TacoSon Authentic Mexican Grill

Reviews 3

JE

Jeanne M.

My daughter and I were in Tampa for the night and had no idea where to go for an inexpensive dinner close to where we were staying, so we naturally turned to Yelp. This place had a very high star rating and promised authentic Mexican food. Its sooo hard to find real Mexican anywhere close to us, so we had to give it a shot. Its a cute little building in a nondescript area near the fairgrounds. It looked like an authentic Mexican restaurant - they had cacti growing outside and everything! We went in, and it was bright, clean and had a pretty long line of people. You order at the counter and take your number to the table. The people were very nice. We saw that they had carnitas, which is one of our favorites, but not as a burrito, so we asked it they could do it, and they readily agreed. I ordered the horchata to drink, as it is something I rarely have and really enjoy....if its good. My daughter ordered an app of queso and chips. I also ordered a chicken tamale (tamales are my standard test for authentic Mexican food) and a pineapple tamale for dessert, since Ive never had one. So I took my horchata to the table and had a sip. It was not good. It was warm, and poured over small ice cubes which were rapidly melting and not doing much cooling. It was VERY sweet and VERY heavy on the cinnamon. The total drink was out of balance. When I sipped some up from the bottom of the cup, I got a mouthful of cinnamon powder. Next, we tried the queso. It was a cup of white cheese without a hint of anything flavorful. We figured that it must be made from a traditional Mexican cheese. Ummm...no. It was white American cheese. Thats it. Admittedly, I think white American cheese should be illegal, so this was not a good experience. We put in some sauce that was in a bottle on the table that was labeled "medium" hot. Im not a heat neophyte and can pretty easily deal with a medium level sauce. If this was medium, Ill eat my sombrero. Even my daughter, who likes a spicier sauce said that this was definitely over the top for the indicated heat level. At least it perked up the flavor of the "queso." The food came out, so we had high hopes that things would improve. Sadly, they didnt. The tamales were huge. The thing was, they were mostly masa. There were some decent pieces of boiled chicken in the middle, but they lacked flavor and were pretty much lost in the cornmeal. The burritos were also huge. I suspect that this place gets their high star rating from portion size and not flavor or quality. The hugeness of the burrito came from the pint or so of rice and beans. There might have been three ounces of meat in there, but I doubt it. There were also some chunks of greasy pork fat, which is an immediate turn off for me. I dont know if the meat had much flavor, because there was so little of it. This left us with just the pineapple tamale. It was the same. It was an enormous amount of masa and didnt have one one identifiable piece of pineapple. It was very sweet, but the sweetness had absolutely no pineapple flavor. So the dinner was a total loss. The only reason they get two stars is because the staff was so nice. Needless to say, we wont be going back.

AL

Alec Villanew

There are days in which I feel more Mexican than Frida Khalo regardless of the carefully threaded shape of my eyebrows. Something unknown, a visceral pang, my soul screams a fierce “orale!” and it kicks me over the border and I must eat Mexican food. FOR DAYS. I never feel Japanese for days. I never feel Hindu for days. No matter how much I love Italian men, I never feel Italian for days. Had Green Lemon yesterday and I knew that my Puerto Ricaness would have not returned by today. Tried to shake it off by pretend-wearing gym clothes. It is one of my social experiments. I count how many people ask me whether I am heading to the gym or returning. I look at them up and down, offended, stunned…and reply: “The gym? Oh, I don’t do that.” So I did. Walked out trying to remember the words of the Puerto Rican hymn, but caught myself humming “la cucaracha.” I simply gave up. Where could I find affordable, authentic-tasting Mexican food? I was already wearing my gym clothes…Where could I exercise my Spanish? Tacoson! The obvious answer. Every time I go, I am transported to my days crossing the border from El Paso to Juarez (without the long lines and the border patrols.) Drove the fifteen minutes day-dreaming of aguas frescas and guacamole, corn tortillas and refried beans. The place was packed. The line reached the glass doors, and the drive-thru had seven cars waiting. No parking space at all. Prayed to La Virgen de Guadalupe for epicurean patience. Granted. Ten minutes later a melodic, highly accented voice said “can I help you with anything?” and I answered in all my Spanish enthusiasm “Si, quiero flautas de pollo, flautas de carne, pollo con mole y aguas frescas.” And I heard a giggle on the other side and the whole conversation became a pueblo banter. Asked which agua fresca he liked best, he suggested tamarind. So I got that one. The flautas are three thick and long ones ( pardon the graphic unintended innuendo) filled with chicken or pulled beef. They crunch as you bite into them regardless of the guacamole, queso fresco and lettuce that decorates them. The plate overflows with rice and refried beans. I love dipping my flautas on the melted cheese and the beans. Messy eaters have more fun. This time I tried the mole for the first time at Tacoson. From all the moles I have tried in Tampa (including fancier places) Tacoson has the best. Perfect balance of cocoa and chili. Dark and syrupy mole sauce bathing the piece of chicken.. The chicken was seasoned and tender. No canned chicken to fool this Frida. No need to fax La Santa Muerte. The mole dish came with six soft corn tortillas that were warm and soft. Perfect to cuddle on the palm of your hand and combine as you wish. Sudeenly, it was Cinco de Mayo in mouth. Tacoson is in the middle of nowhere in Temple Terrace…small, unassuming, unpretentious… a few tables spread around. Festive red, green and white paper banners hang from the ceiling. You stand at the counter and order. Then you sit and wait. The food arrives. The banners make sense. It is a fiesta. If Tacoson decides to have another sibling I want to be the Tacodaughter.

AM

Amy Able

Please let me begin by saying: please DO NOT compare this restaurant to the Taco Bus. There are so many differences, I would not know where to start. How about with: THE FOOD, which is so delicious and plentiful (unlike the T.B., which may be plentiful, but tastes bloody awful- very like dog food *smells*), or with: THE SERVICE, which is also outstanding (not super busy and too-cool, like T.B.). The staff make every effort to assist you in choosing food to meet your requests and they are always polite and informative (even if they dont speak Spanish sometimes). The prices are very reasonable, the portions are plentiful, the salsa is so, so wonderful.....I want TacoSon right now! I just had dinner, but writing about how much I love this place is making me hungry again. For me, there is only one negative comment to make- sometimes the cuts of meat are not what I would prepare at home. While using fattier cuts increases flavor and texture of meat for certain dishes, Ive become quite a Polly-Pissy-Pants with regard to "chewy bits." I honestly cant stomach them. It is a personal issue and most dishes at TacoSon are not offensive to me in this way, but once in a rare while, there will be a "chewy bit" and I will get put off by it. It is one of the reasons that I like Thai food so much, the poultry and meat portions are very "clean". That is, they are free of fat and gristly bits. This also creates problems with foods that are meant to roast or stew for long periods of time. You need the fat and "odd bits" to add flavor to the overall dish. TacoSon has flavor ALL DAY, though with that you might get the odd chewy bit. It isnt enough to keep me away. I would eat at this restaurant 5 days a week, if I could!