Chicago Taco Tour Stop #1: Antique Taco

Hey Taco People! It’s Mac the Taco Girl coming at you with a special edition of taco reviews: Chicago Taco Tour 2018! Over Spring Break, your favorite foodie fanatic was treated to not one, not two, but FIVE taco places in the Windy City by her fabulous aunt.  When I shared this fact with my very scary college professor after break, he called me his hero. But I’m no hero. I’m simply a girl who loves tacos.

Before you officially punch your taco tour ticket,  I need to give a disclaimer: this fantastic feasting was done on a Friday of Lent, and since Mac the Taco Girl is a devout Catholic who is so grateful that God gave mankind tacos, she did not eat meat. But have no fear!  The taco tour was still delicious! So without further ado, here’s my review of Antique Taco, the first stop on my Chicago Taco Tour 2018!

Before even a taco had a chance to grace my plate, I was already in love with Antique Taco. The rustic chic atmosphere is so welcoming, providing diners with a much need reprieve from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The quaint wooden tables and spunky stools were endearing and immediately made me want to make this taco joint my permanent hangout!

It’s okay, there’s no shame in trying to hide it. I’m drooling too looking at this picture.

Upon my aunt’s recommendation, I indulged in the “Crispy Fish” taco, which consisted of Alaskan cod, tempura, spicy tartar, smoked cabbage, scallions, and sesame, all wrapped up in homemade tortilla. As someone who is not a seafood enthusiast and was trying to save room for future taco stops, it means A LOT that I ate two Crispy Fish tacos in under 10 minutes. They’re just that good. Between the crunchiness of the fish/cabbage and the kick of the tartar, I can honestly say that this is the best fish taco ever devoured by Mac the Taco Girl!

With the the rustic chic vibe and the scrumptious seafood tacos, Antique Taco gets five glittering gold stars from Mac the Taco Girl! While I know it’s always tempting to dive into a deep dish or ingest an Italian beef when in the Second City, I promise you that Antique Taco is a worthy meal! It was a great place to start my Chicago Taco Tour and set the bar very high for all proceeding restaurants.

I hope you enjoyed reading my post and keep that ticket for the next taco tour review coming soon! And in the meantime, I suggest spending some meaningful minutes meditating on the Golden Rule: Feed me tacos and call me pretty! 

 

 

Dear Tacos, Be Mine?

My Most Beloved Taco,

Happy Valentine’s Day, my love! Traditionally, this day is dominated by chocolate, but we both know that if Cupid were to shoot his little arrow and pick a favorite food, you would be hit every single time. You’re just that good.

While most girls dream of extravagant dinner dates accompanied by sparkling jewelry, all I desire this February 14th is a quiet night with you, perhaps splurging a bit with some chips and guac. (It is a special holiday, after all!) Ultimately though, you, my dear taco, are the only thing this girl needs on this day of love.

They say, “There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.”  For me, this is achieved every Taco Tuesday when I’m reunited with you. I know I probably don’t say it enough, but I am so grateful for the endless support and stability you provide to my life. Without you, I would never be able to survive a Monday. While flowers are lovely in the moment, they eventually wilt and die. Taco Tuesdays, however, are forever.  And that level of commitment is truly beautiful.

I’m still trying to figure out what I did to deserve you. I don’t believe in “soul mates”, but after meeting you, I now firmly believe in “stomach mates.” Because of you, I now hold every boy to the Golden Rule standard, “Feed me tacos and call me pretty.”  You have managed to spice up my rather bland life, and for that, my taste buds can’t thank you enough. So my dearest taco, I leave you with one final question on this Valentine’s Day….Be Mine?

Love,

Mac the Taco Girl

10 X-Mas Gifts for the Taco Lover in Your Life

‘Tis the season for family, friends, food, and fun! And if you’re like me, you might have left your Christmas gift shopping for those family and friends until now. Whoops.

But have no fear, Mac the Taco Girl is here! If you’re stuck on what to get that special someone in your life to show them how much you care, well this is the blog post for you! Here are the top 10 taco themed gifts that ANYONE would love to see under their tree or stuffed in their stocking on December 25th!

1. Taco Ornament

Deck the halls with boughs of tacos! FA LA LA LA!

2. Taco T Shirt

Did I mention this list also doubles as my Christmas list to Santa?

3. Taco Socks

Because your toes should celebrate Taco Tuesday too!

 

4. Taco Holder

To make your taco eating experience even more enjoyable!

5. Taco Onesie

Is this not the best thing you’ve EVER seen?!

6. Taco Doormat

@Santa

7. Taco Purse

You think I could fit a taco in this?

8. Taco Pillow

Imagine after a long, hard day getting to rest your head on this bad boy!

9. Taco Ring

Thinking of proposing this Holiday Season? Well, I have the ring for you! GUARANTEED YES.

10. Tacos

Because nothing truly beats the real thing.

I hope this helps your last minute holiday shopping! And if you’re stuck shopping for a gift for your’s truly, any of these 10 is a guaranteed home run! It’s important to remember that some of life’s greatest gifts come wrapped in tinfoil!

Mac the Taco Girl would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May you spread the Christmas spirit and the Golden Rule: Feed me tacos and call me pretty!

 

Thankful for Tacos

It’s the season of giving thanks! And while it’s usually a time where turkey and pie consume our minds, I feel it is my obligation to remind you that while these might be the foods that the Pilgrims feasted on that first Thanksgiving years ago, I have a feeling that if they knew that the deliciousness of tacos existed, our food spread this Thursday might look a tad bit different.

It should come as no surprise that this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the greatest food to ever be wrapped in a tortilla shell. Not only have tacos given me a fabulous meal every Tuesday (and whatever other days during the week I can convince my friends Mexican is a necessity), but because of these spicy bundles of deliciousness, I finally have an interesting fun fact to share! I’m the girl with a taco blog!

So on this day of thanks, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for following a quirky girl with an obsession with tacos. Because of all your likes and views, I have learned more about marketing, social media, and writing than I ever thought possible. Plus, I get to eat my favorite food. It’s literally a dream come true.

Mac the Taco Girl would like to wish everyone an absolutely fabulous Thanksgiving spent with those you love. And while I hope you stuff yourself with all the mashed potatoes possible, I must implore you to leave a just a little bit of room for tacos. There is such thing as ground turkey tacos after all! Finally, in the spirit of generous giving, make sure to take the time to spread the Golden Rule: Feed me tacos and call me pretty!

Taco Review: Pipeline Taco

Ever get tired of the Mainline grind? Feel like you need a beachy vacation but don’t have the time to get away? I have a solution for you! Pipeline Taco in Wayne is the perfect island getaway where you get to enjoy Hawaiian inspired tacos while listening to some Bob Marley, all from the comfort of Lancaster Ave. I am a frequent “vacationer” at Pipeline, and they have quickly grown to be one of my taco hot spots!

If you’re looking for some tacos with a twist, Pipeline is the place for you. On this particular visit, I indulged in two classics: “The Mojo Taco” and “The Kalua Taco”, and was not disappointed. “The Mojo Taco” is a grilled chicken taco with lettuce and homemade pico de gallo, blanketed in a cilantro lime sauce. For the more mild flavor lover, this is the taco for you. While not spicy, “The Mojo” has just enough kick from the sauce to trigger a taste bud party. As for “The Kalua”, it definitely falls under the category of “most unique tacos Mac the Taco Girl has eaten.” The pork works perfectly with the sweet Korean barbecue sauce, and the pineapple chipolte salsa is probably my favorite thing on the menu. The finishing touch of cabbage provides just enough crunch to complete the texture, plus the purple coloring makes for a very pretty taco!

Overall, Pipeline Taco gets a huge thumbs up from Mac the Taco Girl. Their food is fresh, the tacos are funky and fun, and the vacation vibe is second to none. My only critique is that the service can be slow, so don’t expect some fast tacos. While waiting,  I’d suggest sitting back, listening to some Jack Johnson, and picturing yourself on a beach many miles away.  If you read this recommendation and decide to take a vacation to Pipeline Taco, let me know what you think! Or better yet, invite me along! I’m always up for eating tacos! Thanks for reading, and until next time, remember the Golden Rule: Feed me tacos and call me pretty!

A Love Letter to Tacos

Dear Tacos,

I don’t even know where to begin with you, my wonderfully spicy bundle of deliciousness. I guess I should start by explaining just how much you mean to me. You know how some people live for the weekends? Or can’t wait until Thirsty Thursday finally rolls around? Well, not me! My favorite day of the week is Taco Tuesday, because I’m guaranteed to enjoy my favorite meal.

I’m sure at times you feel undervalued, with so many people boasting about burgers and parading around pizza. But you should know that you truly are second to none. It takes a special type of food to be able to be able to go with the ultimate snack food- chips and salsa- but you do just that and more! You are even able to rock chips and guac! Pizza and burgers have got NOTHING on you, my beloved tacos. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise!

I would like to thank you for being my #1 go-to support system. Somehow you’re always able to sense my mood and adjust yourself accordingly. I’m feeling sad and discouraged? There you are with a comforting soft shell filled with perfectly seasoned chicken blanketed by salsa with just enough kick to remind me that life will get better. And those days when I’m bursting with joy and ready to celebrate? You’re ready with a crunchy hard shell, spicy ground beef, and a plethora of glorious toppings that form a party in my mouth. And when I convince myself that I need to attempt to eat healthy? (LOL I know what a joke, right?!) There you are again, presenting yourself as a taco salad and making my guilt disappear with each bite of crunchy lettuce. Seriously, I don’t know how I would get through life without you!

If you haven’t caught on by now, dearest tacos, I really, truly love you. Not a week goes by that I’m not dragging my friends to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, or googling a new place to try you at. And while I do have my favorite restaurants to enjoy you at, I have yet to find a taco I won’t eat. That in itself, I believe, is a testament to your greatness.

So to conclude, oh tacos my true love, I would simply like to thank you for spicing up my life when it was feeling a little bland. Loving you has become a big part of who I am, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll see ya soon at our next Taco Tuesday date night!

Love,

The Biggest Taco Fan Ever

 

*Originally posted on The Odyssey*

 

So I Started a Taco Blog…

The summer sun was beating down, forming tiny beads of sweat on my forehead and frizzing the flyaway hairs on my head. The ocean breeze was gently whispering in my ear, engulfing my senses in salty sensations. The cobbled stone streets fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, making me wonder how many pairs of feet had trodden over the path it paved. As my eyes glanced upwards, squinting against the rays of the shining sun, I saw it. So delicately hanging on that quirky shop door, as if placed precisely there just for me. A mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, once in a lifetime sight to behold. There it was. A perfectly purple t-shirt with the phrase “Feed me tacos and call me pretty.”

So here we are, me writing this blog wearing said t-shirt, and you reading this blog because you’re either a taco fanatic or you’re just a truly great friend who I guilted into checking this out.  Either way, I love you for it! Simply put, I love tacos and I love to write. Hence, a blog about tacos. I have dragged my poor roommate to nearly every taco place on the Mainline (suburbs of Philadelphia, home to your dear taco blogging writer), so I possess a wealth of knowledge about the finest tacos money can buy (on a college budget). I figured that I would give back to the world that has given me so much (mostly good tacos) and start a blog to help poor, taco-less souls discover the best places  in the world to eat the best food in the world. You’re welcome humanity.

Thanks for reading this first post (especially you people who I forced into reading this, I promise I’ll shut up about my taco blog now) and check back soon for some restaurant recommendations and some taco content!

And as always, remember the Golden Rule: Feed me tacos and call me pretty.