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    Taco Local

    3.9 (67 reviews)

    Taco Local Photos

    TACO LOCAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Taco Local

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    Happy Hour tacos!
    Calvin J.

    Solid find in Madison. Great happy hour. Fresh chips. Strong drinks. Loved the tacos, but the veggies options (cauliflower and sweet potato) are less flavorful than the meat options. That said, the brisket and mango pork were absolutely magnificent. Service was great too.

    Steak Tacos and Mojitos
    Max M.

    Taco Local offers a unique dining experience. The atmosphere is very open and the decor is rustic yet has a homey feel. I visited Taco Local for dinner with friends and we tried their cocktails and tacos. The mojito was made very well and tasted great. The steak tacos I got were cooked well, but honestly nothing too special about them for being $15. The star of my dish was really the corn that was served on the side. It was so delicious! Other dishes that we tried were the fried lamb birria tacos. Those lamb tacos were crispy and with the birria sauce it was so good! Overall, my experience was great. The service and atmosphere were good and the food was tasty. Definitely try the lamb birria tacos if you get the chance!

    Taco Local's quaint and moody bar

    Intimate and moody atmosphere with low lighting and low fi music. The food was good - most notably enjoyed the Mango Braised Pork taco and Chicken Tinga Taco. Loved the Jalepeno margarita which was served in a cute mug. Good service the entire time! The waitress gave us extra water and came over frequently enough to make sure we had everything we needed. The doors were open which made it a little chilly on a 50 degree night.

    Chicken Quesadilla...with esquite (corn)
    Jim M.

    Visiting Madison Wisconsin on a business trip at the University of Wisconsin Madison. I wanted to try Mexican food in celebration of Mexican independence day tomorrow...I asked and was recomended multiple places and decided on this place. Very small, was my first observation and the acoustics are crazy high. It is challenging to hear those in your group when conversating. Very pleasing to the eye, the architecture is awesome and it very nice. The restroom is just one so...you need to wait in line to get in or handle your business at home or hotel. BTW it's just one restroom for all (gender neutral). Well, I must say that it is NOT Mexican food it is a version of it but not just to my standards. The portions are very well presented all the way to the black metal utensils. They are very small though...being a foody it was more like an appetizer. Limited on the drink menu too and the house margaritas are cute but if you take the ice in accout...it's more like a shot of margarita. Not impressed with the food and very unimpressed with the portions over the cost. I am not sure when I'll be coming back to Madison Wisconsin but this is not a place that I will be re-visiting. It's a nice place, loud for my taste, too out there for my palate and not walked away excited about the food for my buck. Not a place to bring a date...well not if you are looking to have a conversation.

    3 tacos with rice and beans

    Stopped in for lunch and they had a great lunch special: 3 tacos with rice/beans/guac for $12. I chose the tequila lime chicken, cochinita pibil, and mango braised pork. The first two were solid, but the mango braised pork was excellent. The rice/beans/guac were strong sides. They had two different home made hot sauces as well that worked with the dishes. I will certainly be back to try some of the other flavors.

    The ten dollar burrito is a must try!
    Steph B.

    This is one of my fave new places for breakfast. I love a good breakfast burrito and their ten dollar burrito is totally worth it. Cheesy and perfectly salted and seasoned and excellent with hot sauce. The side salad is a nice plus and the corn is fabulous! I usually get it to go, but it's a quiet spot if you want to eat in.

    Papa fritas
    Allison G.

    I am so impressed with Taco Local! I've gone here twice now with my husband (some pictures from their soft opening). Both times were a wonderful experience. For food, I've ordered the tequila chicken tacos to eat which were so delicious and some of the most flavorful tacos I've had. They come with this absolutely delicious corn mixture! They also start you out with complimentary papas fritas as an appetizer, so crunchy and delicious to munch on. For beverages, I've had the original margarita and a beer. I highly recommend the margaritas! The bar tender allowed us to try their spicy pepper margarita and oh boy was it hot! If you like super spicy, this is for you. The service has been absolutely outstanding! We had Charlie last night. He went above and beyond to take care of us! Like I said, he allowed us to try a bit of a margarita which was so cool of him. He also was super attentive, had great recommendations, and was a great conversationalist. We absolutely loved hanging out with him at the bar. 10/10 experience, we will absolutely be back!!

    Fresh chocolate chip cookie with ice cream $7
    Cherise K.

    I wanted to like this place so much! It took over the space of the undergrowth butcher and has a cool city street vibe, but the food and price was just underwhelming for the meal. I appreciate that they take reservations and visited on a Wednesday with a friend. We decided to eat at the bar and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation with the bartender, however the food came out slow and nothing really knocked it out of the park (lamb birria wasn't very flavorful, the queso was gritty, and the shrimp tacos were small). I will say the drinks were good and so was the dessert but that cookie is like one singular cookie that takes 10 mins to cook and is served in a bowl that is much too big. So overall, if I'm in the area and need a drink. I'll stop by, but otherwise the price point and food aren't really worth it.

    Bar
    Taylor D.

    Great time at the opening weekend of Taco Local - a lovely spot on Willy street with unique decor, delicious entrees, and fresh drinks! We had a chance to meet David, the owner, who spoke about his music festival food truck origins - you know the food's gonna be good! We've definitely sampled their delicious tacos at Margarita Fest in the past few years, so we're happy to see a restaurant pop up on the local scene. Great meeting you David, thank you for your hospitality. We had a wonderful experience talking with hosts and bartender while waiting for a table. We ordered the mango braised pork tacos, pozole, and a breakfast burrito - all of which were fresh, flavorful, and filling! Exceptional ingredients on each dish made each bite spectacular. We enjoyed drinks as well - the house margarita, mezcal paloma, and the cuba libre. All served in beautiful ceramic cups (custom made pottery!) with a fresh slice of fruit on the side. It did take awhile for us to get our drinks and food delivered to our table, but that's to be expected on an opening weekend. Staff is attentive and friendly! I can imagine this becoming the next taco hot spot on Willy street, so if you're craving something new, I'd highly recommend Taco Local. See you again soon!

    Mango Braised Pork Tacos
    Tayah A.

    I love coming here when I'm looking for a new flavor of tacos. Taco local's tacos have so much flavor and spin traditional flavors in a fun way. We tried the Mango Braised Pork Tacos and the Al Pastor Tacos; they were both delicious! The portions are fair, we never leave with left overs. The staff is very knowledgeable and welcoming.

    Breakfast menu
    Matt C.

    Pork mango tacos, cooked to perfection. The smell alone is making my mouth water while writing this review. Yummmmy!

    Cool big doors!

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    2 years ago

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    David R.

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    David R.

    Thanks for giving us a try Heather, sorry we weren’t for you!

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    David R.

    Thank you so much for giving us a shot! Looking forward to next time!

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    3 years ago

    Very cute inside and lovely location. Good drink happy hour deals. Middle of the road food otherwise.

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    2 years ago

    Not open, doors chained shut. Found out by arriving after making reservations. Disappointing.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Taco Local

    Are there any drink specials included with their happy hour?

    We have a separate food and drink menu for Happy Hour; please visit tacolocal.com to see it.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Taco Local - latin - Updated May 2026

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