Unexpected: La Fabrica del Taco
What the interior of La Fábrica del Taco looks like after a couple of margaritas
The other night my friends and I decided that we would visit the most talked about parilla in Buenos Aires: La Cabrera (JA Cabrera 5099). We had eaten at Don Julio a few days before and decided to compare the two – and to see what all the talk was about. We arrived at 9pm and were greeted by a line. “Uh oh,” I thought. Through its windows we could see that the place was fairly crowded, and the outdoor tented patio was also full. As our turn approached to enter, the hostess asked us if we had reservations. We did not. She was kind enough to call La Cabrera’s other restaurant La Cabrera Norte to see if there was space for us, but no luck. Our other options, she said, were to wait another hour or make a reservation for another time. In her flawless English the hostess told us to “always make a reservation.” So we heeded her advice and made a reservation for a different night.
We decided to walk around to see if there was somewhere close by to eat. I had mentioned to my friends that I saw what I thought was a Mexican restaurant a block away on Gorriti. I noticed bright colorful lights and streamers with colorful flags attached in the front of a building as I walked to La Cabrera – in my head I immediately thought it could only be a Mexican place. So we decided to check it out, and I was totally right.
Nachos with Guacamole and a Volcan
We stumbled into La Fábrica del Taco (Gorriti 5062), a colorful low-maintenance restaurant in Palermo Soho. The kitschy wrestling masks on the walls gave the place a surprisingly authentic touch. The drinks are what you would expect to find at any Mexican restaurant. My friend Chris and I opted for the 5 for the price of 4 Corona special, while our two friends each had stiff margaritas. The waiter handed us English menus, which helped tremendously. The specialty at La Fábrica del Taco are, of course, tacos, and the place has a nice selection for reasonable prices. Most of the tacos that are listed are individual tacos that cost between AR$10 and AR$15, unless otherwise noted. Because of this, we found ourselves repeatedly ordering several rounds of tacos (mostly soft-shell tacos), with the meat seasoned quite nicely and the taste of hot sauce a delight. We also ordered a plate of nachos with guacamole. In all, we had a really tasty Mexican feast.
Carne Asada Gratinado
I highly recommend the Carne Asada Gratinado (ground beef with cheese), my favorite of the tacos that I tried. My friends liked the Volcan, essentially the Carne Asada Gratinado on a corn tostada. On the menu, oddly enough, you’ll also find a hamburger selection.
For a different change of pace, especially if you have a hankering for Mexican fast food, La Fábrica del Taco should be a place to check out.
