Taco Cantina - Review - Smyrna - Atlanta - The Infatuation

"Calling this place Taco Cantina is misleading because what they do best are tortas. That makes choosing from their nine torta options both easy (because they all hit) and difficult (because they all hit). If it’s your first time, get the Cubana. The bread is pillowy, buttery, and hefty enough to hold a heaping portion of slow-cooked pork and smoked ham. When it comes to their street tacos, nothing is wrong with them. They come wrapped in double corn tortillas, sprinkled with onion and cilantro, and offer eight pretty good protein choices (pulled pork is our favorite). But they'll be perpetually stuck as the back-up order here because the tortas are just that good. photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman Pause Unmute Pop in during lunchtime, when the small, colorful, counter-service spot is full of suits, construction workers, and families hovering over tacos and burritos the size of a Prius. Don’t worry about what’s in their styrofoam containers. Just order a torta, try every salsa at the salsa bar, and load up on napkins. Food Rundown Cubana Torta There isn’t a torta we dislike on the menu, but this is our favorite. It’s packed with so much slow-cooked pork that a little bit falls out the sides every time you take a bite. There’s also smoked ham, a sweet relish, mustard, and a spicy mayo packed into this soft, squishy bread. For fans of cubanos, this is a must-order. photo credit: Sarah Newman Milanese De Pollo Torta Do some limbering up exercises to prepare to lift this heavy sandwich. Big pieces of breaded chicken are smothered in a melty jack cheese that’s peppered with pickled jalapeños. You’ll need extra napkins because the combination of chipotle mayo, guacamole, and juicy tomatoes will make your hands look like a baby after their first birthday cake. photo credit: Sarah Newman Fried Chicken Taco Served on a flour tortilla, this taco is an OK order. There’s a large portion of lightly fried chicken topped with a spicy-ish chipotle coleslaw that doesn’t do too much flavor-wise, so pile on some salsa to help it along. Fried Fish Taco Though you get a hefty hunk of cod, it nearly disappears under the weight of a limey coleslaw, pico de gallo, and a guacamole crema. It’s a great order for fried fish lovers, but eat it immediately because all of the juices will turn the flour tortilla into a soggy mess. photo credit: Sarah Newman Street Tacos These come on corn tortillas with eight protein options. Our favorite is the pulled pork because the taste and texture feel like it’s been slow-cooked for hours. Each taco also comes with a bunch of onions and cilantro—plus the option to jazz it up more with any of the sauces from their salsa bar (we like the spicy escabeche jalapeño). photo credit: Sarah Newman" - Juli Horsford