Anyone who found love for takeaway tacos and street corn from Mexcito last year rejoiced when Mex opened over the winter. Chef Delio Susi Jr. has an architectural background and clearly knows his tech audience, and the modern glass structure and Ms. Pac Man machine scream “Kendall Square.” But the menu blends old and new: Enchiladas and empanadas share table space with sushi and lobster tacos. Drink through the margarita menu, including the house margarita slushie, and be sure to dip a toe into the expansive tequila list.
The name is deceptively fun, because these are some serious eats. Taco offerings include chorizo, pulled pork, fried shrimp, and smoked tofu; those wanting to go the torta route can opt for anything from flank steak to fried chicken to a Hawaiian burger varieta. Yes, there are Mexican Cokes, but they will probably just be a precursor to one of the seven margaritas on hand. The 100-seat patio is just the kicker, though you can also get your Naco Taco fix at Hub Hall and via its food truck.
Why should meat-eaters have all the taco fun? Each vegan concoction at Taco Party gives you a flavorful fix that turns out not to be made of meat at all, but instead rich meat substitutes like jackfruit, fried plantain, and a chimichurri tempeh. Also: vegan nachos! But the kicker may be the Vegan Torta with your choice of tofu or chorizo seitan, which sounds like an impossibility but is oh so real.
For many in town, there’s just one source for Mexican food: this tiny brick front restaurant in Eastie (a second location has since opened nearby, in the Orient Heights section of East Boston). Many come for the Chicken Mole alone, but the allures are plentiful. Take the bracing, award-winning guacamole, for example, or the 10 different tacos, burritos, and entrees like Carne Asada and Enchiladas de Mole (seriously, order anything with any variety of mole sauce—it’s just that good).
For more than 25 years, Anna’s has been satiating our late-night burrito cravings, no small feat in a town not exactly revered for its Mexican cuisine. Founded in 1995 by Michael “Mike” Yoshiomi Kami with the intent of bringing San Francisco’s burrito scene to Boston, Anna’s was a revelation when it first appeared on Beacon Street in Brookline. The burritos are so beloved that a woman once took a bus from New York to Boston to order one, a story that made the New York Times. Tragically, the pandemic recently shuttered the original outpost, but there are still seven locations at the ready to serve up beans, guac, and the fillings of our choice, whether in burrito, taco, quesadilla, or bowl form.
Ten different taco options top the menu (hello, scallop frito), as does birria taco perfection and housemade chips. Beyond the killer margaritas, Yellow Door Taqueria serves up other delicious boozy creations like Waking Up in Tijuana (roasted pecan- and butter-washed tequila, coffee liqueur, banana, cold brew, cinnamon, salt, mole bitters) which makes the perfect beverage for ushering in brunch or providing an end-of-night caffeine boost. If outdoor dining is your jam, head to the South End location for a better shot at snagging an al fresco table.
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