Macedonia’s Tacos Mexicanos specializes in authentic Jalisco-style cuisine and it's delicious
By Mitch Allen
There is a popular meme going around right now that reads:
“I don’t know the secret to happiness, but I tell you, I’ve never been unhappy in a Mexican restaurant.”
Nowhere is this notion more apt than at Macedonia’s Tacos Mexicanos. Yes, it may be the tequila that engenders such joy, but it’s also the festive nature of Latin American culture, and the gregarious personalities of the Tacos Mexicanos staff in particular.
“We are not in Kansas anymore.”
The clean, bright and fun ambience features plenty of natural light yet still maintains an air of warmth and comfort. That may be due to the stunning hand-painted murals in the dining room, featuring faces in Día de los Muertos make-up overlooking the diners. The effect is dramatic and exotic, and makes you say, “We are not in Kansas anymore.”
The bar area features white tiles in a glossy wavy pattern and glass shelving accentuated with colored lights that may be a different color each time you visit. It’s a festive atmosphere that encourages you to keep the party going.
Jalisco-style Cuisine
“We serve Jalisco-style cuisine,” explains René Santa Maria, a partner in the restaurant and its manager. “That means we serve more meat dishes and feature more diverse vegetables. Many Mexican restaurants stick with tomatoes and peppers, but we also use onions, broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini.”
Tacos Mexicanos is a scratch kitchen. “We make our refried beans every morning starting with whole pinto beans and black beans. We don’t just open a can,” René says. “And we make our own homemade organic chicken stock every morning, too. We use it to flavor many of our dishes.”
Popular items include the street tacos, also called “tacos de la calle.” “These are three soft corn tortillas with steak, onions and pineapple grilled, then topped with chipotle sauce, fresh avocado slices and lime,” says Tomás Martinez, also a partner. “This is the authentic Jalisco style.”
But don’t let the name fool you. Tacos Mexicanos is way more than a taco joint. It features a large selection of authentic entrées from burritos and pizzas to quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, soups and seafood, including the new the Camarones al a Ajilla—sauteéd shrimp with garlic, onions, cilantro, fresh-squeezed lime juice and dried red peppers. It’s served with rice, beans, guacamole and tortillas. In fact, many dishes come with your choice of tortillas—soft flour or hard or soft corn. And now for the margaritas.
Si, por favor!
Signature Margaritas
Although Tacos Mexicanos offers affordable margaritas made with high-quality mixes, I don’t mess around. I go straight for the fresh-squeezed, hand-crafted Signature. “Our classic Signature margarita is made with fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice,” René explains. “We hand-squeeze the oranges and limes after you order. We then add orange liqueur, organic raw blue agave, and silver tequila.”
Other popular Tacos Mexicanos margaritas are the Paloma, which includes the addition of fresh grapefruit and Tajin (a classic Mexican chili lime seasoning) and the Spicy Cilantro Jalapeño with its cool yet spicy twist of fresh jalapeño and cilantro.
The restaurant offers daily specials, lunch specials, takeout, off-premises catering, and all the popular online delivery services.
Tacos Mexicanos is at 223 East Highland Road, in Macedonia. The phone is 330-467-9205. Find out more and explore the menu at TacosMexicano.com.
