itself, far from just being the vehicle to deliver the taco’s contents.

 The soft option, which was billed on the menu as being hand-made, lived up to everything you would expect. It tasted like it had been made to order (maybe it had?) it crumbled pleasantly in my mouth and, like the hard option, provided exceptional flavor.

 The “puffy” option was my favorite. Unexpected, decadent yet manageable, the puffy, deep-fried taco shell was mouth-watering (currently writing this at 11:45 pm and having to resist driving back into town for another round) and amazing. I took mine with braised pork, and the default toppings of tomato, lettuce, and cilantro.

Dan sinking his teeth into a puffy-shell carne asada taco

As for beverages, there was a separate menu (designating the joint as both an eatery and a legit, late-night drink spot) that contained a variety of margarita drinks, cocktails, and both a draft and bottle/can beer list. My favorite detail about the drink menu was the disclaimer that “tequila is NOT for everyone”, followed by an offer to substitute other liquors for tequila-containing cocktails.

The first thing I ordered was the “Original Gangster”, what I gathered to be the house margarita. I had five options listed on-menu for the rim garnish (a variety of salts, sugar, and dried chili). It was five bucks, and was bigger than El Rayo’s, while being 2 dollars cheaper. For someone like me who is naturally prone to guzzling EVERYTHING, soft drinks, water, booze, etc, this was a very good thing.

Danny and I followed up our first round of ‘Ritas with 24 ounce Tecate cans, served ICE cold at 6 dollars a pop. If Tecate (The PBR of Mexico) isn’t your thing, there are a variety of other cheap bottles and cans available, both Mexican and American, as well as a tasty “daily special” of low-end beer plus a shot of tequila for 6 bucks as well.

A few more of our friends showed up by chance, and it got really fun. After my third drink, I had to go to the bathroom, and……boom. The surprises kept coming. The bathroom was totally plastered in Mexican grindhouse/Luchador film posters, many bordering on the absurd (my favorite was “El Vampiro y El Sexo”) and was so awesome. The final touch on a great afternoon. If a restaurant owner is putting that kind of love into the bathroom, then I have good feelings about their food and drink.

In brief, here’s why you should be as excited as I am about this place-

-Open late all the time, and super late on the weekends

-Better price point than El Rayo for equally delicious food

-Free chips and salsa during dinner time

-cheap beer and tequila drinks

- viable bar atmosphere

-Central location

Having resisted the urge to return on the same day, I have already made plans to get back to Taco Escobarr on Friday. I’m anxious to see how the vibe is on a weekend night. I’ll see you there!

Taco Escobarr

548 Congress St. / (207) 541-9097 / Tues-Thurs 11:30-1am, Fri-Sat 11:30-2am