Taco Time
- Amarachi Ngwakwe
- Apr 2, 2017
- 4 min read
There is arguably no better way to feed the soul than with some good food. With breakfast being the most important meal of the day, I saw that it was only fit that my first food blog be in that category. During winter break, I was introduced to a life changing restaurant, Tacos A Go Go... okay, maybe not life changing, but it was pretty darn close. There, I had not just any breakfast taco but a breakfast taco that spoke to my soul on a spiritual level. In the past, breakfast tacos had been a mundane entree, served sourly from that palms of high school cafeteria ladies, but that taco, now that was a real taco. It was love at first bite, and as a result I made it a mission to try and find the best breakfast taco in Austin...or at least the best one that is walking distance from UT.
I created a rating system that I'll use for all of my food reviews. I call it F.L.A.V.O.R.
Food: How does it taste?
Location: Where is it at?
Ambiance: What type of vibe does the restaurant give off?
Value: Is it worth your hard earned cash?
Order Process: How was the service?
Return: Would I come back?
Feel free to skip around and read what is most relevant to your needs. I try to keep it short and simple, because I know you guys have tacos to get too.
In a city like Austin, where the options are endless I'm giving you a quick review of 5 restaurants to help you narrow down your choices. Staring with the worst and going down to the best, here are some quick taco reviews.
Food:
-You get to choose between three options; eggs, bacon, potato, all-natural sausage, and cheddarjack cheese.
-The taco wasn't very warm
-Note: The sausage was extremely greasy giving the tortilla a filmy layer.
-I was expecting ground beef, and the sausage inside was closer to sausage links.
Location:
-Kerby Lane is on the Guad
-Those with cars should be prepared to park somewhere near by and walk over if the parking lot is full.
-There is a bike rack next to the resturant.
Ambiance:
-The vibe is very relaxed, so there is no need to dress up.
-Kirby's is similar to a Denny's or IHOP.
Value:
-Even though it was only $4, it definitely wasn't worth, especially considering there are other places around town that serve tastier options.
Order Process:
-The server was extremely friendly
- Wait Time: around 10-15 mins.
- I didn't like me order and I received a refund without any hassle.
Return:
I understand that Kerby Lane isn't a taco restaurant, but if you're going to have it on the menu it should at least be good. Overall, you definitely won't catch me ordering tacos from here anytime soon.
2. Taco Joint
Food:
-I ordered two tacos; one with sausage, egg and cheese, and the other with potato, sausage, cheese and eggs.
-The ingredients didn't taste very fresh, I say that because the potatoes were a bit salty and had a tough/stale kind of texture, -the cheese wasn't stretchy (granted, I ordered over the phone so maybe it was sitting out for a while)
-GREASY
Location:
-Just a small shop within a commercial building strip.
-No nearby bike racks
-Crowded around lunch time, so parking might be tough
Ambiance:
-There is indoor and outdoor seating available
-The restaurant has two sides, one seemed to be for people dining in for extended periods of time, while the other seemed like a to-go orders side.
-The to-go orders side wasn't as nice as the other side, in terms of cleanliness.
Value:
-Pretty cheap, about $3 for 3 toppings.
-The portion is fairly large for the price
-I think one should be enough for most.
Order Process:
-I ordered ahead of time.
-Basically the servers are there to just hand you your taco.
-Think more McDonalds as opposed to Chick-fil-a in regards to service.
Return:
-Nahhhh it was a bit to greasy for me, but their salsa wasn't bad.
3. mi Madre's
Food:
-I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese taco.
-The tortilla was soft and war
-Overall it didn't taste like anything I couldn't recreate myself.
Location:
-small parking lot available Ambiance:
-Somewhat empty
-Indoor (limited- it is more like a bar table) and outdoor seating available
-Quiet, aside for the over head music (granted, I went in the morning)
Value:
-Overpriced for the size
-Taco was around $4, but the portion wasn't very large, I'd say maybe about 5 inches long.
-I'd suggest ordering at least two, if you're hungry
Order Process:
-Short wait time
-Food wasn't served very warm
-Polite cashier
Return:
-The taco was alright. However, knowing that I could get more flavorful tacos somewhere else for the same price would hinder my return.
4. Taco Shack
Food:
I kept it simple with a bacon, egg, and cheese taco.
-The bacon wasn't very juicy and the food could've been warmer.
-The salsa tasted nice and fresh, but nothing noteworthy.
Location:
-It actually looks like a shack (but in a cute hole in wall kind of way).
-Limited/No parking.
-Outdoor seating only. (Think Sonic)
-I suggest dressing for the weather.
Ambiance:
-Very simple seating layout, more of a grab your food and go kind of place.
Value:
-Theses tacos were the least expensive of all the tacos I tried
-Reasonable portion for the price
-I would suggest ordering at least two
-Note: They accept Bevo Bucks
Order Process:
-Quick and easy, about a 10 mins wait
Return:
-Overall I wouldn't mind coming back, but I wish they had indoor seating.
5. Torchy's
Food: You really can't go wrong with anything on this menu. I've had the Dirty Sanchez, Monk Special, Trailer Park, and even the #2 Breakfast Taco (potato, eggs, and cheese) is
flavorful enough to make me want to order a second one.
Location:
-The parking lot is normally full which makes sense because the food is poppin'
-There aren't any bike racks
Ambiance:
The restaurant's interior design is full of bright reds which involuntary feeds energy into the room. I would describe it as a very social environment, similar to Chilis or Wing Stop
Value:
-The tacos a typically between $3-$4 after tax.
-The portions are somewhat smaller compared to other restaurants, but the flavor makes up for it.
Order Process:
-Easy to order online
-10-15 min wait
-polite service
Return:
Is that even a question? This spot has quickly become one of my weekly pleasures.