Tacolicious

By Armete Mobin



Are you getting tired of same old Palo Alto? For all you urbanites out there, have no fear, Tacolicious is here. Located at 632 Emerson in Palo Alto, this Mexican restaurant is any hipsters dream. With its bright blue walls and neon orange pillars, Tacolicious screams contemporary. The geometric interior rival its cuisine.



Walking into Tacolicious, the target audience is quite prevalent; the bar takes up about a third of the restaurant and their drink menu is about four times longer than the actual menu. Not to worry though, they can make certain drinks “virgin” upon request. The level of service that Tacolicious offers is impressive, each customer is treated like a VIP guest and is immediately treated to a complimentary bowl of their highly addictive tortilla chips and authentic Mexican salsa. Trust me, you’ve never had salsa like this north of the border.

Owner Joe Hargrave travelled around Mexico from a young age and grew to love not only its culture, but its cuisine. He never liked the idea of the “Mom and Pop” taco shops. Instead, he ventured to make a shop that presented itself in a different light; one of sophistication and urban culture. And indeed it is, there is nothing in Palo Alto that has the vibe of Tacolicious. It’s the type of place that just screams chic without trying too hard. The ambiance combined with the food make the patron feel really cool, as if Tacolicious was a restaurant in the center of a metropolis.

Tacolicious makes it a point to differ itself from our beloved Chipotle. Some fans have dubbed it “Chipotle 2.0.” In its statement, it promises to differ from a traditional taqueria and it stays true to its word. You won’t find any burritos here. Tacolicious also makes a point to keep food hormone-free and the vegetables organic. Unfortunately, this makes it a bit pricier than your traditional taqueria. If you want fast, cheap food, this is not the place for you.

Their tacos are generally two inches wide and start at $3.95 and go up from there. An average person consumes about four tacos in one sitting. Luckily, Tacolicious offers a deal of $14 for four tacos. If you’re concerned that this may be stretching your wallet a bit far, don’t worry, Tacolicious also offers a wide assortment of traditional Mexican dishes that are best shared. The most popular of these include Fried Sweet Plantains ($7.50), Chili Con Queso ($7.50), and Enchiladas Suizas ($9.95).

Let's not forget dessert however, if you get anything, get dessert. The “Traditional Churros and Mexican Hot Chocolate” ($6.00) seem to come straight from Mexico itself. And don’t even get me started on their Meyer Lemon Flan ($6.00). Though we consider ourselves cultured in Palo Alto, many of us have not tasted this treat. If you have not yet experienced the joy of putting this Jello-like treat into your mouth, this is your chance.

I have to say, though it’s certainly not the cheapest place around, Tacolicious is a great experience. The ambiance is by far one of the best in downtown Palo Alto.  The food, though traditional and delicious, is served in small portions. Taken together, Tacolicious is a great restaurant that captures the direction of where Palo Alto is headed in the near future.