Red Star Taco Bar

Crafty variety among many fusion type taco options with lively flavors and nice presentation. Fish tacos are exceptionally good. Excellent chips and salsa with small charge for refills/extra. Great jazzy music selections were streaming in the house system on a Sunday lunch (albeit uncomfortably loud on our visit). Friendly service. Would come back for more when visiting the area.

Our family tried this taco place for lunch and really enjoyed ourselves. The tacos were all incredible, we especially loved the Catfish taco, the Buffalo Chicken, the Agave Shrimp, the Carne Asadas, and Pulled Pork. There were more but these were the most memorable, the chorizo was good but lacked flavor. The hot sauces were great, and their margaritas were so so good!! Highly recommend - and get the queso and the salami & chips! The Queso was my fave (I added it to the chorizo taco and it made it spectacular!)…

I stopped by Red Star Taco and had a pretty good experience overall. The tacos were decent—good flavor, nice presentation, and a solid portion size. The fried chicken tacos had a nice crunch. The chips and salsa were a nice starter, with crispy chips and a flavorful salsa. The menu had a good variety of options, which I appreciated. Service was good, and the atmosphere was casual and comfortable. Overall, a decent spot for tacos.

Red Star Tacoma – A Happy Hour Win! Red Star Tacoma has come a long way since my last visit several years ago—what a pleasant surprise! We dropped in during happy hour but decided to order from the regular menu instead, and I’m so glad we did. I went with their 3 for $13 TACOs deal, choosing Catfish, Carnitas, and Baja Sur Fish. Each taco was generously portioned, well-balanced, and absolutely delicious. The Catfish taco stood out with its crispy, tortilla chip-encrusted fish and flavorful Cajun remoulade. The Carnitas was classic and comforting with fresh pico and salsa verde, while the Baja Sur Fish was bright and satisfying with cabbage, pico, and their signature Baja sauce. We added a side of chips and salsa for just $3.50, and to our surprise, they provided extra salsa at no charge—great hospitality and value! I also took advantage of their happy hour tequila special and tried Fortaleza Reposado for the first time. At $13 with a generous pour and $3 off, it was a great way to round out the meal. Overall, Red Star Tacoma delivered a fantastic experience—great food, generous portions, and solid happy hour deals. Definitely worth a visit, especially during happy hour!

Delicious! Nice atmosphere. Love their tacos!They’re all pretty great! They do have a taco Tuesday deal, although it’s only a few tacos from their regular menu for the deal and you do have to also get a drink (alcoholic or not) in order to get the deal, so if you’re just drinking water it’s actually cheaper to just get the regular menu tacos, plus you get more options to choose from! Also have had their bowls and a burrito, also very good

Good food and good service. Happy hour is perfect and the blendedsrgarita hit the spot!

We have been on a hunt for the best Nachos in town, & Red Star did NOT disappoint, Super Nachos & a couple tasty Tacos. Parking a little tricky but we don't mind a little walk. Definitely a must restaurant in the Tacoma area

The tacos are good and they have gluten free options. Both desserts are gluten free. The cookie one was out of this world and I plan to try the flan next time. Staff is the bestest

What a glorious day! I am visiting Tacoma again to see my sister. I was able to get a tattoo, which will be another review in itself. My sister suggested we get something to eat post tattoo at Red Star taco bar. I always get a bit sketchy about eating tacos way up here, as I am from Austin, but I was hungry and this establishment was close to the tattoo shop. So we went. What a chill place, great music, and a very interesting menu. Blake, the bartender, was nothing short of amazing. He suggested a great beer and I began reviewing the menu. There was the usual this and that of tacos , two stood out and sounded pretty damn unusual and delicious. I ordered two, one being the sriracha honey tofu, with cabbage, cilantro and pineapple and second being the kara'age fried chicken with sesame seeds, chili garlic sauce, and cabbage. Both on homemade corn tortillas. Both were absolutely phenomenal and pretty damn unusual. We struck up a great conversation with Blake on his adventure from moving from Philly to Tacoma. What a sweet guy! When we were leaving he said we made his day, but you know what, he made ours. If you get the chance please give this place a try, you will not be disappointed!

Such a cute place! Very friendly staff & they have multiple dine in events too like trivia. Food was also really good! Lots of variety in their taco meats/styles! We got the Quesadilla, 3 chicken tacos, 2 fish, and 1 karaage! All delicious!

I had the two taco plate. I ordered a fried Catfish taco on corn tortilla and the red star Philly taco on corn tortilla. All was good. The beans and rice were basic. The server was great for our 8 person party. My husband was not thrilled with his nachos, not enough cheese and he would have rather had the ground beef instead of carne asada.

Every so often I'll drop into Red Star with my honey, usually for Happy Hour or Taco Tuesday. The Taco Tuesday deal cannot be beat and I've never had a taco I didn't love. Even better, they've always got a few vegan taco options and they are SO GOOD I could easily eat here and skip the meat all together. Normally, I'll have a margarita but I've been cutting back on alcohol so most recently I got a nonalcoholic beverage. It was blackberry, ginger, and lime, garnished with jalapeno and spicy sugar, and it was hands down one of the best thing I've ever tasted in my life. It was so delicious that I didn't miss the alcohol -- which is a huge statement for me to make since I love good cocktails so much. So, between the incredible vegan tacos and the nonalcoholic beverages, this is a great place to go with a mixed group of carnivore/herbivores and drinkers/non-drinkers. The only downside to being here is that it tends to be very noisy and I've had to wear earplugs a couple of times.

My husband and I stopped by for dinner on a Sunday evening and everything was incredible! We enjoyed the ambiance, were greeted and seated right away, and had a server checking in with us shortly after. We chose Red Star for the variety of gluten free options and they didn't disappoint. We split 6 different tacos and rice and beans. Each taco was unique and had good flavor, but I think our favorite was the catfish taco with pickles. My husband ordered a pineapple margarita, and I had the colada mocktail. Both were delicious! We ended dinner splitting a delicious rice pudding.

The service is top-of-line and the wait staff is moving to bring you an authentic meal. Fresh flavors and unique pairing with tequilas. I enjoyed the Baja taco's. Approximately one-ish + oz's. Be sure to check out their daily specials. Great place for adult celebrations with larger booths, or being single at the bar chatting with others, are wonderful experiences. Support our local businesses and help make Tacoma the next foodie destination. Follow me for more recommendations.

When I get the chance to be in downtown Tacoma I always want to try somewhere I hadn't been before and I had heard of Red Star before. The spot is pretty cool and the people we interacted were friendly. When the food came out it looked great... however, that's where things kinda ended for me. The shrimp taco was pretty dry and bland. The poutine taco is not what I expected and the fries tasted reheated with that sort of grainy texture. As for the fish taco, the first bite I had was the best... and it didn't have any fish in it. The fish was mushy and mealy, it was a really unpleasant texture in my mouth. It was definitely a lackluster visit for us. I've heard pretty decent reviews from friends so I was pretty bummed. I may try it again and get something different... but based on this visit alone probably not.

Service was great, food came out fast and hot had a great time. We went for happy hour because the happy hour menu has the Mom and Dad tacos which are the best. Food, atmosphere and drinks all a plus for Red Star. Happy Hour is the best time and they do two. Can be a long wait for a table and parking can be tough but well worth it. Cheers!

Waited a minute to be seated , but it was definitely worth it ! The server was amazing !! Enjoyed roasted pineapple marg and wowewwww this was insanely good . Ordered some chorizo and bacon queso ... best queso I've ever had ! Hits the spot on a rainy day . Clean environment, very welcoming , clean facilities great atmosphere!!

Stopped in for happy hour on taco Tuesday and enjoyed two Tecata tall boys, a basket of chips with nicely chunky salsa, one yo' mama's taco each (average size but fresh and tasty), and the bill came to about $20.00 before tip - cool. Pleasant service, too. Good solid place to enjoy happy hour after a matinee at the Grand. I expect we'll be back for dinner soon.

Queso was GREAT! Taco's were kind of underwhelming. Great staff and atmosphere and the drinks were also very good. Would return, but probably not for the tacos.

Terrible service. Terrible food flavorless . Rude. Weak drinks. Bartender was rude. Hardly checked in on our table. Dirty glasses

Loved Red Star Taco Bar that I scheduled two different double dates here in a month. Everyone's favorite seems to be the kara'age fried chicken. Everyone loved it so much on the second double date that we had to order one more round of it. This is after we have had 3 different tacos. Its so crispy and the sauce with it is perfect. My personal own favorite besides the kara'age is the sriracha honey tofu. Its half sweet, half spicy, and the tofu has a good squish on the inside with a good crisp on the outside. Both times, we had different servers and both accomodated at a reasonable time. Each time we visited was on a Friday night and it tends to always be busy, no matter what time we get there. Parking is available a block away on either side of the place. One lot is free and another lot you have to pay for no matter the time. Overall, we will definitely come back here again. Found a new favorite taco place!

I came here for the first time recently. The service was great. The drinks we got were very good. The food was great - my only minor complaint was that the corn tortillas were all dried out and broke apart all the way and I just ate the taco fillings, which was so good and flavorful! I liked the ambiance of the restaurant too. I will definitely be returning.

We ate at the bar. First we got the worst salsa on the planet. We order tacos, no flavor. Cesar salad was a PILE of chopped greens (not romaine) so big you couldn't get it in your mouth. The added chicken on the salad looked like road kill, thrown on a pile of dead leaves. And it was awful. This was by far the worst restaurant experience we've ever had. Serving food like this shows clients that they really just don't care. Really really really BAD food.

Fun place, good food! Taco bar means Tacos, nachos, burritos and a few other items. Went with a group of 6, great service! We did make reservations. Parking is tricky depending on the time of day. We parked across the street at the auto museum but I don't know that it is okay to do just any time.

First time at Red Star and I got the tacos for take out and they came in very cool modern taco boxes which held everything together easily. My favorite tacos that we got were the Baja Fish Taco and the Hot Honey Al Pastor Taco. Everything else I got was just okay. Only one box came with labels and for the other boxes we sort of had to guess which taco is which. Would come again and try out more food.

You know it's not good when you consume something while intoxicated. I ordered asada tacos with rice and fried beans and I cannot exaggerate enough how blend and chewy the food was. Not to mention what I spent, I'm giving it a 3 stars because the chick that helped me was chill and service was cherry.

The Fish, Fried Chicken, & Carnitas Tacos are the best. Also have a great margarita & beer selection. A must visit if you're in the Tacoma area!

We usually come in during happy hour and sit at the bar. Every bartender that has waited on us has been attentive and helpful with any questions we have. I haven't had a bad meal here, and the drinks are always delicious!

This is a great taco joint! We got a table right away. We had some chips, salsa, and guac. The chips and guac were great, the salsa tasted more like a tomato paste. It was a little bland. We ordered some poblano rings. These were awesome! I think they were the highlight of my meal. The margaritas were definitely strong too! I had a couple of shrimp tacos. The agave shrimp and elote taco was my favorite. The meal was very good all the way around. Great service, good food!

Ordered chips, salsa, and guac. Guac was clearly very fresh and quite tasty. The salsa was very good: fresh and just a hint of spice. We followed with three Yucatán pork tacos (have to have achioti) and a plate of the $3 tacos (chicken, chorizo, and sweet potato/black bean). All on corn tortillas (of course). It's been a while since I've had a pork with achioti and this was spot on (the last was a trip to the Yucatán). The flavors of the Yucatán were all present and they very good. The chicken was very good, the chorizo was mild but tasty and, according to my partner, the vegetarian taco was a tad spicy but good. Unfortunately, it was Geeks that Drink night (a trivia game) and the emcee's mic was very loud - loud enough that I could not hear my partner across the table. Service was prompt and friendly (although it was hard to hear). Best tacos I have found in the PNW. 2023 Update: Four years on and still some of the best tacos in the PNW. The guac still tastes super fresh and the mezcal drinks are fantastic. Service remains very friendly and prompt. It can very crowded and noisy and sometimes a table can be hard to come by. Be patient, the food is worth it. Enjoy some mezcal while you wait.

They were pretty rude. They gave me the nachos with no cheese and made a big deal when I asked about it. Very unprofessional. The man at front with red hair was gaslighting me telling there was cheese when there literally was the tinest amount. Horrible experience. will not be back. They need to learn manners. The lady at the front was very sweet. But the man with red hair was extremely rude and not understanding. He seemed to be more interested in arguing than solving the problem. I've never experienced that before. Also the lady solved the problem very quickly and professionally. I'm not sure what the red hair guys problem was but he makes the place look bad. I'm also a food blogger so was excited to try the place but couldn't even enjoy it after the rudeness.

TIP: they have a solid happy hour and Taco Tuesday!! The "Your Mom's Taco" and "Your Dad's Taco" on the HH menu had me rollin' LOL Food: I got tacos and a margarita, since this place is a taco bar. Tacos are street taco sized on a corn or flour tortilla. They have different fillings for their tacos and categorized into 3 for $9, 3 for $12, and $5/each, as well as a la carte prices. Not Mexican-authentic but still very good. Margarita selection is solid and well made. My dining buddy got the Bonfire Old Fashioned but it was rather syrupy. Service: no complaints. We were promptly greeted and our server was attentive. Ambiance: standard New American bar, not too trendy, not too divey. Noise level can get pretty loud. They also have upstairs seating for private parties.

There was a very good scent permeating from the establishment. I came for a going away party and I was told beforehand that children are permitted up to 9 pm daily. Which was great for me so I brought my little one. I ordered the half vegetarian Nachos with beans and sweet potatoes added which was an additional $3 I ordered the vegetarian taco options sweet potato and bean Now to the meat eaters The red Philly taco was delicious the tequila lime chicken was okay. The catfish taco was delectably delicious, the Baja fish taco was everything you'd expect especially the coleslaw. The alcohol was reasonably price and they have a happy hour menu! Extra points for not rushing me to leave with my little one. I departed at 9:10pm. I would come again assuredly. It seems like a good place for groups and/or date night.

I've been here twice now and enjoy the different and unique taco options. Pretty solid tacos with good vegan options as well and cocktails. It's usually not too busy on the times I've went with good service.

I can't say anything about the recent food or ambience, but the service is not what I remember or hoped. Past Puget Sound alumni.......in town for graduation. Wanting to take our three recent adults and was turned away. Even though we showed up two different days before 9pm.......Especially on Mother's day when the restaurant was absolutely empty. Oh well La Ca Bar brought it hard! I absolutely recommend them! Delicious!

We had the Baja Sur Fish, Buffalo Chicken and Carnitas tacos plus the Taco of the Month. All were fantastic! A comfortable experience in a casual environment. Prices are good. One of our favorite spots!

Red Star Taco Bar was the date night destination a few weeks back. Cool atmosphere and really kind service. They're pretty popular, though! We came on a Friday around 8pm and had to wait half an hour, but we just put our name on a list and they gave us a call when our table was ready which gave us an excuse to checkout a nearby spot while we waited. I guess I'd say my review is more of a 3.5, but the food really missed the mark for me! I've heard great things about this place but was not blown away. I had the burrito bowl, with carne asada, and it was just okay. I do not mean this in a mean way - but I prefer Chipotle burrito bowls over Red Star. The bowls here are just a little bland, or at least the one I had was. That said, the Pepper Queso Dip?? Worth coming back for. We absolutely devoured that. It was SO good! Can't be missed - highly recommend. My boyfriend also enjoyed his margarita, and they do have a good selection of drinks with a full bar. I'd come back for a drink and that Pepper Queso Dip for sure. It's a fun atmosphere, just not my first choice for dinner (but I'll try again just to be sure!)

Thoroughly charming. Both the tofu and sweet potato tacos were amazing! Friendly cheerful vibe.

Went here for happy hour time but unfortunately i had to work later so i couldn't not partake. my friends did say their margarita was good though. i really appreciate that they had house made corn tortillas and they were great. loved the beans and rice very flavorful. i had the Honey Siracha Shrimp taco and the agave shrimp and elote taco as part of the two taco plate for $12.50 that comes with rice and beans -- stellar deal if you ask me! they were both very good and i would definitely go back to try other tacos and that margarita! the service was great and the room kind of on the darker side

BRING BACK THE WINGS!! PLEASE! Heartbroken they removed them from the menu. The chili garlic & honey sriracha were so good :(

Stepped out for a Mom Night and decided to try this place because they have reverse Happy Hour from 10-close. Walked in to a packed restaurant with great vibes, good music, and a great atmosphere. Had a seat at the packed bar and tried a couple of tacos and their slushie margarita. Catfish tacos were great! Spicy remoulade sauce and crunchy dill pickles were the perfect addition! Slushie Margaritas are a 10/10. I've had every variation and they are all a great! Definitely strong enough to feel after a few.

Delicious food, great atmosphere, good margaritas. Love the food! So why the 3 stars? Portions way too small for the price (yet more Tacoma gentrification: well-to-do young folks willing to pay high prices for little precious cute amounts). AND WHAT KIND OF MEXICAN RESTAURANT DOESN'T BRING FREE CHIPS AND SALSA? Given that you're paying top dollar for tiny (though delicious) tacos, they should at least give you chips. That's really cheapskate of the place.

I met a few co-workers for lunch at Red Star Taco Bar, one of whom recommended we have tacos here. This is the best place I've had a fish tacos - amazing flavors! I also ordered the cheese and bean dip which was also a wonderful start to our meals. The service was also great and he also separated the checks between us. The location is on the corner of 6th and St Helen's Ave. It is street parking, but was shocked at how far I parked away from the restaurant as there weren't any open spots nearby. There are lots of room for small and large parties to sit and enjoy the food.

Food as always, was amazing; however we waited soooo long after being seated for even a drink order, then again for our food order... we then had to ask someone else to get more to drink. I get if you're understaffed; but to have a full personal conversation with other patrons (who arrived way after us & left at the same time) to say others got a lax of service, is sad. We ended up not getting our second drinks and just leaving. I was very excited to bring my partner here & he agreed the food was amazing... but to probably not want to go back; sucks all around.

Wonderful spot with great vegetarian and vegan options. Nice happy hour deals as well. Also, to all of my pregnant friends, I ordered the spicy tofu and bang bang cauliflower tacos and went into labor mere (2) hours later. So my official recommendation: get the induction taco combo!

Let me start by clarifying that my experience here was with a to-go order. I ordered the fish tacos and the poblano rings to share. Tacos were jam packed! Large portions of fish and generous toppings, the flavor hit the spot for sure. What I really need to convey, is that the poblano rings are EPIC!!! I was very impressed and I highly recommend ordering some for the table. To go service was quick but I can't speak much to the ambiance other than to say it was daily loud when I walked in to pay and such.

My friend has mentioned Red Star several times for a great lunch spot, finally we went!! I orders the two taco plate- had a hard time choosing on which two tacos I wanted to try- I chose the fried chicken and the carne asada. The fried chicken taco was delicious, perfect amount of heat and sweet! The carne asada was also delish- chose flour tortillas for both. I chose the pinto beans since they have bacon mixed in- phenomenal! Great service- great atmosphere!

Wow - the food and service were great. Was there for happy hour so had the 2 tacos for $5 (& the Baja fish taco extra). Carnitas & tequila chicken tacos were great & the Baja fish didn't disappoint! Would definitely visit again when in Tacoma!

3 stars is basic normal restaurant. And thats what this place offers, basic low mid, over priced, small tacos. Ambiance was ok inside. Had to ask for salsa which was ok at best. Service was ok. Minus 1 star for the horrible, no good, atrocious Korean bbq beef tacos. Rice and beans were basic but tiny portions. Likely never to return.

Amazing tacos! Such a fun spot for small plates of tacos & good drinks. They have a full bar and a fun vibe. The drinks are strong and the food is delicious. Service is consistently good. Parking & wait times can be difficult but worth it.

I really like this place. It's hard to pick my favorite taco, they've all been really good. The kara'age taco and the asado taco are probably my favorite. The Baha is also excellent. I also really enjoy the salsa. Huge bonus points for being open until midnight. Great service too.

Extraordinarily large portions and quality. I wandered in here before a nearby appointment and just got lucky. Everything from the atmosphere to the service was above par. I will be back soon!

Amazing food and servers / bartenders are awesome. Trivia night is fun and they are open super late everyday!! Late night happy hour is great. The catfish taco is a must try!!

Service was prompt and friendly. We came here for some late night eats. I had the pozole, which wasnt half bad compared to several places in the area. The bowl is small, but it's $8-made a good snack. Could have used more cilantro, onions, cabbage and lime. My friend got the tacos with rice and beans. She said her pork carnitas tacos were good but that the adobo pork didn't have much flavor. The beans and rice were pretty bland, but they were kind enough to remove it from the bill. The ambiance was pretty chill--as we were kinda seated in a corner by ourselves and the lights were dim. Not sure that we would come back.

This place is incredibly delicious. We stopped by for happy hour (4-6pm) and got some bomb tacos (not pictured, devoured). The elote shrimp was my favorite. I also ate every drop of the pozole. Definitely coming back!

The red star is for red hot. If you want all your food covered in chilis, then this is for you. The meat in the tacos seemed like it would taste good, but the peppers overwhelmed it, along with the salsa. The service was subpar, even though there were more servers than customers. The bartenders were calling each other B***. They then began to have a New Year's party when they all sat at a table by the bar. I knew then to flag down anyone that passed by to get my check. It was so bad, I kept waiting for Jon Taffer to walk in. Just bad...

Great service. Food had flavor that exceptional and fresh. Not salty. The darker areas of the dining area make a romantic yet hip and fun night out.