Mike L.
Yelp
Ever since I first came across TacoBar years and years ago, I've been equal parts intrigued and skeptical. The former because both the menu and the photos of the food looked great; the latter because, with all due respect, they're located in Lower Pac Heights. Besides how that meant they were inevitably going to be pricier than the taquerias in The Mission, I also worried that their flavors would be more subdued and milder as well. However, after finding ourselves in the area with a hankering for some fish tacos, it seemed like the perfect time to finally check this place out!
Based on how the outside looks, the inside of TacoBar is actually smaller than I thought it would be. That being said, that's not to say they're short on seating, as they can actually accommodate a good number of folks both inside and with their outdoor tables. Similarly, the menu initially didn't seem all that extensive, but it's actually got a fair variety to offer, ranging from soups, salads, ceviches, and nachos to tacos, burritos quesadillas, and desserts. What's more, they also have a wealth of nice selection of meats and seafood, too - carne asada, carnitas, chicken, al pastor, fried fish, grilled fish, fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, vegetarian, and more.
-- BAJA FISH TACOS - Fried Local Cod with Cabbage Slaw, Roasted Ancho Salsa, and Baja Lime Sauce
Pretty decent, but I feel like they could've been better. The cod was moist and I loved how they were as long as the tortillas, but the batter was more crisp than crispy. Also, even though the slaw was tasteless on its own, it added some freshness along with the sauce.
-- CARNITAS TACO with Onion and Cilantro
Not that I expected this to be be, but I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty this was! The carnitas were awesome - plentiful, relatively juicy, well seasoned, and the edge pieces had a nice bit of crust and char to them. Yum!
-- CARNE ASADA TACO with Onion and Cilantro
Much like with the Carnitas Taco, this came with a mount of meat, but I didn't think it was quite as good. Although the beef also had a nice char on it, it wasn't quite as flavorful and felt a bit dry and chewy, too.
While I certainly how generous the portion was for all of the tacos we tried, it almost had to be to offset the price. At $12.75 for two tacos (you can mix and match whatever pairings you like), TacoBar's prices are, as I figured, higher than what you might find elsewhere. And unfortunately, despite how everything tasted better than I feared they would, they weren't quite as dynamic or intense as I had hoped for either. Given that, you could certainly find better for less in The Mission, but if you're already in the neighborhood, TacoBar is more than enough to get the job done, so long as you're okay with paying for the convenience.
THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.