Brendan Spriggs
Google
Tacos Los Cholos - Loaded Tacos, Lethal Salsas.
In a world where Taco Bell and Chipotle have become synonymous with ‘Mexican’ food, one begins to wonder - is there still room for a more authentic take on the humble taco?
It’s a Thursday night. The carpark’s looking like a game of Vehicular Tetris, while a line of hungry bystanders trail haphazardly out the door and onto the footpath.
The restaurant itself is intimidatingly busy. Between hurried waitstaff weaving between riotous patrons, the bustling self-serve stations and orders being called out constantly, there’s an awful lot to take in.
It’s loud, rambunctious, and in your face - but that’s all very fitting considering the food being served; after all, what good taco isn’t bold, punchy and a blow to the senses?
Inside, the interior looks a little gaudy, even tacky. Animated flames lick the menu screens, with eclectic font choices evoking memories of a junior high’s PowerPoint presentation (WordArt is still cool okay!).
Despite the.. inspired design choice and general flair, the menu presents a ridiculous number of items on offer - while impressive, it’s undoubtedly overwhelming for newcomers and indecisive patrons alike.
Saying that, with 14 protein options for tacos alone, there’s bound to be something for everyone, even if the average patron has no idea how to pronounce half of them.
Even for those of us familiar with the more authentic side of Mexican cuisine (and I’ve eaten my way through Chipotle’s menu, so I’m obviously well versed.. right?) the first bite of the tacos here is a near religious experience. Savoury, and zingy - with each bite a revelation, and every note hitting perfectly in this salacious symphony of salsas and spices.
With mountainous mounds of meat atop each taco, it’s no wonder they’re cradled by double tortillas - there’s more than enough fillings for an extra taco with what drops out while they’re being lovingly obliterated by the hungry hordes. Needless to say, you won’t leave hungry - as if with food this good you’d want to leave at all.
Naively, I thought I had a grasp on Mexican food before now, but little did I know I was about to transcend to a higher plane of existence, where the humble taco is elevated to something closer to a taste of heaven than the soggy $2 slop most have settled for on a night out.
The self serve saucing station is a spectacle in itself - with 6-8 salsas along with a lineup of traditional taco accoutrements, pure bliss is only a spoonful away.
It’s a savoury pick’n’mix for the indecisive looking to level up their taco game, and man, does it ever deliver. Each salsa hits hard in its own way - no weak links, just liquid gold with a punch, every single one.
But such praise comes with equal warning; select your (sadistically unlabelled) sauces carefully - while all are undoubtedly delicious, some will truly have you walking that fine line between pleasure and pain with heat levels ranging from the gentle warmth of a lover’s embrace, all the way to face-melting regret in salsa form.
I tell ya, I’ve met the devil and I’ve tasted the fires of hell, fresh from the Taco Los Cholos’ sauce station.
It’s a testament to just how damn good the food is though, that despite the chaos within, the crowds keep coming - and really, that’s all part of the experience.
Whether ordering to-go or eating in, there’s a buzz in the air, and you can’t help but be drawn in to the full throttle fiesta that is Tacos Los Cholos.
Say ciao to Chipotle, and ta-ta to Taco Bell; instead, treat yourself to a little TLC at Tacos Los Cholos.