As an American, I've been blessed with my share of tacos during my lifetime. The style that La Antigua Taqueria offers are of the authentic Mexican variety: shredded (ropa vieja) or grilled bits of meat or simply stewed black beans wrapped in a petite corn tortilla. I have tried them all, of course, and they are delicious if your appetite is for Mexican-style tacos and quesedillas. If you're of the opinion that the USA does tacos best, you might be disappointed both in the content and portion size of the fare. The plates here are inexpensive, however, so ordering two tacos (for example) would only set you back about five euros. Oh, and as fair warning: these soft little tortillas tend to expand in your stomach so if you wolf them down, you're going to have a bad time.
Aside from the delicious food, the ambiance is classically Mexican. A pair of wide double-doors open out onto the street, so as you enjoy the small, dark dining room you can watch the passing of Lavapies' richly diverse pedestrians. There is a great and colorful calavera mural on the wall on the way to the restrooms. By the way the waitress avoided lisping her "c"s I guessed that she was Mexican or at least not European, and those cultural qualities were reflected in her service: smiling and warm, and attentive.
The only way you'd know that you were in a Spanish-Mexican restaurant and not an authentic Mexican restaurant is that when you order a Mexican beer, as an American, you want a lime in it. Like, a slice IN the bottle. Spain doesn't do that. Spain never got the memo or at best mistranslated lima as limon. Very rarely in this country has my perseverance in ordering lime with a Pacifio or Coronita been rewarded with a slice of lime. This restaurant is no exception; here, you are given a glass half-full of lemon Fanta with a salted rim, with a splash of tequila added, and are expected to pour your Pacifico into it. It's refreshing, it's interesting at least, but it ain't a lime.
The tl;dr is that if you're on the hunt for cheap Mexican tacos in a Mexican-themed taco joint, come down to Lavapies and try La Antigua Taqueria. read more
