Decent taco spot. Cute ambience and nice in the summer. The food is good but a bit expensive for the portion size. We came later in the evening and our waitress made us feel a bit rushed like she was trying to get out of there. read more

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Went here for happy hour, which goes from 2-5 weekdays. There were only 2 other people sitting at the bar when we arrived, so we were seated pretty quickly. The waitress was very friendly and brought us some water and gave us time with the menus. We ordered off the happy hour menu and got the house margarita, pacifico, 5 tacos (chicken tinga, chipotle maple cauliflower, tequila lime chicken, cochinita pibil, & mango braised pork) and the aguachile ceviche. The ceviche came out first and was a very tasty appetizer. Lots of what looked like fresh fried chips with a great crunch and a light, refreshing shrimp with some tomatoes and herbs. All of the tacos come on a 3-4 inch corn tortilla and were pretty tasty. They were definitely smaller than expected, so I'm happy we tried them at happy hour price first. The favorites were the mango braised pork and chicken tinga. We also tried out a couple of their medium spiced hot sauces. The adobo had a nice smokiness to it and the jalapeno tomatillo had a brightness that paired well with the ceviche. Overall the food was pretty good and I definitely recommend going for happy hour. I was surprised to not see more people there, but happy that service was so quick. The place is pretty dark in lighting so I would recommend for a date night as well. read more

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I had the Friday special - blackened haddock with beans and rice. The fish had that thawed weepy texture which is never great, though the fry outside was fine. The first one was oversalted, I'm not sure if the others were too or I just got used to the salt level. The beans and rice are not your typical Mexican style, these were more like Caribbean which makes sense with the blackened fish, with the added acidity of tomato. For the chips, the cheese sauce felt thin and bland, the pico/salsa could've used some salt and/or lime as well. read more

Taco Local - Haddock special - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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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. read more

Taco Local - Happy Hour tacos! - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The price to food ratio is way off. The "street tacos" were two bites, max. For $5 bucks each, I don't care how good the ambiance is, it's not worth it. Guacamole had almost no seasoning - was just crushed avocado, no lime, salt, onion, or tomato to be tasted. After we ate there, my husband said, "ok, now where do you want to have dinner?" They get three stars because the ambiance was very nice, and the waitstaff were friendly and helpful. read more

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! read more

Taco Local - Steak Tacos and Mojitos - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Taco Local - 3 tacos with rice and beans - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

Taco Local - The ten dollar burrito is a must try! - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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!! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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The ambiance is 10/10. Really transported to a different place with the lighting and stone walls. It is a small space but that makes it feel more special. Service was also great, food arrived promptly and staff was friendly. Food... these are not street tacos, but pocket tacos at least from my experience in SoCal. I thought the price was reasonable until I saw the size. Tortillas are only about 3" for an idea. The quality was also okay. read more

What a cute restaurant! Came here on a Wednesday and was so impressed. The open air concept is great, I know you can only do it for so long in Wisconsin but when you can it is nice. My partner and I both got tacos, his were the Al Pastor and mine were Tequila Lime Chicken (I got them in a bowl form). I didn't try his but I loved my food, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Only thing is I wish it was a little spicier but that is just my preference. Thinking back I am sure if I would have asked for the hot sauce that they have an option. Our server was fantastic, they were so attentive and on top of everything! I wish I would have gotten their name to compliment them. We also came in right before happy hour ended and was able to get a happy hour margarita and mini nachos. Love a place that has smaller appetizer sizes, the happy hour nachos were $5 and half the size. Perfect starter to a meal that will not completely fill you up! Will definitely be back to try some other options here! read more

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. read more

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Wow. Easily the best tacos in Madison, and very possibly in Wisconsin. We started with drinks, a Double Shot Daiquiri and a Mezcal Paloma. They were served in chilled stoneware glasses, and were actual made-by-hand cocktails, rather than the overly-sweet syrupy concoctions that so many places serve. Both were very good. Then chips & guac, which were both fresh. A little more guac would have been welcome, but then we might not have had room for the excellent tacos to come, so maybe the amount was just right. And the tacos... We ordered the Mango-Braised Pork and the Baja Shrimp. The pork was very nicely caramelized - well-roasted and not too sweet - and the pico and cilantro were fresh. The shrimp were large and very tasty, if a little on the spicy side. Both sets of three tacos were very generous - just on the border of being almost too overloaded to pick up. The sides (rice&beans and salad), while not quite as amazing as the tacos, were still very good. The server was polite, solicitous, and friendly, and the food came out very quickly. (It wasn't that busy - place was perhaps half full.) The interior is nice, and very much in keeping with the food. The one complaint we might have is that when it's very cold out, things can be somewhat drafty toward the front, but that's a very minor quibble. The tables, dishes, and flatware were also stylish and well-considered. On top of all that, the price was reasonable - $61 including dinner, drinks, and an appetizer. If you like street-style tacos (and maybe even if you don't) we cannot recommend this place highly enough. Outstanding food and drink! read more

Tacos had good flavor and variety. Shrimp and Pibul were what we chose and would recommend. A friend had a mango pork and said they were good, but edged on the sweeter side (to be expected). The rice and bean side was truly awful. Completely bland, almost like it came frozen and just heated up. We also got the salsa flight - the guac and the queso were good (not great) but again, the pico was so bland. Unsure if salt was even added. Service was good and the food arrived quickly. The overall ambiance of the place was small and moody, with candles at each table. The stone/brick wall inside is such a cool touch. We did fun Overall, for the price of the tacos, and the less than ideal sides, I'd give it a 3.5, but can not give it a 4. Would also not consider this authentic, as described. read more

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

Taco Local - Breakfast menu - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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A one and done at TL for this crew. Understandably, COVID has made it difficult to staff restaurants but our experience was clunky all around. From margaritas mistakenly made with mezcal (and served in tiny cups) to below average and dry tacos, we left disappointed. From my understanding, the food is actually prepared in a commissary kitchen and brought onsite. This could be the reason behind the underwhelming meal. Yes, I love the exposed stone walls and cozy feel but there are way too many other taco joints in Madison to warrant a repeat visit. read more

This is a great little local hot spot in a cool area, lots to check out- and great building- cool bar tenders awesome atmosphere- we only had drinks- but I witnessed food coming out and don't see how it could be bad- if I ever have it- I'm sure it may hit the 5 read more

Very mediocre experience. Pretty long wait for food, not an authentic flavor or taste to anything, small portions, overpriced, and got our order mixed up twice + charged us for an item we didn't get. I think it would be fine as a cocktail bar, but it's a big stretch to use such little space for a dining area. Won't be back. read more

MADISON GEM. GO HERE! This place is beautifully put together. Good music, nice lighting and candles gives it great ambiance, and the two big front doors open up for a cool Willy street experience. THE Pozole hit the spot and I got a freshly squeezed watermelon and pineapple sparkling water delicious. The people are so welcoming and gave us great service both times. This will be a Madison favorite for us. read more

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Love love love the tacos. This place is small and comfy. The only down fall is the smoke from the grill. Very smoky. The decor was amazing. I will be back for sure. Make sure you make a reservation if you have a larger party. The waitress was very nice and accommodating. read more

Taco Local - They have Industry night !! - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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3.5 would be about right for Taco Local based on my three experiences thus far. But I think they'll hit four stars eventually. Maybe on my fourth visit. The food is good. I feel like they know what they're doing with meat and personally I don't find the portions too small as some others have mentioned. The brisket has been my favorite. But the tortillas they use just break my heart. So dry! And it's odd to me that I can't get rice and beans or anything like that. The drinks are in lovely handmade clay cups. Sadly that's been my favorite thing about their bar, the cups. I do enjoy their espresso, as well. But the cocktails are small and watery and the liquor on hand unimpressive. The space is cool in an effortless sort of way that I love. I hate when businesses try too hard on vibe/decor. They have some lovely, thoughtful touches and that is all you need. Service wasn't great on my first visit but has steadily improved and the last time I was in was perfect. I like friendly but not in-your-face service and they made my girlfriends and I feel very welcome while also allowing us to enjoy one another's company. I think this is a great spot for a casual get together with friends. Don't bring anyone you're trying to impress, it's not impressive. But it's good. read more

I tried this place twice, once for takeout and once for dine in. The breakfast tacos were small and ok = takeout. I gave it another try for the Jerk Sweet Potato Tacos and they were underwhelming. In my opinion tacos can be done so well that when they are just ok, it's not worth going back. Nice interior. read more

Taco Local - Real Plants! - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Amazing food, great ambience, friendly service, overall a great restaurant. I was happy to see all the vegetarian options available. read more

Taco Local - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My boyfriend and I finally stopped in for dinner this weekend. My review goes with a lot of the others - great food and service, but small portions. I got the margarita, which was phenomenal, but very small. My boyfriend enjoyed a watermelon mojito on special but also felt it was small. I got the mango braised pork tacos and he got fish tacos on special. Once again, great fresh taste but small portions. We split the delicious, but small, cookie for dessert. Overall spent a little over $60 with tip for the above items, which is fair for a night out but again, thinking quality over quantity. I like the vibes here, and we had great service and tasty food, but we needed to eat essentially another dinner a couple hours later at home to tide us over. I'll be back with that in mind. read more

Unexpectedly ran into this spot while looking for a place to have brunch/early lunch. I'm torn between telling everyone that they must go here and see for themselves how AMAZING this was or not telling anyone so I keep it the best secret ever. This was such a pleasant surprise and I'm already thinking of going back. Had the breakfast burrito with their house bacon, simple and delicious. The eggs were perfectly cooked, not too dry not too runny. The corn salad on the side was PERFECT and balanced the whole plate. Again, unexpectedly delicious. The pickled onions to top off the lettuce, WOW. Sweet, not too acidic, and I think it had a hint of cinnamon. The pork tacos, out of this world. Great combination of salty and sweet. Loved this spot, highly recommended !! read more

Have come here once for lunch and once for breakfast since they officially opened a week ago or so - both times left very satisfied! I would say that the tacos were my preference out of everything I had - the pork and chicken were both super tender and well-flavored with a nice crust on the pork. The breakfast burrito was good as well, but the chorizo was a little greasier than I prefer making it a bit messy to eat with your hands since it leaked out a bit. Their homemade hot sauces were outstanding - the mango habanero and the strawberry poblano were my favorites out of the 3 (and fyi they cost .25 each which we realized when paying - totally worth it!). Such a good vibe inside the restaurant and I look forward to many more tacos here. read more

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Found this local gem on Williamson street and I tell you it was delicious! Coming from a restaurant guy, it was amazing. This place started serving breakfast/brunch again and it is a must stop on Willie Street. I'll be back.​ read more

Taco Local - Chorizo and egg tacos. - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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

Taco Local is a such a great addition to the neighborhood! The interior has such a cool vibe and it's so welcoming with the doors and windows open to the sidewalk-- you can't help but wander in! Excellent margaritas and mezcal margaritas! The mango pork tacos were so delicious and the breakfast burrito had some of the best chorizo in it I've ever had! The portions for dinner are a little small--I felt like I could have eaten two entrees easily! Regardless I look forward to many more visits to taco local! read more

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Great breakfast fare. My wife and I went for both savory - breakfast burrito, and sweet - cinnamon roll. Great choices, the both of them. A solid place for a relaxed breakfast! read more

Wife and I had pastor and brisket street tacos and they were very good. Tacos plus hot 4 hot sauces and one drink each $45 plus tax. Brisket tacos were the better of the two. Small portions. read more

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Started with the absolutely smallest glass of sangria for the price (but it was delicious). Waited 35 minutes to receive chips and guacamole, only to receive chips that were not cooked properly and were chewy. We then received our meal 30 minutes later.... Which was cold and greasy, with possibly the smallest tacos possible. We left and stopped to get something to eat as we were still hungry. They also need to get an exhaust system as we left smelling awful. read more

Best Taco joint in Madison. High quality ingredients, put together perfectly, and a nice atmosphere. But also the Paloma is perfect and service has always hit the mark. My colleague from San Diego vouches that their seafood tacos are as good as anything he's had in Cali. Go here now. read more

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

We love coming here - the atmosphere and service are always great. The tacos never fail to disappoint and the margaritas are delicious also! read more

Taco Local - Assortment of hot sauces! - Latin American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Happy Hour from 2pm-6pm EVERYDAY with cheaper tacos, appetizers and drinks. Margaritas were on point and the nachos were delicious. This restaurant seems to have been built in a basement of an old, restored house so the vibe is a little darker and rustic...almost like you're in a cave in latin america. Parking to the side of the restaurant, but I recommend parking right on willy street. read more