Taco Bus - "Keep It Chido"

WHERE WE WENT:   

Taco Bus
913 East Hillsborough Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604

WHAT WE ORDERED:
Chips and Queso, Vegan Steak Strip Burrito Prenado, Fish Tacos, Rice and Beans

WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 9
Presentation - 6
Taste - 9
Price - 8
Service - 6
 Overall - 8


Atmosphere -  You cannot get more laid back than food getting served out of a bus. This seems exactly like something you would come across on the beach in Santa Monica. Off to the side, there's some outdoor seating, reminiscent of a tiki bar, with wooden raised tables and stool with a grass roof covering. There is a small indoor dining room as well for if the weather is inclement or if you

just like air conditioning. The atmosphere is just excellent. It's cool and unique and very Tampa. They have multiple locations around the city but this one is the best.

Menu - Anyone who likes Mexican food should be able to find something they like at Taco Bus. They have a build your own menu setup where you choose your dish, then your protein, then your toppings, so you can completely customize your meal to your tastes. You can get your protein done up in a burrito, taco, quesadilla, tostada or more. The offer chicken, beef, carnitas pork, shrimp, fish, and (amazingly) an equal number of vegetarian options like tempeh, butternut squash, rajas, tofu and my favorite, vegan steak strips. Of course they have the classic sides like refried beans and rice and appetizers like queso, guacamole and ceviche. They have some awesome, traditional beverage options as well, like Jarritos and flavored waters. (I recommend the cucumber/lime).
 
Presentation - The presentation is very basic. Black, square,

styrofoam plates and plastic utensils are standard. Honestly though, fine china from a big yellow school bus would be ridiculous.

Taste - The chips were obviously homemade and delicious. It makes a huge difference when the chips are fried up in house. All of the produce is incredibly fresh. The veggies have a fantastic crunch and are a really light, bright addition to the otherwise heavy Mexican dishes. The fish in the tacos had an excellent flavor profile, the only problem was that it wasn't quite firm enough and was a little on the mushy side. The taste however completely made up for it. The vegan steak strips are amazing. It was definitely some of the best soy protein I've ever eaten. It was seasoned perfectly and textured to be just like steak. Someone who didn't know that it was vegan could have easily taken a bite and never been able to tell the difference. One of the little touches that I think really add to the flavor is the large, whole cilantro leaves that they use as a garnish. The flavor just explodes in your mouth.


Price -The price is really quite good. The only thing I would ask is that sides be included. Other than that, it is very reasonable. The portions are huge, I can pretty much never finish what I order.

Service - With every other aspect being as great as it is, the service is a little disappointing. They were slow, like very slow. And when we went to check on our food, they were super standoffish and made it clear that they did not want us approaching the window with any questions. The first time our food came out, I watched them walk around with it and try to figure out who it belonged to. I tried really hard to get their attention but they ignored me. They went around with our food three times. They had to reheat it, but we did finally get it.

WOULD WE GO BACK? 
For sure! The food is no frills, but delicioso. This is definitely going to be one of our regular spots. I hear that the service is much better at other locations.


Here's a link to their website:  
 http://www.taco-bus.com/#!