There are few things better to do when the weather in San Francisco is perfect than head to Tacolicious, kick back with one of their many well-rounded cocktails, and indulge in a few of their innovative tacos. It’s just one of those places that leaves you feeling high on life…
When I went to Tacolicious, it was exactly as described above and I couldn’t have been happier. I walked in, sat down, and was promptly presented with a fresh helping of chips and salsa. I specially requested an order of guac to accompany this appetizer of sorts for obvious reasons. I’m kind of a chips and salsa addict, so this gesture didn’t last very long, but it was delicious while it lasted.
Immediately after inhaling the chips and guac I spent a few fleeting moments ogling the cocktail menu. I was set on the Cocktail of the Week; this rendition included Avion Blanco, coconut water, ginger beer, lime, and basil leaf. The coconut water gave this drink a very fresh and light feeling that is a quality I continually look for in a good cocktail. My friend was a bit more daring than me and ordered the Margarita Picante, a cocktail made with Espolon Blanco, agave, lime, and red chile shrub, which was the ingredient responsible for the drink’s orange hue.
It sounds a bit wild to go to a taco place and order a three-course meal, but I did just that because I couldn’t resist. As a first course of sorts, I ordered the Pozolo Rojo and the Marina Girl Salad. Pozole is a Mexican dish that truly isn’t on menus enough. Tacolicious’ rendition of this classic did not disappoint. Consisting mostly of pork broth and hominy, this dish was accompanied by a fresh plate of cabbage, cilantro, Mexican oregano, lime, radishes and crispy tostadas, which served as a sort of build-your-own garnish kit. I shamelessly drank this broth by the spoonful, as it was just too irresistible to let any drop go to waste. The Marina Girl Salad, chock full of romaine and topped with a healthy serving of avocado, cucumber, radish, pumpkin seeds, cotija cheese was dressed with a refreshing jalapeño vinaigrette that tied in all of the ingredients flawlessly.
Because I couldn’t be at Tacolicious and not have a taco in hand any longer, the main course had arrived. I ordered a sampling of tacos because I had to try as many as I could. This time I had the Pacific Cod Taco (gluten-free if you ask for it grilled rather than fried), the Butternut Squash Taco, the Traditional Carnitas Taco, and the Nopales Taco. Each of these tacos were fantastic, but if you were to force me to choose, my favorite would be the Pacific Cod. I’m a big sauce person, so I greatly appreciated that Tacolicious serves all of their tacos with three sauces to choose from.
I got a side of rice and beans so my tacos wouldn’t feel lonely, and it was certainly a good decision. You might think rice and beans are a pretty run-of-the-mill menu item, but Tacolicious spices up their offering with a delightful and fresh “mojo verde” salsa. This sauce packed a full punch of flavor and was a smart addition to an otherwise simple dish.
While it would be hard for a normal human to consume as much food as I did at Tacolicious, I highly recommend ordering everything that could possibly fit in your stomach, so as to not miss out on any of the hidden gems on their menu.