The main Ws were the friendliness of the staff, the Baja taco, and the atmosphere. Big, spacious, bright, cool lamps and lots of plants in the large windows. I was with my toddler nephew otherwise I might have taken advantage of the bar area, which looked really cool, comfy, and inviting. (It is to the left in my picture.) Our server was really nice and worked with my sisters unfortunately semi-debilitating food allergy to garlic (did you ever realize that garlic is basically in EVERYTHING?) even going back to the kitchen to check if the meal she was eyeing had garlic as an ingredient. At the end it took a while to get the check, and we just about missed the kids nap time window because of it, but that's no reason not to try this spot out. I recommend the Baja tacos (as mentioned. Sorry, eating my leftover one as I type this, so must say again-- SO good) and honestly, the sidewinder fries were fantastic too. Next time I'm going to splurge and get a margarita, and I included a pic of the drink menu for you to peruse as well! Overall, yes. I say try this one out. I hate to say it, since it's now RIP, but White Duck was *not* a tasty place IMHO, and because of that, I was hesitant to try any other Asheville-area Mexican food places (I live in Philadelphia, so I visit once every few months.) But I'm really glad I did. read more

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Loud party vibe. Friendly service. I had Chicken Tinga enchiladas with molè sauce. It had very strong flavors. Not really a fan of the chicken tinga. Missing Zia's read more

Taco Boy - Chicken tinga enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Taco Boy managers- Please make better, fresher, more favorable food! It's not difficult to make a taco or salad with fresh ingredients, and it's not hard to make homemade tortillas. So why does your food quality continue to go down? Pick up the spice, use fresh lettuce, real grilled chicken breast versus questionable chewy chunks. I want you to succeed, but the Asheville locations have both gone from decent to terrible. read more

Overall great experience. The price for tacos is a dollar or two more than we preferred but would go again. The tacos were flavorful. Prickly pear cocktail was good. It helped that we went during happy hour to cut some cost. Dry rub wings flavorful and crispy and it helped to have it half off because it was Monday. Wish there were more flavor options for wings. Queso and chips were good but queso was really thick. Biggest con was the too salty rice. Didn't eat much of it because it was too salty which made the price even more of a negative for us. The chicken, bacon, ranch taco without the ranch was tasty. Lot of spring mix on top but good. The Baja shrimp taco was cooked well. I didn't get the aioli on it, but it was still good. Loved the cook of the shrimp. The birria taco needed more cheese but good. The spice level could go up, too. Our waitress was good, too. Helpful in picking my tacos. And the aesthetic was cool. Loved the artwork and lighting. Will return soon to try more tacos! read more

I was looking up places to get chips and salsa nearby because I was craving some and discovered this place had free chips and salsa for Happy Hour. I stopped by before Happy Hour to see if I could take it to go and one of the staff members, Liz, said I would be able to. I came back around 3 for the chips and salsa and also purchased a "Firecracker" shrimp taco to share with my friend. It was $4 for the Happy Hour price. Liz checked me out and was very pleasant. The chips were kinda gross. I could tell after eating a few that they were fried in old oil. Like you can taste that the oil was stale and was probably used to cook fish in. It also needed slightly more salt. The salsa made up for the chips because it was garlicky and delicious. The taco was a great small bite. I would come back for one of those tacos. It seems like a cute space to go eat a margarita and taco in. I'd come back and ask for fresher chips next time. read more

Taco Boy - Happy Hour Menu - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Mediocre food. Very, very loud inside. Ambient music was nearly concert volume and the customers had to yell to be heard across the table.

I just don't know why I can't get over that they charge for chips. Because it was slow they did give us chip's for a long wait for 2 tacos. The tacos were ok but had better. The waitress was very nice and helpful. Just not the greatest ambiance and the food was just decent. read more

After eating at the Folly a beach location many times we weee exited to see the Asheville location open up! The owners of Taco Boy have done an amazing job renovating / updating this restaurant. It was no surprise to see that this place was very busy on a Friday night and required a 30 minute wait for a table. No worries though! They did a great job in making sure the bar has ample space for waiting and there's even a small waiting "lounge" where you can grab drinks while you wait. We tried several margaritas and they're all delicious, highly recommend the El Jeffe Margarita! Lots of great things to say about this place BUT the food was a disappointment.... The tacos lacked flavor, the filling on some was almost none existent, and the prices reflect higher expectations. I hope there will be improvement after they have been open longer. read more

Taco Boy - a margarita in a glass on a bar - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Taco Boy has been one of our favorites ever since we visited the OG one at Folly Beach. We got the chance to try their newest spot in west Asheville this week and it was good but there are a few kinks that need to be worked out. We started with a few margaritas and those were delicious! We got the El Jefe, Spicy and Skinny Margs and they were all really well balanced. They use fresh juices Vs mixes and you can tell by the flavor in the drinks and lack of sweetness which we loved. For our meals we ordered the taco plates which come with 2-3 tacos and rice and beans. The food took a bit but that's understandable since they were super busy. The service was top notch - our waiter and the manager were consistently checking on tables and ensuring everyone had everything they needed. The tacos themselves were hit or miss. The carnitas and korean beef were amazing but the baja fish and birria were lacking in terms of flavor. Its also on the pricier side for the portions and size of tacos. overall ill be back but may wait a few months. read more

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I came here with my family on vacation to Asheville . My daughter ended up getting sick. I ended up taking her to the Emergency room. She was diagnosed with food poisoning. When I talked to the doctors at the emergency room I was told locals avoid this place. I have the paperwork from the emergency room to verify I am telling the truth. read more

A message to Trey the bartender, Mary the manager, and Sarah Jane the off-duty bartender who was just enjoying a quality meal and drink. Thank you all for making my solo day feel like it was serendipitous. I walk in and was greeted by the staff as if I was the mayor of Asheville. This was my first time visiting Taco Boy after living in Asheville for a year and I can't wait to come back with my friends and give this restaurant the love it deserves. You did it all right. Thank you for making me feel like I belonged the second I walked in. Trey, keep slinging the drinks like you do man! Absolute passion. See y'all again very soon! read more

Taco Boy - Gave me free chips to share with Sarah Jane. This is what Asheville community is all about. See ya again soon! - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Fun stop for lunch. Good margarita choices and yummy chips and dips. Loved the queso! Tacos were tasty and well stuffed, but corn tacos fell apart some. The bartender was really nice and made some good suggestions for things to do in the area. Prices weren't bad either. read more

Taco Boy - Taco Platter - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I loved Taco boy when it was a locals spot on Folly Beach. But growth and popularity did not do this restaurant well. Now, the food is mediocre at best, often bad and usually cold. Service is hit or miss- in fact, you don't even have a server at the Biltmore Park location- and more often a miss. And wayyy overpriced for what you get. Ever since this place expanded and became more corporate, the quality has gone downhill. Gone are the fresh ingredients overflowing tacos and quesadillas, salads bursting with flavor, and nachos piled so high they nearly toppled over. My last straw was this past weekend. I ordered a simple veggie quesadilla, pretty much a go-to for me. What i got was nothing short of just brown slop. The tortillas were so wet and soggy from oil and grease, you literally could not hold it in your hand as it just flopped over. It was so incredibly messy and not in a good way. Veggies? You mean refried beans and onions? C'mon, you can and have done so much better!! I was starving, so I ate it anyway, but I hated myself for it. I felt sick the rest of the day. I won't be back unless its ONLY for a margarita. Yall cant even get ships and salsa right either. read more

I was walking around West Asheville with my dog one weekday afternoon and decided to stop by Taco Boy for a taco and a drink. I was a little disappointed to see the outdoor patio section that existed before Taco Boy took over had been built out to make a larger indoor seating section. Although they have several outdoor picnic benches, they don't have table service outside (at least they didn't when I went). I was still determined to try it out so I tied my dog up to a bench and asked how I should order. I was told I could place a to-go order. After looking over the menu, I placed my order with the bartender and let them know I would be eating outside. I was able to order a margarita, and when my single taco was ready, they brought it out to me. I was happy that they did not serve my taco in a to-go, but rather on a plate. The interior was really artsy and aesthetically pleasing, it was giving off a high end Mexican joint but with a casual feel. I was there around 3pm on a Wednesday and it was quiet with a few tables occupied. I got the tempura avocado taco on corn tortillas. I was pleasantly surprised when I received my taco and saw that the tortillas were blue. It was different, and delicious. I don't always order corn tortillas but knowing they were made fresh, in house, I had to have them. It was the right choice. The taco itself was tasty overall, but left me wanting more. It came with two avocado slices, and a bit of slaw. Definitely not as loaded as a build your taco joint, but cost about the same. There were quite a few vegetarian options, and the menu even indicated the ability to sub protein to make it veggie, which is always nice to see. I'm interested to try some other items on the menu but with the amount of options for taco's (and complimentary chips and salsa) in town, I don't foresee this turning into a regular stop for me. read more

Taco Boy - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Six of us had dinner at Taco Boy recently. It was the first time for half of us; the other half had been here before. What I liked: The remodel that Taco Boy did on the old Delores and José and Zia Tacqueria space, with a colorful mural, basket hangings and a built out patio, is very nice. It definitely looks better. Most of us had the Platos Grandes ($14 with choice of two tacos, rice and beans.) I liked the fresh flavor of my Baja fish taco on housemade corn tortillas. Those who had the firecracker shrimp and the birria tacos also said they liked them. My fried chicken taco was only so-so. The rice and black beans also had a good flavor but the serving was skimpy. What I didn't like: The house margarita ($9) was small and tasted like it came from a grocery store mix. Prices for everything on the menu seem high for a taco place, especially since you don't get free chips and a dip. That costs $10. Our dinner for two, with one margarita, one non-alcoholic beer and one draft Dos Equis, came to $60 with tax and tip. Not that great a value! Bottom line: You can get tacos just as good, or better, at White Duck Taco or Taco Billy or elsewhere, for a good deal less money. And lots of places, including Papas and Beer, have better margaritas. However, the atmosphere at Taco Boy is a step up from these other spots. I sure do miss Delores and José's! read more

In fairness, the food at Taco Boy is good. But it is one of those new style of restaurants where the patron does everything: you order at the counter. You get your own water and cutlery. If you need more water, you get it yourself. At least a server delivered the food to our table. Some of these new-style places don't even do that. Still, it feels less like a restaurant and more like a vending machine. read more

My family dined here yesterday. It was $62 with tip for basically four super tiny tacos. My daughter woke us up at 4:30 in the morning complaining of stomach pains. My wife left our RV and took her to the emergency room. It was confirmed she got food poisoning. I have receipts. I can not recommend this restaurant. read more

I live in the neighborhood so was super excited to give Taco Boy a try! We went on a busy Friday, and they were still able to seat us right away. Yay! My husband and I ordered 2 margaritas, the appetizer dip trio, the quesabrilla, and the 3 taco plate. I was disappointed by my House marg. I had been looking forward to it all week, and honestly.....MEH. It was on the weak-ish side, seemed small (I finished it fairly quickly, and I'm a slow drinker when it comes to alcohol), and seemed more orange then lime. My husband enjoyed his Pineapple margarita, but did say it was fairly light on flavor. The dips- the guac was AWESOME, probably the best thing of our entire night! Lime-forward, which is how I like it. The salsa was also very flavorful; clearly homemade. The queso didn't have any flavor at all. My quesabrilla was yummy! Broth was flavorful. The quesabrilla half was good, but kinda.....heavy? I'm not sure if it was the type of cheese or what but just hit heavier then I was expecting. It was good, definitely, but I was glad we were splitting everything so I wasn't eating *just* the quesabrilla but had the tacos to bring some lighter flavors into the mix. In terms of tacos, we ordered the chicken taco (at the recommendation of our server), the fish taco, and the fried chicken taco. The chicken was DRY. Listen to these reviews. DRYYYY. I really loved the fish taco and would get that one again. My husband liked the friend chicken taco; I thought it was kinda weird, but admitly flavorful. My opinion: GOOD, but not GREAT. There are other options in town I would choose over Taco Boy. PS: the parking lot is a problem. Think Trader Joes level of insanity. Don't even attempt it. read more

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First time in but so impressed! Will be back again and again. The staff is so friendly , so professional and eager to please !!! Best Margaritas and Quesadilla ever!!! The decor warms you and makes you soooo comfortable! Love this place read more

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Service was excellent. The wait staff was very attentive. Free chips and salsa is hard to beat!!

Sigh... I was looking forward to some yummy shrimp tacos. I ordered the shrimp tempura tacos, hubs had the chicken tacos and we had a couple of drinks. Over all, not worth it. Small portions, rice had no sazón, beans were bland, tempura shrimp was all dough with minuscule baby shrimp inside. Just, not. it. You are definitely paying for the experience because the place is trendy and the service was good but the food was no bueno and the bill was outrageous :( read more

Trey was fantastic he gave fantastic recommendations for tacos and drinks and kept us well entertained. Would definitely drive here from anywhere to come back for the fantastic ambiance and great service. Definitely sit at the bar if able and go when Trey is working. read more

I ordered the Mexican Caesar. Very tasty, generous size. Crispy Romaine. What makes it "Mexican" is roasted corn and a lime seasoned, mayo-based dressing. Caesars are usually garlicky, which this is not at all. You have protein options; I chose the grilled chicken, moderately seasoned. Big enough to share. The ambiance is typical Asheville/tourist: cold, bare concrete floors and much-too-loud music. Friendly, energetic, and attentive staff. Outside of peak hours (when I was there), ask for a seat in a sunny forward section. My seat was in a small cheerless darkish booth. You don't want that. read more

Taco Boy - Mexican Caesar. - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

The lettuce wraps were great! Our waitress Gracie was amazing! Would definitely go back because of her!

I stumbled into this place solo for a late lunch. I'm a sucker for a margarita and some corn chips and salsa. As you walk in this place is super cute. Funky tie and really cute ightign fixtures. I even took a gander at the cute gift shop to the right when you walk in with all sorts of fun items. I sat at the bar and had a margarita and some nachos. The nachos were good but the cheese was a bit salty for my taste. Also the portions was huge. Definitely a sharing plate...it was on the appetizer section...=) But the good news is that I took it home and had it for lunch the next day. I'd definitely go back. read more

I was really bummed whenever Zia left it's Haywood Rd location. That was one of my favorite spots in Asheville. Whenever Taco Boy announced it's arrival, I was ecstatic. I've been waiting for a place in Asheville that serves a good Birria taco. I guess everybody else was as well, as the first time I tried to go, there was a 2 hour wait. That was a Sunday afternoon, so we left and decided to come during the week. Our second attempt was at noon on a Tuesday. It still took a while to get in, but we waited because we really wanted to try Taco Boy. Overall, the experience was pretty good. The food was great, as they have a wide variety of tacos to choose from, even for special diets. However, the pricing was rather high. For 3 tacos and a side of black beans, I paid $22. The food was good, but it wasn't $22 good. Aside from special occasions, I can't see myself visiting Taco Boy very often when we have other really great taco places around Asheville that are so much cheaper. read more

We met some family here for a birthday get together & had a group of 11! Being seated did not take very long, they cleared out 2 longer tables next to each other for us, which worked. Our server, Josh, went above & beyond the ENTIRE night. We were all talking about how amazing he was, best server ever. (thank you!!) He especially accommodated lil mans who was out with us that night. He brought out the food we got for him first, & some churros after to keep him busy while the rest of us received & worked on our meals. The drinks tasted great too! I personally got a pineapple margarita & Chase got a house one. One of us got the spicy margarita, which seemed to be a hit because they ordered a second one. As for food, we started with the appetizer that comes with chips, queso, guac, & salsa - it was yummy. Everyone loved the meals they got. I personally chose the taquitos & they were YUMMY. A good amount of sauce & is he chicken was so yummy & soft. I cannot wait to be back. Thank you Taco Boy! read more

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I've given it 3 tries now and the food is simply mediocre. Tacos have way too much sauce, conflicting flavors, and they toss chopped raw onions on everything so you are tasting them a day later. Won't be back. We have SO many way better taco places in Asheville. Too bad because ambiance is good and service was good. Also seems a bit pricey compared to competitors in Asheville. read more

I've never been more disappointed in a Mexican restaurant. The portions were small, overcooked, and overpriced. My wife ordered a quesadilla that was burnt on all edges with the cheese falling out and barely any chicken. My margarita was ten dollars and had about a quarter ounce of tequila in it. Their tacos, for six dollars, had the least amount of meat I've ever seen sold in a taco. The decoration was done in a faux-corporate latinx way. It felt like appropriation and is offensive to the inclusive community we are trying to create in West Asheville. It doesn't feel like a spot for locals, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't a tourist. 1/5, there are many fantastic places in Asheville I would recommend to tourists and locals alike. This is not one of them. read more

In a town with fantasist taco options, this is not competition. We got the queso, tempora shrimp taco, carnitas taco, and the buttermilk chicken taco. All were dry, and lacking flavor. The shrimp taco was fishy. Also, I gave them my cell number to put me on the waiting list and they somehow got my email from that. I never gave them my email. I was sent an email 2 hours after we left asking how our experience was. Not cool and an invasion of privacy read more

Overall great experience!! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, GREAT food! If I had critiques I would say on a pricer side (no free chips and salsa) and food took a little while - but I would say all justified for the vibe of the place - the time gives you time to enjoy your apps and drinks and price reflects the time you spend and the atmosphere created! We enjoyed!! read more

Taco Boy - Taco platter : Carnitas taco and grilled chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I've been here twice now and love it! Highly recommend the Birria and the fried chicken tacos. Their guac and queso is amazing as well as their margs. Would recommend this place to everyone read more

Taco Boy - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I visited taco boy for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night and I was surprised to see how many people were there. They were playing club / duo step music (which is not my thing but maybe it's yours) pretty loud if you were sitting underneath the speakers in the ceiling. The blood orange margarita was good. I veganized my tacos and they were good except for the tortillas! They were wet, flimsy and falling apart - I had to eat my tacos with a fork! Service was a bit slow but again it was a Saturday night so everywhere in Asheville is. I hope the tortilla recipe gets improved! read more

Tody my husband and I visited the Taco Boy in Biltmore Park for the first time. I would not recommend this restaurant. The service was extremely slow especially since the restaurant was nearly empty. I ordered an (expensive) entre salad which was tiny and served in a small bowl with hardly any ingredients. We are local, and would advise visitors that there are many places in the area for this type of food which are much better, and much more reasonably-priced. read more

Just wasn't great. Everything could have had a bit more seasoning. Customer service was nice though.

When you first walk up to the place you notice all the windows which definitely helps set the mood and all of the different lights and the setup make it feel like home. We started out with the guacamole and salsa which we're both amazing. The guacamole has a nice limey flavor and the salsa has a nice kick to it without over powering. For food, I ordered the chicken tinga and carne asada tacos with corn tortillas. I love chicken tinga and this was definitely the best I've ever had. The flavors were shooting at me left and right and the corn tortilla did not fall apart at all. The carne asada was nice and tender with lots of juices and flavors and the chimichurri sauce was so good. The service was really quick and everyone was super nice. The food came out quickly and whenever we needed something, it was already there before you ordered it. read more

We came here for lunch today and it was a terrible experience. We ordered right away and waited almost an hour for our food, we were the only table inside. Our server seemed to be either hungover or having some kind of issue. He burped several times following by nonstop hiccups and a terrible attitude. I had the fried chicken taco and the grilled shrimp taco. My chicken one was burnt hard as a rock and the shrimp one was cold. My husband ordered a torta which was served cold and he said it was gross. Our server never came to check on us so we couldn't say anything. After waiting a long time we ended up having to go to the bar to ask them to get our bill and pay bc our server wouldn't even look at us to get the bill. A truly awful experience read more

Upon arrival, Taco Boy was promising. The vibrant atmosphere and staff were very inviting. The food quality could've easily made this a five star review, however, we were disappointed. The steak was undercooked to the point we had ask for a to go box and cook it at home. The rice and chips were undercooked as well. Tasted like the chips were not left in the fryer more than a few seconds. An $100 bill for this experience is unfortunate. The only reason this is a two star review and not a one is because of Gabe the bartender. I cannot stress enough how lucky this restaurant is to have him. He embodies high quality service and makes delicious margaritas. All of the staff we encountered were very friendly. This issue seems to come from management - not hiring enough people to give the chefs enough time to cook. Shame - give your staff enough bodies to deal with the amount of people who come in. Sadly, we will not be back. read more

Taco Boy - undercooked steak - Mexican Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Friendly, fast service and amazing food. I got two tacos--fried avocado and kimchi beef--and both were great. My husband got the quesabirria, a quesadilla with birria. Also very good. They have outdoor seating, our waiter was very friendly. Will come back. read more

Staff was very friendly. Food was very tasty. Quac was the best. Its is kid and pet friendly. Lots of out door games, ping pong, connect 4, corn hole and more. We look forward to returning. read more