People often complain that it is difficult to find a reasonably-priced place to eat in Antigua. For those with young children, the choices are even more limited.  But there’s El Taco Loco to the rescue.  Located on Redcliffe Street across from ABIB bank, this lovely little Mexican hideaway has a lot to offer for the budget-minded diner seeking an alternative dining experience from the everyday.

It is easy to walk by the entrance to El Taco Loco and not notice it’s there, as the entryway is quite unobtrusive.  It’s an indoor-outdoor setup eatery with latticed walls, potted plants and faerie lights. If visiting El Taco at night, I would suggest a spritz or two of Off! to keep the  mosquitoes at bay.

Whoever is responsible for training the staff is doing an amazing job.  On the several occasions we’ve visited the restaurant, the young staff has always maintained a level of professionalism that is highly appreciated. On a recent visit our waitstaff brought the wrong dish to the table and was immediately apologetic, returning a few minutes later with the right order.  You can tell a lot about a place by how they approach sensitive subjects such as these.  You know, the funny looks, the chuptz, the replacement meal that seems a bit…off. Not at El Taco Loco, where the staff is friendly, helpful and customer-service oriented.

Despite the common train of thought that Mexican food is unhealthy, there are plenty of vegetarian and other dishes on offer that don’t include salty and deep-fried ingredients. If watching your waistline is not an issue though, desserts are available at reasonable prices.  Don’t go looking for too many options though, sometimes they’re available and sometimes they’re not.  But again, there are other places that I would more likely frequent to satisfy my sweet tooth.

But we’re skipping ahead. There’s options aplenty for appetizers and entrees at El Taco Loco.   It is very possible to feed a family of four for the price of one entrée at an upscale-y restaurant.  An 8-inch cheese pizza will feed two children and will only set you back $10EC.  Tacos come in both soft ($7) and hard ($6) both in a choice of chicken or beef or beans, with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. The ingredients are served fresh, and for the in-a-rush, they come pretty fast.  But that’s just for starters. There’s yummy burritos (ranging from veggie at $10 to steak at $25), chili ($12-$15), fajitas, enchiladas ($25) and nachos, alongside non-traditional Mexican offerings like chicken wings, fish strips, fries, pasta and rice. Actually, the menu goes deeper into subs, kebabs, baked potatoes, burgers and hot dogs which is nice, but those options you can pretty much get elsewhere.  Mexico is where I go for the taco.

The Nachos del Grande dish deserves special mention, as it comes smothered with ground chicken or beef, tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, and refried beans.  They make the actual nachos onsite and boy, are they tasty.  Be sure to ask for fresh cheddar cheese instead of the cheese sauce though, it’s a little pricier but definitely worth it for a more authentic experience.  Close your eyes and you’d swear you’re in a little cantina in Guadalajara.  And if you need something margarita-like to wash them down, the bar is open for business!

As far as I know, El Taco Loco is the only major Mexican restaurant in Antigua.  In a country with relatively few international dining choices, it’s definitely important to add it to you “check it out” list and spice up your life!