Emmett T.
Yelp
When Tahona first debuted in Old Town, it was a very buzzy spot that included a speakeasy in the back of the facility (Oculto 477). I believe the number reflected the 477 buried bodies at the next door cemetery, El Campo Santo, which is more than 175 years old. There was a row of tables in the parklet in front of the building for outdoor dining. The interior was broken up into a main dining area, a small tasting room off to the left side, and a cocktail bar and lounge area in the back.
The main draw for this place was the selection of mezcals, hence the term mezcaleria posted on an exterior sign. The food and drink menus were on display outside the structure so you could view them from the sidewalk. I sat at the bar during my most recent visit on a weeknight that happened to be on a Taco Tuesday. The discount was $2 off all tacos all day long. The regular prices for the eight listed tacos were between $6 and $8.
I initially chose three of the tacos without the awareness of how large they would be. The Cali-Baja Fish, Chicken & Rabbit Al Pastor, and the Venison Picadillo were my selections. Mahi was used as the fish that was battered with masa tempura. House slaw, miso aioli, date glaze, and guajillo XO were the other ingredients. The crunch on the fillet was light and crispy.
The meats in the al pastor were marinated with blood orange-achiote adobo. Charred avocado and pineapple and pico de gallo accompanied the chicken and rabbit. I thought this was an unusual combination as you don't find rabbit used often as a taco meat. The pineapple provided a sweetness to contrast the adobo marinade and grilled avocado.
A 50/50 mix of venison and beef was used to form a terrine for the last taco. Seasonal pico, garbanzo and avocado crema, and pepita macha spiced up the meats. I wasn't full after consuming the trio so I also ordered their signature taco which was the Asada Norteno. Carne asada, chorizo, queso oaxaca, cabbage, onion, green salsa, and salsa macha were the components. The beef and the sausage were very savory on the bottom of the tortilla.
All of the tacos I tried had a creative combination of ingredients and flavors. With the reduced prices on Taco Tuesday, the value was much more reasonable for these street sized products. I gave a four star rating for my meal at Tahona Bar.