Review: El Taco Shop on Taylor Road – Viral Hype vs. Honest Experience

Written By: Felecia Causey

Photos By: Felecia Causey

I recently visited El Taco Shop on Taylor Road after seeing a wave of praise on social media. The shop itself was impressively clean, with a welcoming layout and the option to dine indoors or outdoors. I especially appreciated the nostalgic touch of old-school games. The woman who took my order was incredibly kind and helpful—her customer service was a solid 10/10.

After hearing so many rave reviews online and even chatting with a fellow shopper who was convinced to try it based on the buzz, I knew I had to see for myself. If you’ve read my blog before, you know I don’t sugarcoat my reviews—my readers trust me to be honest, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.

I ordered the viral Ques birria combo along with the street corn. While I’ve had street tacos from other places, this was my first time trying street corn. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the hype for me. The meat in the tacos was dry and had a gummy texture, and the dipping sauce—though packed with herbs—lacked flavor. The rice was passable, but not memorable. As for the street corn, it wasn’t terrible, but it’s not something I’d order again.

Flavor expectations vary from person to person but compared to a recent experience I had at another restaurant with a similar menu, El Taco Shop was hard to beat in presentation but not in taste. The combo didn’t include a drink, and my total came to nearly $20.

Would I go back? Honestly, no. Would I recommend it? Also no. The TikTok hype didn’t match the reality, and while the service and atmosphere were great, the food just didn’t deliver.