The inside of the restaurant was super cool it was decorated. I went there for dining week and got the guacamole and queso appetizers, Argentinian Steak taco, Al Pastor taco, and Crispy Shrimp taco. It came with the Mexican Rice and Cowboy Beans and churros for dessert. I also got the Rudy's classic margarita. We didn't see the waitress too much but they might've been busy or maybe she was the only one on staff. She was super nice though and got all of our orders correct. When we asked to split the checks at the end, it was sort of odd that they divided everything evenly, including drinks and put 1/4 of each drink on each check. The guacamole was nice and fresh and came with little tortilla strips on top which I took off to dip the tortilla chips in. The queso was nice, salty, and well seasoned. The Margarita was delicious, well blended, just strong enough and a nice size. As far as tacos, The Argentinian steak taco was definitely my favorite. The meat was cooked perfectly and very well seasoned. The El Pastor was also very flavorful and the avo vinaigrette that came on it paired well with the dish. The shrimp on the crispy shrimp taco were big and flavorful, just a little on the dry side. The rice and beans were pretty standard, nothing super special or memorable. The churros came out warm, nice crunch on the outside and soft in the middle. The white dipping sauce reminded me of cereal and the darker one was a chocolate with almost a mole sauce type taste. Super fun place and I would definitely come back! read more

First time at Vagabond, went Thursday evening pre-theatre with a group of 9. The vibe is street taco patio meets airstream, with menus featuring photos of Jimi Hendrix and Taylor Swift. They specialize in elevated street tacos and small plates. Tuesdays have $2 tacos and Thursdays have $3 tacos, and the kitchen stays open later than most, midnight Tuesday through Thursday and 1:30am Friday and Saturday. They had space for our group, but could only split the bill two ways, and gratuity was automatically added for groups of 6 or more. I was the first to arrive and was asked to wait at the bar since they couldn't seat us until everyone in the party was there. I ordered the Hibiscus Lime Margarita. It was refreshing, and I would order it again. Our table had multiple baskets of chips and salsa, and I added a bowl of queso fundido (chihuahua cheese, pepper jack cheese, corn salsa, paprika, and cilantro). My end of the table went through it quickly. For my meal I had two tacos, the Gringo Pollo (part of the Thursday special) and the Tuna Poke. Both came with items removed at my request and were tasty. Service was quick, and Oliver was friendly. Prices are reasonable, though a bit higher than I'd prefer. This would be an occasional fun spot for me, not my go-to taco place. read more

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got the gringo pollo tacos and they were actually sooo good rice + beans on the side... lowkey only liked the rice shared the strawberry + hibiscus lime pitchers and both were super refreshing 5/5fun vibes for going out w friends, drinks were good, tacos HIT, and def one of those places you can sit and yap at for hours. Check out the full review on Instagram: @ratedbyaleena read more

Vagabond - Gringo Pollo Taco - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dinner was good. My favorite were the Argentinian steak tacos. My party loved the chips and salsa. Our server was great! The restaurant has a good atmosphere. read more

Vagabond - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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What a great spot for a pre bucks game meal. Went with 5 family members who were dining in for their first time, dinner was immediately followed by "so.... we need to come back here before every bucks game". Service was great, Star Wars playing on the background tv had us all looking intently for a little bit. And the food was fantastic and speedy. Great vibe of the place overall! read more

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What a cute Mexican spot! Definitely college vibes, but super fun. My friends and I went for cinco de mayo and they were handling it so well. Food and drinks came out at a reasonable time. We made reservations, which saved us. Our waitress was attentive and amazing. I got the basic marg on rocks, which was good. Not the best, but still good. The tacos were delicious and filling! I got the gringo pollo and guero beef tacos ($3 on Tuesdays) with rice and beans. The chips and salsa were amazing and cheap! The chips were perfectly fried. Will be back! read more

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Date of visit: April 19, 2025 I had only been here once before, several years ago, and couldn't really remember too much about it and as such, jumped at the chance to visit another fun place close to the Marcus PAC (you can never have too many potential dinner options before a show!). The host staff were very friendly and I loved the decor, from the Airstream bar to the miniature road trip vehicles I walked by on the way there. Ava was our server and she was great for the most part. We had the chips and salsa, which were excellent! They come with three salsas, though the containers they come in are so tiny, I have no idea what they think you're going to do with those... Two of the three salsas were relatively mild and tasty, the third red one was no good for me as it was way too hot. Thankfully we were able to get a larger dish of the milder red salsa with our second basket. For main entree, I went with the steak quesadilla. It's on the small plates menu but for the price I was expecting something larger, and Vagabond did not disappoint on that factor. Again, the crema that came with it was child-sized, though it was tasty while it lasted! The biggest obstacle to a five-star review here was settling up the check. Ava did advise us that parties of six had automatic gratuity and only two separate checks, both of those were all good. However, when I asked for my husband and I on one check and our four friends on another, it was not split correctly and we ran out of time before our show to try and get it corrected. read more

Vagabond - Steak quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I'll always have a soft spot for Vagabond because I used to come here before the pandemic. I wanted a bite to eat before a show and decided tacos were exactly what I wanted so I came back. There's a lot to like: a fun variety of tacos, cute decor, a marvelously graffiti-ed bathroom. Prices are reasonable. Chips and salsa no longer seem to be complimentary. Service was a little slow, possibly due to staffing issues. The food was still good. I was glad to see the Cholula cauliflower still on the menu and it's still my favorite. Everybody has quesabirrias now but they're good and this one was no exception. I liked the juicy marinated chicken and combination of flavors in the Greek freak taco. Nothing earth-shattering but I would still come back when I'm in the mood for tacos. read more

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We had such a great time yesterday at Vagabond! We sampled so many tasty dishes! We started with chips, queso, and guac. Both the guac and the queso had a lovely texture. I loved all the extra goodies in the queso. For entrees, we tried the chorizo verde enchiladas and the Argentinian steak sandwich. The enchiladas were absolutely bursting with flavor! The steak in the sandwich was very tender and satisfying! We also tried 3 tacos: Al pastor, quesabirria, and crispy shrimp. The crispy shrimp was our favorite but all 3 were excellent. For drinks, we tried the blueberry basil margarita, prickly pear margarita, and the coconut mojito. All the drinks were strong, sweet, and refreshing. My husband also had a beer. Steve, the manager, was super kind and so was our server, Erin. We loved the cute and funky decor too! A new favorite spot for when we have to go downtown! read more

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Some pretty decent tacos, burritos, and bowls. Our server was very on top of it and super helpful with recommendations! It's very cute and hip inside, like a fun little place to be. Now for food, my friends liked their burrito and bowls. I got the tacos and they were pretty decent and filling. I docked a star because they are on the more expensive side, presentation was so-so, and my mango-razz margarita looked and tasted like watered down fruit juice. It was also extremely loud inside, but it was a Saturday night so it's not necessarily the restaurant's fault. It was a tad overstimulating though but I'm not sure how to fix that. I'd maybe come back if I wanted to be by the water. read more

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Stopped here on a Wednesday night. It was fairly busy but we were seated right away. The service was fast and friendly. The interior is amazing! It's very bright and colorful with lots of cool art and lighting. We ordered a margarita tower, queso, guacamole, and tacos, of course. The margarita tower was fun and yummy! It is a good amount of margarita for the price point. The queso and guac were both good! I ordered the Korean beef taco, spicy pork verde taco, and gringo pollo taco. All three were good with my favorite being the gringo pollo. read more

I've been to Vagabond a few times now and love the atmosphere, food, and kind staff. My favorites include the variety of tacos including fish tacos, greek freak chicken taco, and Al pastor pork taco. I also love the variety of different margs offered and that you can get chips/salsa with free refills for $3.50! Definitely recommend if you're near water street and are craving Mexican food or margs. read more

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Vagabond has got it all! Awesome tacos and a cool vibe! Their bar is a unique airstream (just go check it out) and they have lots of cool booths that are great for dinner. The tacos are some of my favorites - the sriracha chicken and the sconnie rojo are two of my favorites but honestly I have not had a taco there I didn't like thus far. The margaritas are also great! Prices are reasonable and the wait time usually isn't too bad even without a reservation. read more

Vagabond - A beautiful blended margarita with chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The food is absolutely amazing! I had the fish taco and birria taco it was SO GOOD. Relatively affordable, margs were tasty too!!

We hit Vagabond right at opening time, and they let us in a little bit early. They've got tons of unique decor and a fun ambiance--lots of Star Wars Lego sets right as you walk in. Lots to look at while you sit. They have a killer Paloma, and some pretty delicious Sconnie Rojo fish tacos, although quite pricey. Expect about $5 a taco. I'd recommend Vagabond over Bel Air by a long shot if you're looking for some solid tacos and a great menu selection. read more

Came to Vagabond wanting some good tacos and it did not disappoint! My friend and I each got 3 tacos, all of which were delicious. Our favorites were the crispy shrimp and argentinian steak. I also enjoyed my al pastor taco but would probably skip the sconnie rojo next time- it wasn't bad I just found the others more flavorful. Love that they offer so many creative fusion flavors. Even though the tacos look small, they are pretty loaded with toppings to fill you up. We didn't get any drinks this time, but their menu is filled with unique options that sound pretty good. Service was really quick and efficient, although the restaurant was not busy as we were there around 4 pm on a Saturday. It seems like the place gets pretty packed and lively later in the night though, ideal for those looking for a fun and high energy spot with good food! read more

Vagabond - sconnie rojo, Al Pastor, crispy shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Love this place! I have enjoyed many margarita Mondays, taco Tuesdays, and many others through the years here. The great special during the week are a nice bonus. Vagabond has developed through the years to keep the delicious classics and add in some fun new flavors and options! There are so many options for all and your choice of flour or corn tortillas. More and more Mexican restaurants have started charging for chips and salsa, understanding as some will take advantage of it. $2 isn't bad for bottomless chips and salsa though. I usually get one of my favorites, and a taco special, the gringo pollo, yum! This time I also tried the siracha chicken. All of the food we had was great and of course we'll be back for more! read more

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I love the ambiance here! Very unique decor and I love the vibe. This is my second time here and the food came quick both times with a nice server. I loved my tacos, the chicken was a bit dry in the Greek freak though. I also wouldn't get the rice and beans (the are full black beans not refried). However I will definitely return again for the tacos and The vagabond margarita! read more

Vagabond - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My boyfriend and I sat down to eat at 5:15pm on a Friday before an Admirals game. It took us 30min to get our drinks to our table. Service was very slow and tables sat after us were taken care of first. We got our food minutes after our drinks. The food was not hot but more room temperature which wasn't good considering I ordered 1 cod and 1 cauliflower taco. Overall, it is genuinely not a place I would go to again. read more

Daddy was a great bartender and Frank was super helpful and insightful with drink recommendations! 10/10 would come back also the airstreams were a vibe! read more

I am so disappointed in myself for not getting over here sooner. I have been missing out for years! I love the atmosphere here - super cool retro decor and fun table settings/menu design. Our server was great - and so were the margaritas. We ordered chips and salsa and I genuinely loved all of them. It's great to be able to tell when a place puts the effort to make its own unique blends. The food was seriously incredible. I got the cheese and onion enchiladas (I didn't like that the onions were just sprinkled raw on top and not mixed in to cook and soften with the cheese though). The enchilada sauce was rich and had the perfect amount of spice. We also got three tacos, all of which were delicious (black bean esquite, Cholula cauliflower, and tandoori chicken). I was so impressed with this place that even my disdain for downtown won't keep me away. Can't wait to go back! read more

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My music partner and I visited Vagabond on July 2025 and had a disappointing start to our evening. When we arrived, there was no host at the front for several minutes until Jai (a staff member with a backpack) greeted us. He seemed rushed to leave but seated us in a quiet corner cubby, away from the more vibrant section we wanted--claiming it was "for parties of 6 or more." However, when we looked around, we saw multiple smaller parties (2, 3, and 4 people) seated in that exact area--all of whom were white. This inconsistency made us feel singled out, especially since Jai gave a false reason for denying us seating where we wanted. As an American Indian, I couldn't help but wonder if bias played a role. Thankfully, our waitress Ava provided excellent, attentive service--she was the highlight of the visit. I'd like to see Vagabond address this: Train staff to apply seating policies fairly. Ensure guests aren't misled or treated differently based on appearance. Great food and service (thanks, Ava!), but the host's actions left a sour taste. I hope management takes this seriously. read more

I sooo wanted to leave a 4 or 5 star but it's 3. The cheese curds with spicy ranch...omg. Amazing. The chips and Queso with corn ... perfect. Not too thick, not too runny. But are issue was the kitchen screwed up and it took 30+ minutes to get it. I understand that bar staff is busy but the kitchen screwed up and the staff never apologized for it. Nor offered to comp the apps. Because 2 minutes later our tacos arrived. So our tacos sat and got cold while we ate apps. Again it's all about how you recover,. read more

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Critic Rating: 4.60 Scores: - Food: 5.0 * 30% = 1.50 - Service: 5.0 * 20% = 1.00 - Value for Money: 3.0 * 20% = 0.60 - Ambiance: 5.0 * 15% = 0.75 - Uniqueness: 5.0 * 15% = 0.75 ___________________________________________ Here's a formula that expresses the quality of a restaurant on a 1-5 scale, considering key factors. Each factor is rated from 1-5, and then weighted according to its importance. Formula: Q = wf*F + ws*S + wa*A + wv*V + wu*U Where: - Q = Overall Restaurant Quality - F = Food Quality: The taste, freshness, presentation of dish. - S = Service: How attentive, friendly, & informed the staff is. - A = Ambiance: Atmosphere, cleanliness, decor, and feel. - V = Value for Money: Balance of price, quantity, & quality. - U = Uniqueness: Novelty of concept, menu, & experience. Weights (w): - wf = Weight of Food Quality (30%) - ws = Weight of Service (20%) - wv = Weight of Value for Money (20%) - wa = Weight of Ambiance (15%) - wu = Weight of Uniqueness (10%) ___________________________________________ Comments: Good food. Good drink. Fun atmosphere. Underrated gem read more

Review from 2019. Came for taco Tuesday. They had food for pretty cheap prices. Though unfortunately the food quality matches the prices. We got pitchers of margaritas that tastes like bad Koolaid. The enchiladas that I got were really greesy and looked like it was slapped together in 5 secs (see pic). The only thing this place has going for it is it's decorations. It has quite a vibe, I did feel like I was in another place, not in Milwaukee. The servers were pretty friendly and took care of us well. Overall: if you want to come, come with low expectations and enjoy the vibe. read more

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Highlights/Lowlights 1. Unique Taco Options 2. Indoor/Outdoor Dining Options 3. Overall mehhh food/service Stopped in at Vagabond for dinner tonight with no reservation. Our party of 4 was able to be seated at 6pm on a sunny summer day (great!). Vagabond has an abundant amount of indoor seating and also a patio. Both options were open to us without the reservation. We were seated inside and a staff member quickly brought us a carafe of water, glasses and menus. The menu is quite big with a lot of Mexican/Tex Mex options including guacamole, queso fundido, lots of unique tacos, enchiladas and burrito bowls. We waited about 10 minute before our sever finally came over to take our drinks and food order (she did apologize for the wait but wasn't overly friendly). After about 10 more minutes our queso came out (still no drinks). The queso was actually the star of the meal, it was perfectly warmed and had seasoned corn in it. Our drinks finally arrived a few minutes later. Most of our table did margaritas and they were very average, there is only one option that can be made frozen. Our guacamole arrived shortly after drinks and was also very mehhhh. You could tell it wasn't made in house (or at least it didn't taste like it!). I ordered the Shredded Chicken Vaga Bowls (like a burrito bowl) and it was not very good. I've made better burrito bowls at home. The flavors just weren't there and there were several pieces of chicken that were cold. Vagabond is conveniently located near the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee as well as the Fiserv Forum. I had been a few times before and had a better experience than this time, but I can't say I'm rushing to come back! read more

Vagabond - Shredded Chicken Vaga Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The indoor and outdoor space are creatively designed with Airstream campers, old speakers and televisions and other fun objects. We sat outdoors and enjoyed Vagabond margaritas (delicious! Fresh lime juice end simple syrup w tequila). Cheese and onion enchiladas, Argentinian steak tacos and chorizo tacos were flavorful and satisfying. Our server was attentive and kind. read more

Vagabond - Beautiful outdoor space with ample shade. - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Such a fun spot to grab a bite to eat with friends! I have been quite a few times, and will say that although the food can be a little hit or miss, it is still a great time. The restaurant is decorated in such a fun way, and the service is always speedy. Last time I ate here I tried the Gringo Pollo taco, Shrimp Taco, and Al pastor taco. I was shocked at how much I loved the gringo pollo taco- usually chicken tacos tend to be a bit dry but this one was juicy and delicious. I will definitely be getting that one again! You can't come here expecting authentic Mexican cuisine, but it is tasty nonetheless! read more

Vagabond - Gringo Pollo, Al Pastor, Chrunchy shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Service was awful, servers were constantly bringing the wrong food to the table and acted indignant. There was a cook in the bathroom that didn't wash his hands after using the urinal read more

Very fun taco place! We went last weekend for a bachelorette party and it was the perfect place for it. I got all 3 veggie options for the tacos and they were all tasty in their own way. My ranking would be #1- Cholula cauliflower. Hands down best taco I've had in a while. It was so spicy and delicious. They cauliflower was fried perfectly and the slaw on top was done to perfection. #2 - black bean esquite. It was your classic veggie taco with the black beans and cheese. Was pretty good! Great option for those not looking to bring on the heat #3 - tandoori cauliflower. Another solid option, but the cauliflower wasn't as flavorful as I wanted it to be. But overall good taco. The chips and salsa they have we're amazing. There was one extra spicy salsa that was my fav. And the chips were warm and nice and think and crunchy. We ended up staying until they close and it had a really cool bar area with a dj playing. During normal times I guess they move the tables out of the way and there's a big dance party which would be so fun! I had their old fashioned and it was one to order again. It was sweet which I love! Overall great food, great vibe. Will be back! read more

Vagabond - Veggie tacos - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My go to spot for cantina style Mexican - skip Bel Air and head here for bomb house made tortilla chips and salsa (verde, rojo and picoso), great selection of tacos and drinks all in a fun, hipster locale. The Vagabond margarita is a great drink to get you started. They have a ton of awesome cocktail options, the Mayan Mule and the Iceberg being some of my favorites. We come here for the tacos, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they have $2 select tacos. My go to's are the Spicy Pork Verde and the Sconnie Rojo - battered cod, red jalapeño slaw and picked red pepper hits me in the feels every time. We tried the new craze to hit the taco world - birria tacos. The quesabirria taco (stewed beef w/ onion, cilantro, lime with consommé dipping jus) was amazing! I wish we ordered a whole tray of those. They are bursting with flavor, highly recommend. Come for the food, stay for the fun music blaring, people watching and admire the Airstream travel trailers set up all over the restaurant including the bar. They have a sweet outdoor patio (bonus Airstream!) and before Covid had a DJ and dancing on the weekends. read more

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Vagabond is one of my favorite places in Milwaukee. It's within walking distance of my apartment and is always a fun spot to go either for just margaritas or a full meal. Today was a little chillier, so we decided to sit in the area between inside and outside. The staff was wearing masks and we were able to stay socially distanced from other tables. We were seated right away and were given chips and salsa immediately. We were able to get margs within a few minutes and our server was very patient with us considering we were chatting so much we kept forgetting to look at the menu. The food came out right away and was extremely delicious. This place will definitely keep its spot as one of our favorites! read more

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Service was quick! Drinks were good and food even better. Five stars across the board!!! Atmosphere is so cool as well.

Love vegabond. The cheese curds are surprisingly so good. Love queso and guac and all the classic mexican foods. read more

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Great vibes!! A pitcher of margs, chips and queso, salsa, and cheese curds... say less! Vagabond was a perfect post game spot. Our group ordered various appetizers and enjoyed all! read more

Vagabond - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We've been here a couple times and thought it was just alright, but once we started ordering tacos everything changed! The tacos are amazing and aren't too bad a price, I'd recommend the steak! The margaritas are good as well read more

Vagabond - Shrimp tacos, chicken taco, and steak taco - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Love the special. Select tacos 3.00, beef, chicken , fish and veggie option on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday's. Also 4.00 milagro daily ! Food is served quickly and good service. Cute music themed restaurant and laid back. Will return down sure. read more

I always tell people this is my go-to spot to take friends from out of town, because Vagabond's food is great, service is very speedy, and it's affordable for a night out in Milwaukee. The Cholula Cauliflower tacos are my favorite vegetarian option on the menu and I get two of them every time I go. The Blueberry Basil Margarita is my favorite margarita on the menu! read more

Vagabond - Cholula cauliflower tacos - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

One of my new favorite places to go to before heading to the Marcus for a show! I used to not be a big fan of this restaurant, but they've definitely grown and developed their food. One of the best features they have through Yelp! is that the have an online wait one estimate as well as an online waitlist you can join. This is a game changer when it comes to being on a time crunch to get to a show! For drinks, I really like the Mango-Razz, but you can't go wrong with a regular margarita either. The Mango-Razz has a good balance of sweet and tart without being too over the top. We typically go on a Thursday and they have taco specials which is definitely something I like to take advantage of. My favorites are the Black Bean and the Crispy Shrimp tacos. I cannot get enough of the Black Bean tacos and usually order two every time we go. The only suggestion is that sometimes the tacos are so full that it's hard to hold them without everything falling out. However, I should never complain about having too much filling for a taco lol It can just get messy at times. Overall, I really enjoy this place and am happy to keep coming back! read more

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Best fucking tacos in all of Milwaukee! Found this place while looking online for places in the area that do taco Tuesday deals. The 2$ tacos are definitely worth it! I ordered a good mix of vegetarian, chicken and beef options! Highly recommend! read more

Vagabond - Nachos for 2$! - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin