Taco lovers rejoice! Pittsburgh's favorite spot for inventive and upscale tacos, täkō, is now serving weekday lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is perfect for those who have had trouble getting a reservation at täkō's crowded dinner service.
täkō is one of my favorite restaurants, so I was itching to sample their lunch menu to see if it was as tasty as dinner. I was not disappointed.
Täkō's lunch service is fast-casual style, so you order at their open air kitchen and they deliver your tacos right to your table. Their selection of tacos is much smaller than at dinner and I was wishing I could order one of my favorites: the sweet Al Pastor. However, you can also order a make-your-own poke bowl and savory tortas (a Mexican word meaning sandwich), so that makes up for the lack of variety when it comes to the tacos. Täkō also offers their legendary guacamole and crispy chips, so you can start your meal right.
As per usual, täkō's guacamole was out of this world. The buttery avocado is mixed with classic ingredients like fiery jalapeños, fresh cilantro, and crunchy onions. täkō also tops their guacamole with crisp radishes for a bit of freshness. I thought it could have used a bit more lime, but I always want everything to have more citrus flavor. The chips were warm, crunchy, and lightly salted. They made the perfect addition to the chunky guacamole.
I opted for two pollo asado tacos, because chicken is my one true love. The chicken was lightly grilled and combined with rich crema, crumbled queso fresco, and fresh, crunchy onions. It was also topped with a huge slice of creamy avocado, which pulled the entire taco together. The tacos were served on corn tortillas, which I think added a lovely, subtle toasted taste to the entire taco. I also added some spicy green salsa for a bit of a kick, as well as a squeeze of lime (or two) to enhance the salsa's flavor. At lunchtime, täkō offers an indoor salsa bar, with a variety of salsas ranging from mild to extremely hot. There's cilantro and fresh-cut limes available too.
My mom opted for a barbacoa taco, which is a new addition that täkō only serves at lunch, and she kindly offered me a bite. The barbacoa beef was moist with a subtle barbeque flavor. The taco was also topped with piquant, thinly sliced jalapeños, sautéed peppers and onions, leafy cilantro and lettuce, and a huge slice of buttery avocado. These flavors created a fiery combination the moment I bit into this taco.
If the spice becomes too much, order a sweet, ice-cold Mexican coke or fruity Sangria to quell the heat.
I can already tell from the flavorful tacos and refreshing drinks that täkō is going to be just as big of a hit at lunch as it is at dinner.