We moved to Nashville in December and since then we’ve slowly grown to love this city. One of the top things on our list when we arrived to music city was to find a good, authentic, Mexican restaurant. At least to our taste buds, we never found that place. We searched, we researched and nothing caught our eye as the answer to our evening and weekend crave for Mexican food.
My wife and I were born and raised in Chicago which I consider the Mecca of all food. Name the country you feel like dining at and you can find a restaurant that will take you there. Mexican food is Reina’s favorite food and even though she is Puerto Rican she gives my Momma a run for her cooking in the kitchen. So as you can expect, we went to Mexican restaurants in Chicago all the time. Let me rephrase that. We went to Mexican joints in Chi town, ALL THE TIME. The best of the best are mom and pop joints with nothing fancy about their place, just amazing home cooked dishes.
Tonight everything has changed for us here in Nashville TN. Tonight we can finally say, OH MY GOODNESS…Amazing freakn tacos, 3 minutes from where we live. I was skeptical at first since we struck out so many times, but hidden in a East Nashville neighborhood was an amazing Mexican taco stop shop! When I drove up to their parking lot there was no fancy sign, no valet parking, no flapping banners, just a hand written sign saying “MAS TACOS”. It felt like I was driving up to a roadside taqueria in Mexico, in the middle of nowhere.
Until a month ago, MAS TACOS was simply a 1974 Winnebago that drove thru town making tacos for all walks of life in Nashville. The only way to find out where they would be was to follow them on twitter. Seems like word is getting around like wild fire, as it should be. They are pretty rad. So not only do they travel Retro style, they now have an open pit stop HERE! Since then I’ve been following them, waiting for the right moment where my soul longed for a taco and I would make my way to that exclusive part of town that night, to test the waters…That day came this evening. Instead of regular water, I had a fresh watermelon water. I ordered a chicken taco with the works and a pulled pork taco with the works. The sauce on these tacos blew up in your mouth with flavors of Mommas kitchen spices and the kick of spicy heat! Diego enjoyed a corn on the cob that I believe is grilled and slightly toasted. It had a distinct flavor, like nothing I’ve ever had. It was incredible. My description of the tacos, the food and fresh drinks do not give them justice. The menu is insanely awesome.
When you walk into Mas Tacos there is nothing glamorous about it, but a totally rustic and trendy place that was creatively restored. They did a great job of recreating a road side taco stop in Mexico for sure. From the random art work on the walls, old faded wood, a vintage fan, to the un-matching chairs and tables. If you peek into the kitchen you get a front row view of the chaos going on, with wooden crates full of Coca Colas from Mexico, fresh veggies all around, pots cooking, cooks sweating, your order being written on the paper plate it will be served in. One of the cooks looked like he played basketball for a 1970 team… A young lady colored in beautiful art happened to sit at the table with my wife and boys to talk about MAS TACOS and how it started. She turned out to be the founder and owner. I never would’ve guessed it. She was super cool. She is a Tennessee native, a chef who traveled through Latin America, worked in NY kitchens, only to return back home and do what she loves best. Glad you came back!!!
Not only do they make amazing tacos, but what an awesome story. You better believe we are going to be regulars at MAS TACOS. This place is a must!! Follow MAS TACOS and bring your friends. You are gonna dig this joint, I guarantee it. You’re gonna wish you lived in East Nashville! Tonight’s menu was going to feature Cactus(nopales) with Chorizo. Soon they will be open for authentic breakfasts, including Chilaquiles! Haven’t had that in a while. There are a few things I would love to see on that menu and on the path MAS TACOS is going, I know I will see them being served very soon! What else can I say? We found what we’ve been looking for. I am already thinking of what I will have next time we dine in…“MAS TACOS POR FAVOR!!!”
Tell them “fuser’s blog” sent you!
-fuser+