Justin M.
Yelp
Situated across from the Domain lies a little hidden gem dedicated to females, pink and Latino food. Taquero Mucho is located in a very safe part of town with plenty of parking and easily accessible. I would like to note that their menu is limited during brunch times so please plan accordingly. Finally, be forewarned, the outside looks relatively mundane as you'll be tempted to do a double check on google maps as there isn't much outside which hints at the shenanigans inside.
Walking in is a blast of pink; the flowers, floor, ceiling, accents, chairs you name it all pink. I must admit it's a very cool concept and they run with it in spades. I couldn't help myself thinking that it's all a gimmick and the food will suffer for the vanity of atmosphere. Before proceeding on I'm happy to say nothing is further from that concern. The bar has a funky vibe to it with white counter tops and a pink running light underneath giving it a glow affect. The DJ booth is cleverly designed to look like a Barbie package complete with nostalgic writing across the front. It's a site to be sure but alas the food and drinks generally make or break the experience so let's get into the co-star of this show.
In keeping with the whimsical nature of the restaurant the drinks are presented in a creative manner meant to be eye candy as well as lighten the spirits. The Malibu Barbie is a fun drink, served in a strawberry vessel but extremely sweet. One can pick up the strawberries but the sugar is extremely forward. The house 'rita was decent but a smidge on the tart side. My bourbon and diet coke were just as it should be. Overall, the drinks aren't sophisticated but that's not their allure, rather they're fun and tasty.
As for the food I was presently surprised as it was authentic and extremely well excuted. I started with the Salsa Sampler with fun pink chips. The chips are fresh but the salsa's are interesting offering enough for two people to get a few bites in of each. The salsa taquera was HOT but tasty. Honestly, I couldn't get but two bites in overall as it cleaned out the nasal cavity, (please note I can't take a lot of heat). The chipotle was a lower heat salsa with an easy earthy flavor. The tomatillo salsa was fresh with wonderful balance all the onions, jalapenos, tomatillo, lime and cilantro. Finally, the molcajete was charred and had a more "traditional" look and flavor to it. I also ordered the guacamole which was perfect. Chunky avocado sits on top a bed of lettuce with hints of lime topped with tomatoes, jalapenos and onions; all that creates a refreshing dish.
For the main course I ordered two plates starting with the Elote. I was expecting street corn on a stick however this version was equally as effective and tasty. Huge shaved chunks of corn were in a bowl, gently mixed with cotija cheese, chili spice and lime along with other flavors like mayo and a red sauce. I highly advise trying this dish. Finally, I ended my escapade with birria tacos. I will add they said it's served with consume, but this is a misuse of the word, not that the "broth" is bad but it doesn't hold the delicacy of a laborious consume. That said it has a slightly spicy oil on top of a flavorful broth that the taco meat was cooked in. The meat is tender and flavorful stuffed inside tortillas that were soaked in the "consume;" crispy and soaked at the same time. The beans are ok with what I think were hotdogs and the rice was white yet perfectly cooked. The onions and cilantro add the wonderful earthiness to balance out the dish. Overall, an outstanding effort in all regards.
My experience at Taquero Mucho was and adventure in feminine energy, pink, off the wall décor and great food. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly while being fast. Moreover, there are several areas to create photo memories, so be comb your hair before coming. I enjoyed the experience and I would love to come back and try some other drinks and food offerings. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
