We had such a great experience at Taco Escobar! From the moment we sat down, our waiter Luís made the night unforgettable. He was hilarious, welcoming, and just genuinely fantastic at what he does. He kept joking that I must be Latina because I could say a few words, which turned into such a fun conversation. We ended up bonding over the fact that my fiancé and I are Greek, and he had actually studied the Greek language--such a random and awesome connection! On top of the amazing service, the food was absolutely delicious. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Luís really elevated the whole experience, but the combination of his personality and the incredible food made this a place we'll definitely be coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Maybe I'm getting old, but Taco Escobarr is not what I remember from pre-pandemic. The food is fine. I had a puffy bistek taco, and it was not as flavorful or tender as I expected, and much smaller than I remember. At $6/taco, I would have expected either a more complex flavor profile, or a larger taco. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe is fun and funky, but not for me anymore.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was good, and I really liked our server. No nonsense and prompt, and when you have a hangry 5 year old, it's greatly appreciated. Especially after changing his drink order 6 times in 30 seconds. He thoroughly enjoyed the verdue puffy taco, so it's a win for us, too! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, a great vibe for a younger crowd with young kids. Just not for myself as a go-to.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Mexican corn here is so good! I loved the avocado lime sauce that it came with. It was such a unique flavor! The margaritas are really strong. I like how there were sugar, salt, and spicy rim option. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was kind of too warm inside, but there were tables outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The waitress was nice and the food and drink came out at a decent pace. read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ran in for a quick drink before an event. The staff was happy to get us in and out quickly, which we greatly appreciated. We had the French Rita and strawberry jalapeño margarita. Both were delicious and unique. Always enjoy an evening here and will be back for dinner! read more

Taco Escobarr - French Rita and Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

The best Mexican food I've found on the East Coast!! Southern California born and raised and hadn't found a joint that tastes like home till Taco Escobarr. Thank you to the wonderful angel that worked at the Westin for recommending them. We braved the 2 degree weather to get the recommended crunchy taco. The Carne Asada was phenomenal! It hit my soul! It tasted like home. We went to a show at The State Theater and left a little early so we could grab a churro before we headed back to our room. It was delicious!! Better than Disneylands churros! Beyond happy to have braved the cold for this fantastic place that now holds a record in my book! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cute decor and vibe and the bartender was on top of it![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Super friendly and ran a tight ship! Great ex read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This is a great joint. Made me feel young again. Waitstaff was attentive and informative! Portions are large. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Really cool vibe in this place. Great energy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I think over time Taco Escobarr has become mostly a tequila bar. [[HIGHLIGHT]]You're coming here for the incredibly loud music, the strong margaritas, a more hip/youthful/fun vibe than at other nearby places on Congress[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the badass and brutally honest no-nonsense staff, and - if you have NO dietary restrictions - maybe a taco or two. For me, after all these years... maybe because I got old and with that a dairy intolerance... I'm not the demographic. 1) I don't like tequila, and they themselves genuinely don't suggest any cocktail that doesn't have it (a quote directly from their staff [multiple times]). I tried the Cuba Libre (Mexican cola, rum, bitters, fresh lime) recently... and, for the most part, it was a tall glass of citrus juice; I tasted nothing else. 2) There's really not many vegan options: for a filling, there's only Verdue (ancho chili roasted butternut squash with black beans and arugula). At currently $5.50 for one soft taco (which, veganized, comes topped with a smattering of cilantro and scallions) is IMO not worth it compared to other places in town that are offering similarly priced tacos that are slightly bigger and more creative. NOTE: the fried avocado is not vegan. And 3) the guacamole ($12) here is hit or miss. Sometimes it's kind of bland and gloopy (if that makes sense); and, the portion size has definitely gotten smaller pre and post pandemic. Have fun, tequila lovers. This one's for you! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]What a fun atmosphere, margaritas are on point!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had a very refreshing cucumber margarita!! So good! Tacos were amazing!! Staff was friendly and helpful, especially when trying to de use on a margarita!! read more

Taco Escobarr - Soft Taco pork - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Taco Escobar is definitely one of my top taco spots, especially when paired with my favorite cocktail! It's usually busy, so there's often a bit of a wait, but this time we only waited under 20 minutes for a party of four, which was a pleasant surprise. Our server was fantastic and checked in on us frequently. I had the shrimp tacos with the puffy shells which was delicious, and the crunchy ones were just as good! You have to try their infused tequila; they offer such a cool variety of flavors. I always go for a Paloma, and it's always a 10/10. read more

Taco Escobarr - Paloma - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Super tasty drinks. These actually saved us from our hangover after a very wild last night of vacation in downtown Portland. Lots of margarita flavor options. The bartender was great! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cute vibe in here.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]We stopped here for tacos last nights very busy and upbeat spot, lively atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Tacos were spiceless, good "white boy tacos" but a far cry from authentic. Service was abysmal, water finished before food arrived, filled after food was finished, ordered chips and queso that never came, the staff seemed confused and a it was an uncoordinated mess. Can't say I'd recommend this spot if you have other options. read more

This was my third attempt to eat at Taco Escobarr. The first two times there was an hour plus wait and the second the kitchen was backed up by 40 minutes. We came in for lunch and got seated in a booth right away. I ordered the shrimp, fried avocado, and fish tacos. They came out very quickly! The tacos were filling, but for $5.50 a taco, I expected them to be a lot bigger. There is also an upcharge for the fish/shrimp. read more

Taco Escobarr - Shrimp taco, avocado taco, fish taco - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

Wildly expensive for very bland food. Servers are kind. I need to say more to post the review but it's bad food they charge a lot for. That all. read more

The wait staff we're extremely courteous and professional. The food was far better than I thought it was going to be. I would not hesitate to go back just for the tacos. They were amazing. read more

Excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Noisy inside with few tables but good vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We sat outside and ordered nachos with added bbq brisket (recommended by guests leaving the table) and guac. Amazing! Everything homemade. Definitely recommend. Nice staff. read more

This isn't a place you would think would have the best wings around, but they are! Decided to try the honey chipotle wings and was blown away, next time I come I'll be getting them! read more

Went during the day. The guy at the bar was so friendly! My wife and I only snacked on chips and drank a couple drinks, both were reallly good. The guac is dangerously good. read more

Not great - we had fish tacos (very just ok) and margaritas - also just ok. The service was less than friendly - I would not recommend. The highlight was the guacamole. read more

I absolutely love this place ... Especially on a cold winter day where you come into the warmth and enjoy some delicious food and great drinks and a cozy and amazing atmosphere. This evening, we were headed over to Aura to check out a show and wanted to fill our bellies with some good grub and it didn't disappoint. The price was very good as well for the Portland area. We had two appetizers including a trio dip of chips and guac/salsa/queso. Then we each got a main course as I dove into the steak quesadilla that was not only perfectly cooked, it had some pickled jalapenos as well in it that gave just enough delicious kick to the entree. I also ordered a house margarita in a pint glass that was only 10 bucks (much more other places) and it was delicious and refreshing. The only drawback is that the seatin can be limited because of how good the food is. There is a full bar to sit at and about 5-6 tables but as we sat, there were people waiting to be seated and staring at us as we were eating but it's all good. We will definitely be back (for 4 entrees, four beers two margaritas and appetizers it was just over $100 so that is pretty good for the Portland area) read more

The service was great! Love the margaritas! Tacos were wonderful! Great place for a late night meal. Casual atmosphere. read more

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consistently great mexican food! it's pretty much your traditional, run-of-the-mill mexican food but with a really fun atmosphere and they're open late. the place is small and often packed, but usually no longer than a 30 minute wait in my experience. they don't take reservations. they don't tend to take risks with their menu, but all their dishes are great. the avocado fries are BOMB. all-in-all, great place! read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

We decided on Taco Escobarr for pre-concert eats because of their vegetarian options. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty slammed for a Wednesday night, but probably because of the nearby concert at The State Theater.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our wait for a table wasn't too bad, however. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got a table in the front window, which made for good people watching, but the AC was blowing really hard on us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My companions enjoyed their meals, except to say that the Al Pastor was closer to carnitas. My lengua puffy taco was solid, but I agreed on the Al Pastor. Our server was nice, but it seemed like she had about half of the tables in the restaurant, including those on the sidewalk patio, so getting her attention was tough at times. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is funky classic Mexican restaurant with Lucha Libre and skeletons graphics.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was hoping for better, since they have a great reputation, but it wasn't a good as I hoped. Give them a shot and let me know if I just hit them on bad day. read more

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I was disappointed with my experience here. We arrived around 1:00 and ordered drinks, which didn't arrive until about 1:20. We ordered our food at that time, and by 2:10 it still hadn't come out. During that entire wait, we received no updates or explanation from our waitress. We had other plans, so we ended up asking for our food to be boxed to go. Unfortunately, there was no apology, no explanation, and no offer to make things right. What made it more frustrating was that the table next to us ordered about 25 minutes after we did and received their food before us. I understand delays happen, but communication and customer service go a long way. A simple update or apology would have made a big difference. read more

How have I never eaten here? This place is great! I have walked by a billion times but it's always so packed. Yesterday afternoon, they had some available seating and I'm glad I went in. I got the Carne Asada tacos. They hit the spot. Really delicious. My friend got a rice bowl with squash, pico, guac and pintos and she let me grab a bit. Out of this world doesn't even begin to describe it. The decor is really cool! Jalapeño string lights for days with really fun Dios De Los Muertos Art! Great music cool vibe, friendly staff! Worth checking out! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place has a nice atmosphere but it's loud and cramped.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I went for lunch today with my wife and spent $55 on 2 entrees, and a beer. My wife added beans and rice which was an additional $7. NO FREE CHIPS AND SALSA! I would definitely try another place. Food is fine but I've had better. read more

Luis was great!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The food, music and vibes were great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We didn't wait too long for anything even though it was busy. Service was great :) read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food, service, vibes were all great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I loved the decorations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The tacos were so good! Lots of flavor and not dry. read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We were originally told a 55 minute wait but ended up being seated after about 20 minutes! The atmosphere was fine and they had a great playlist rolling the entire time. Chips and queso were fine (described as nacho cheese - exactly what you would find at a concession stand). My husband got the al Pastor burrito bowl which he said was good but luke warm. I got the Carne Asada and al pastor tacos with side of rice and beans which were AMAZING. The meat was flavorful and tender. The best carne asada tacos I've had in a looooooong time. I also got the blood orange margarita that had a great balance of sweet and sour. read more

This place rules just for being open until 2 am on a Wednesday night! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is pretty cool with the lights and the staff is more than hospitable no matter what time it is.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We just got some food to go since it was so late to bring back to hotel. No parking, had walked here from music venue/hotel. We got a couple of burritos in which I didn't see the small print that certain fillings would have price increases and didn't say how much. But a carne asada was +$6 and fried avocado was +$2.50. So even though it was about $50 for chips, salsa and two burritos I must say the portion sizes were HUGE. read more

Such a cute little place. We ate here back in May 2017. I am usually not in this area often, but I knew if I were that I had to eat here again. And Sooo glad that we did! First off, the service is always great. Everyone who works here seems happy and that translates to a great service. The decor is whimsical but I love it. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they do have a few tables outside as well. We ate here on a quite weekday afternoon. We had Taquitos, Avocado taco and salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. Highly recommend!!! read more

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It has been a number of years since I have visited this restaurant. My daughter and I decided to take my wife here for Mother's Day and we could not have been more pleased with our decision. Our server was friendly, efficient and most importantly, patient with my wife's indecision! We shared a Mexican street corn appetizer that made us wish we ordered about three more. I ordered the chorizo torta sandwich which was absolutely fantastic. The sausage was housemade and served with a fried egg on top. Honestly one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. My only complaint is that the restaurant is so dark that all of my food pictures turned out terribly! Definitely will be back sooner than later! read more

Taco Escobarr - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

Fast & friendly service. We got the salsa trio and a few orders of puffy tacos. The shrimp puffy taco was great! The carne asada was good, but dry. We added some extra salsa and it did the job. The interior is awesome, we loved the string lights with chili peppers. Overall, I'd definitely try this place again and get something new! read more

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One of our favorite stops when we go to Portland. I grew up in the southwest and am a harsh judge of Mexican food. These are among the best tacos I've ever had on the east coast, definitely better than 99% of the tacos I've had in big cities with abundant Mexican food offerings. Minus one star because the prices are high and they've started tacking on a 5% fee for the kitchen staff. Makes me wonder why they're not paying back of the house a living wage. read more

Taco Escobarr - Habanero peach margarita and prickly pear margarita - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

Queso App, requested chorizo and server supported the choice. Food came swimming in liquid, likely from using raw vegetables and the method used to heat. They did not include the chorizo and app was removed from my bill without asking. Thankfully, because it was extremely gross. Ordered fluffy tacos, that they for some reason made twice: so I ate all four. Tacos were good, but neither set had the queso on them as advertised. Server seemed more concerned with going home than providing a good experience. At midnight, my expectations were low, but she did not really try. Multiple servers left me with no drink and didn't even ask. Service poor. Kitchen bad. Ambiance was cool for a late night spot... but it wasn't packed and all staff seemed discombobulated. Significantly worse than my first visit in 2021. Two stars simply because they were open and the tacos weren't bad. Still tipped $10 cash on a ten dollar check. read more

Taco Escobarr - Queso Fondido??? - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

We had a good time here before my birthday trip. The food was good but the corn was drenched in sauce that deemed it almost inedible. The server offered us churros for dessert, we ordered them, and then never got them for us and just gave us the check. I'd probably come back here but not 100% sure. Good vibes inside! read more

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Taco Escobarr is a classic spot in downtown Portland. You know you're there when you see the iconic chili rainbow lights on the ceiling. The perfect spot for margaritas, tacos, and chips with queso, salsa, or guacamole. Top picks are definitely the coconut margarita or the strawberry jalapeño. Can't forget about their mouthwatering enchiladas. The servers are always friendly and prompt. This is a busy place that gets a lot of business so make sure you check it out! read more

Taco Escobarr - The iconic lights - Tacos Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I always love the food and atmosphere but the service is exceptional at the bar. I had the chicken quesadilla and my daughter had the enchiladas. The quesadilla was stuffed with savory chicken and served with salsa and crema. Delicious and enough for 2 meals. Love leftover Mexican for breakfast. It's a great to not go broke dining in Portland and this place is always reasonably priced and ample servings. The fresh house made margaritas are always the star whether it's toasted coconut or cucumber. read more

This is a mixed bag, I was excited based on a local recommendation but was disappointed. The service is a hit or miss, it took a while after we sat for the hostess to come back and take our order, even I tried to get her attention, I was ignored. However, when she finally came over, the attention was on point, she was on top of everything. The food is really the saving grace of this place, the taco carne asada was one of the better tacos I have ever had. The steak was cooked properly, the right amount of condiments were used. The soft tortillas was delicious. The ambiance needs work, while yes the place is themed and decorated, it is very cramped, the tables are really small for a table of 4. I was cramped most of the time, being bumped into by people and our plates barely fitting. It's clear this place needs to expand or find a bigger space. read more

We are at a solid 50% satisfaction with this establishment. First I'd like to say the service was very nice and the staff friendly. The place is colorful and has a good bar scene. Now on to the meh... This place came highly recommended from a local. And looking at the other reviews on yelp it looked like a solid choice. Some further digging on Reddit. And I do feel justified with this review. The chicken tacos- flavorless . I was shocked just how lacking of flavor they actually were. The carne asada was slightly redeeming. Or maybe not... Overall for the price I'd you need a cheap eat or on the go it was fine! read more

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I ordered a michelada, but they were out of something and couldn't make it. So I got a cuba libre cocktail (I have never had one, it was okay, but a bit watery). Instead of ordering a regular menu item (and, like both my meal so far and the last meal I had here, running the risk of ordering things they were out of), I checked the instagram and ordered the special tacos, cod with coconut and other things, and it was great. It came with a lightly dressed salad (too lightly dressed, but I found that the blueberry flavored hot sauce on the table was good for fixing that), black beans, and cilantro rice. One difference between my meal at an inside table and my meal a few months ago on the sidewalk outside was the table had several hot sauces already on it, whereas they brought me just one outside. The meal was filling, but I wanted more, and inadvisably ordered churros and a cider. The churros came with an incredibly rich, luscious dulce de leche sauce. Also like my last meal here, a thing I tacked on and ordered after I ate what I intended as meal turned out to be the best thing I ate (last time it was the elote). Very happy I ventured into the snow for tacos this evening! read more

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