I'm no stranger to modern Mexican - there are a handful of modern Mexican restaurants I have tried that I've enjoyed more than traditional Mexican. Tio Taco Bar caught my eye simply by the name. We stopped in on a Saturday around 1:30. It was a little busy, but the wait was less than 10 minutes. There was a party of 2 ahead of us when we arrived. Our waitress was Sky (or Skye - I'm not certain of the spelling) and she was very knowledgeable about the menu. We started off with a Coke Zero and a mango lemonade. For the appetizer, we chose the truffle guacamole. Oh my goodness. The corn was a game changer! The guac was creamy, thick and not too salty. The seasoned tortilla chips were also spectacular. The taco selection, while not that big, was interesting. I was hoping to get a taco with their Impossible meat option, but I was informed that the taco I wanted could not be substituted with Impossible meat. That made me a a tiny bit sad but I ended up ordering two roasted cauliflower tacos instead. The cauliflower provided a great crunch and I loved the red enchilada sauce. Tio Taco Bar was a great choice for lunch and I'd be open to another visit for dinner! read more

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This place feels a bit overhyped. The prices are steep for what you get--the quality just doesn't match. I paid $24 for fajitas and only got enough meat for about two small tacos. The guac was average at best and didn't taste particularly fresh. Overall, the food was pretty underwhelming, especially considering the high prices. read more

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Each month my peeps & I have a ladies lunch. We try to pick places we haven't been. It was Tio time. It was a snowy Saturday. The restaurant was relatively quiet with just a few diners. My counterparts ordered cocktails. We decided to share a basket of tortillas & salsa. They are not complimentary. We got a refill and on our separate checks was a 1/4 charge for them on 4 checks. A bit petty for slightly warmed mediocre chips & runny (salsas) "soup". I ordered the coconut shrimp & it was good but the black beans and white rice was very lack luster. My one friend got a shredded chicken burrito filled with black beans & rice with the same black beans and rice as the side. An order of a burrito bowl was inundated with black beans and rice. Quite a theme here. I ordered chicken fajitas to bring home for my hubby. He does not like beans of any sort so I asked them to omit them and any rice. I asked if they could just add a few more veggies which is just onions & peppers and the waitress although nice, said no. Seriously? The food was mediocre at best. Chicken Quesadillas were a bit salty. I guess I was hoping for more scratch made food but feel it was more prepackaged. And nothing was authentic Tex-mex. There's some lesser chains that have better. That said, there's lots of TV's with sports and if that's your vibe the food won't matter as long as the libations go down. read more

I wanted to try this place out because there aren't a ton of Mexican food spots around. It has a cool set up inside and a pretty long bar. There are many types of margaritas and specialty drinks to choose from. The food menu is huge. A few seafood options but not many vegetarian options. Tacos are on the pricey end but are pretty big. The Shrimp bowl was overloaded. I enjoyed every bit and but I almost needed two bowls to navigate the surplus of ingredients inside. Service was okay! I'd come back for happy hour for sure! read more

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My friends and I stopped by for Happy hour & let me tell you this restaurant had a really vibrant atmosphere. The bartender was a 22 year old young lady. I can't remember her name but it started with an "S". She was super friendly & attentive to say she worked the entire bar and tables behind us by herself. Let's start with the mango shrimp ceviche since it was the highlight of the entire meal. It was so flavorful. Full of avocado & pico. They paired it with these chips that had some type of flavorful dust on them. Just chef's kiss. The wings were second best. They were crispy & perfectly sauced. But who goes to a Mexican restaurant for wings? LOLOL... The margarita flight was so good. 10/10 recommend. The tacos were also so full of meat and delicious. Lastly, the mango habanero wings were the only thing that I did not care for. They were cold, breaded, and soggy. Not good at all. Other than that this place will be seeing me again. read more

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The loaded chips were not loaded and they were lousy no flavor dry with powdered cheese on top. The burrito platter the beans and rice were good but I should have just got two orders of beans and rice the burrito is just full of rice and a lot of cheese and a little beans no flavor. read more

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After waiting nearly 10 minutes for the hostess to get off the phone and acknowledge me, I learned that my order--placed online at 10:30 a.m. for an 11:30 pickup--wasn't ready. I ended up waiting an additional 20 minutes before insisting on an estimated time, only to be told they "never received" my order and had just started making it. I finally received it 30 minutes later. Overall, not a great first impression. I wouldn't recommend spending your lunch break at Tommy's. read more

Loved the wings! Yes the wings. Chips and salsa for $5!!! Gringo taco was great. Good mix of ingredients. Chicken taco a bit moist and fell apart. Mojito mint ratio was excellent. Kid had a lemonade. With over a 20% tip only $42 Not many places can you get food like this for that price read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Gringo and chicken taco - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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I went for Taco Tuesday where all Tacos are half off! I thoroughly enjoyed my drinks and tacos. read more

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Me and my Gf went here on our anniversary for the first time and this place did not disappoint the food was relatively cheap for the quantity and it all tasted amazing and fresh. Our serve Amelia was super nice and attentive. I asked if they had Jars of salsa for sale she said no but immediately without asking me brought me 4 take home containers of salsa for free, and the manager did come up to us and talked to us as well. This place is by far a favorite restaurant of mine now. read more

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After shopping at the mall I decided to try Tio for lunch. I was happy to see happy hour was available. I ordered a hour margarita which was tasty. I ordered the loaded nachos with chicken. The bartender was friendly and gave great service. The nachos were so big I couldn't finish them. They were flavorful, and the toppings were all the way to the bottom. Unlike some places were the toppings are only on the top chips. I will definitely be back. read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Happy hour menu (at bar only) - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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The food and service were amazing! Favorite thing I had was the fried ice cream. It was perfect! But all of it was so good! Service was excellent. It wasn't too busy as it was a Friday afternoon, so not sure what it's like when busy, but we had a good time. read more

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The atmosphere is very nice and the restaurant feels intimate and cozy but lively at the same time. The food was good but not the quality of a smaller independent restaurant or the taste and flavors of authentic Mexican food. This is decent place for a casual meal if you are in the area. The cauliflower taco is very spicy and I probably wouldn't get again. I did substitute impossible meat in another taco and that tasted really good. Other people in my party tried several taco options that they enjoyed. The plantains had a good flavor. read more

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We went for a girls night out and were thrilled!!!! Wednesday's special was a half price flight of margaritas! All of them were delicious!! No mix used!!! Also arrested the chicken nachos and beef and empanadas. We were very happy with all choices but liked the beef empanadas over the chicken. Will definitely be back! read more

First time visiting Tio Taco. I was very impressed with this restaurant. The restaurant is in its second week of business. The restaurant is pretty big and took over a previous restaurant space. There is a happy hour that runs Monday-Friday at the bar only. I kept it simple for my visit. I did see several other dishes come out and they all looked good. I got the queso fundito and a strawberry basalita margarita. The queso was hot and the chorizo add a nice little kick. I would say it was a tad bit salty. The strawberry basalita was refreshing. If you have a sweet tooth, you have to try the fried ice cream! Great service and experience from a new restaurant. read more

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This was my first time here and it was a good experience. The staff was very nice. Our server was very good and on point. The decor was modern and bright. The food was very tasty...it Came out hot and fresh. The drinks were really good. Kudos to the staff and establishment. Definitely coming back. read more

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Happy Hour is always packed, the food and drinks are very good. And the service is also good.

50% off tacos on Tuesday. C'mon you can't beat this. Mondays is 50% off margaritas which sounds great too. read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Tacos on tacos on tacos - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

This is a cute restaurant by the mall. Great location. I like the outdoor seating option. I would recommend their habanero wings, they were really good but next time I would opt for the sauce on the side. The tacos and Empanadas were OK. Not the best but doable. The flautas in my opinion were not good. They are nothing like real Mexican flautas even the shape is off And I would not recommend them. This place is perfect for happy hour or drinks and a light meal or app. read more

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The food here was ok at best. I enjoyed the queso, and they could put some more tajin on the chips. I did not enjoy the quesadilla. I was hoping for a more traditional birria, where the meat is slow cooked then pulled with the consome on the side. The meat in the quesadilla was just small cut up cubes of short rib. The service was excellent. The waitress was very polite and attentive. When I let the waitress know about my displeasure about the quesadilla, she removed it from the bill immediately. I was still willing to pay but she insisted on keeping it off the bill, so I gave her a substantial tip instead. Overall if you want a quick bite to eat or some drinks this place will do the job, even though there are better Mexican restaurants. read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Short rib birria quesadilla - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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This place is amazing! it's so good I tried it for the first time and came back less than 24 hours later and the general manager Ashley came to see me personally. I started at their sister company Tommy's but when I stopped in there they said it was a 45 minute wait So I decided to try the sorer company for the first time. I was not disappointed everyone there is amazing!! I mentioned to the host Sam once that I have severe back problems (8 vertebrael fractures and a herniated disc) and everytime I've gone back regardless of how busy they are, if he's working which it seems he always is he ensures I get at least a half booth. I have been in the hospitality world for over 12 years and I have never seen the kind of hospitality that you receive at both Tommy's and this restaurant!!! read more

My first time at Tio's meeting with family for drinks and apps. Upon entry, it is very dark in the bar area..which is where we sat. It looked much brighter in the dining area so if lighting is important that may change where you want to sit. My plates were dirty as well as my water glass. I met my family about 10 mins after they had sat down and the manager came over and said he apologized for the hair in our food. This was not us but it was a red flag for me that stopped me from ordering a meal. I ate the guac which was tasty. I had a few wings from my sisters plate and they were so so yummy ! They sent my sister the wrong enchilada btw: she ordered short rib and they gave her chicken. I guess they have snafu's regularly with the kitchen however our waitress was amazing and so was the manager. I just don't know if I would come back any time soon or during peak dinner time. read more

This new location has a pleasant, spacious environment. Festive, cultural decor, with the only draw back being the lighting was a bit dark but nothing too harsh. Our server was Robert, who was very polite and knowledgeable of the menu. He answered all our questions and was attentive. We started with drinks from the bar - Rum Punch- made very well. Followed with two appetizers - the shrimp ceviche ( it was okay a bit heavy on the cilantro) and the empanadas which we enjoyed. Next, we got a few tacos - the fish (grilled cod) the beef (gringo) and the carne asada. We ended with the cinnamon crunch fried ice cream (Amazing)!!!! We had a great experience and decided to become loyalty members because we expect to be back a lot. read more

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Loved walking in to this delightful bar/restaurant. The ambiance is welcoming and interesting. Lots to look at! Service was friendly and efficient. Food was delicious. Today was my second visit and my experience was consistent with the first. I only wish I lived closer so I could visit more frequently. read more

The service was excellent, and the food is fresh and tasty. My wife and I have been to Tio three times and have not been disappointed.

Fun atmosphere and great place to gather for drinks! Loves the booth seating. Our waiter was excellent. Food was tasty! read more

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Don't sleep on the tacos. They're a must. This is a fun place with a relaxed vibe. Service is good and the staff are friendly. read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Clockwise: Baja shrimp taco, grilled fish taco, Guajillo chicken taco - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Take the distillery tour great fun, good price and you get 3 shots! Plus a discount on bottles. Good is good- loved the Jamaican flair but the drinks are average! read more

Food and drinks are great! I liked the birria taco. The empanada were just ok. Plenty of tequila options.

This was our first time dining at Tio Taco. We have been to the neighboring Tommy's Tavern, and liked it, so decided to give this place a try as they are owned by the same restaurant group. We were very pleased. Service was excellent. Drink refills came at the regular. Food arrived quickly after ordering. My husband and I both ordered from the specials menu. He had the short rib quesadilla with birria dipping sauce and a side of sweet plantains. I had the lobster taco with a side of black beans and rice. The taco flavors were nicely balanced: acid from pickled red onion, fat from the tempura lobster, sweet from mango, and a little heat from the sriracha crema. We ended our meal with the tres leches cake. We gobbled it down so quickly that I forgot to take a pic. It comes topped with whipped cream and fresh sliced strawberries. It was delicious! We'll definitely be back. read more

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We were seated immediately and Devon was quick to introduce himself. We told him this was our first time there. He took his time telling us about the specials and sharing his favorites. We settled on the wings, habanero shrimp, fajitas, chorizo and smoked chicken tacos. The wings were amazing, with honey bbq glaze, crispy and a good size. The habanero wings were okay, not very spicy and kind of the only let down. The tacos were good sized and very flavorful. The chicken fajita was a large size, plenty of peppers and onions, and sides were plentyful. Devon stopped by frequently and took great care of us. read more

I think this would be a fine place to come and enjoy a few apps and some basic drinks. The overall experience just was not good for me to come back and have an entire meal. I will say the truffle guac with street corn was very good and the chips were great. However for this place being a "tequila bar", my margarita was honestly just plain bad. I asked for a frozen mango margarita which is honestly pretty basic, they put the mango syrup in the glass and just topped it with house frozen! It was not blended and chucks of mango were just in the glass. It was just very strange lol. We ordered a few tacos and someone at the table got a chicken bowl, and the portions were just not good. One fish taco had the smallest piece of fish I've ever seen served on a taco, and the bowl had less than 2 ounces of chicken on it. When I showed the waitress the taco, she said the kitchen would just say it's a small piece of fish? See photo lol. They did end up bringing me another one so props there, but then it came out and the fish tasted freezer burnt. Overall I think there are better places to go for tex-mex in the area. Also we had to ask for water twice and did not get it until after the entrees already came out... read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - Truffle Guac - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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Tio is definitely a vibe!! I came here for happy hour with my friend to catch up on life & they supplied the good energy for sure!! I had the wings, house guacamole & 2 pomegranate martinis. We weren't disappointed at all. Our waitress also was very attentive to our needs and our drinks lol it was such a good, yummy experience!! read more

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Very disappointing experience! Service was below par! Every aspect of the order was messed up right from drinks to appetizers to entrees. Never had such an underwhelming experience ever!!! read more

Great food, big portions. The ambiance is good, everyone's nice and the bartender takes care of you :-) Definitely going back.

The chips and salsa that should be complementary taste like there from a can. Really messes up my circadian rhythm I don't know what else to say. Whole day feels off now, thanks a lot! read more

The food was expensive for what we got and the server was not attentive to us. It took forever to get his attention and we didn't get drink refills. Also no free chips. read more

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar - 5$ chips and Salsa - Tacos Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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We're street corn fans and this was top 5! Loved it! Great atmosphere, especially for a place attached to a mall.

I like to give new places some time to work out the kinks before visiting. This place needs more time and training. The customer service is definitely lacking. Bartenders were not interested in anything happening at the bar, preferred to gossip about patrons. Food was underwhelming. Wings tasted good but we're soggy, didn't have that char we were expecting. read more

Stopped in for the first time. Place is really nice and menu was good. Bar had only a few other customers yet our drinks took far too long. We ordered a second round which came out wrong. Bartender Danny was rude and not attentive. We will not be back. read more