Tacos pleases a hungry bear

This article first appeared in the May/Jun Special 2010 issue of World Gaming magazine.

Tacos brings the flavours of Mexico and blends them with a few Portuguese favourites at a good price and in a surprising location.

This restaurant is one of those strange little places where the name doesn’t do it justice. I for one detest Tex-Mex food. Traditional Mexican food is fantastic but what fast food chains like Taco Bell and Mexican-themed restaurants have done to the humble taco and burrito is a far cry from the amazing food offered in Mexico. The Portuguese also do incredible things with food and this little restaurant offers a unique blend of the two cuisines without pretention.

Tacos restaurant

Panda fur alone does not always keep me warm and I was rather chilly from an unseasonable cold snap when I strolled into Taco with a friend just before the New Year. From their extensive menu we ordered a mushroom soup to start which was rich and creamy but most importantly hot and warming. A hot buttered bread roll was the perfect compliment. The friendly waiter told me that they had a special on Heineken so I treated myself to a nice cold beer before moving on to a bottle of red.

The décor is simple and similar to what you might find in a Lisbon café. The feel of the place is very friendly and comfortable and it’s a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike. A couple of local Portuguese customers were talking and snacking while the proprietor, Marisol Arroz, chatted to us about her menu and restaurant. I even had my arm twisted into another Heineken while we waited for our second course – I didn’t need much convincing.

Burritos

I decided that when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I ordered a taco and a burrito. Simply put, the taco was one of the best I have ever had. Fresh ingredients made this a tasty morsel and gave credit to the name of the restaurant. For me a good taco isn’t stuffed so full that you can hardly pick it up and, although it embarrasses me to admit it, I was thinking of ordering another one of these beauties even before the first was finished.

For my main dish I had the beef burrito that was good without being fantastic. My lunch guest however was delighted with his New Zealand steak which was served on a sizzling hot plate with an accompanying bib to prevent splattering. After my guest noticed my intense leering, I was permitted a sample and was pleasantly surprised too. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked and came with a great salad. We washed this down with a good Portuguese red wine – another great recommendation from Marisol.

Nachos

After our plates were cleared away, we convinced ourselves that there was just enough room for some delightful homemade Portuguese cream cake and an espresso coffee. Our brief lunch had quickly turned into a relaxing afternoon and as far as I am concerned the warm atmosphere and excellent food was a vast improvement to the biting cold outside.

This is the sort of restaurant I really enjoy. The food was good, the service was excellent and the prices were fair. You couldn’t call it fine dining but Tacos isn’t trying to be that style of restaurant. If you are looking for a nice lunch or a romantic dinner with someone special then this is a great place to escape the flashing lights of Macau.