Taqueria Queretaro

Location: 611 W. Loop 340, Waco, Texas 76712
399-0934

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 8/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: Parrilladas Mixtas (grilled beef and chicken), Chimichangas, Tortas

“Off the Menu” Items: Torta Cubana (fantastic!)

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

Located just off of the Imperial Drive Exit on Highway 6 in what many Wacoans remember as the “old Friends Restaurant” building, this restaurant is a welcome addition to the Waco restaurant scene, despite the fact that it belongs to an already crowded restaurant category. Named after the state in central Mexico, Taqueria Queretaro (pronounced “care-et-are-oh”) has quickly carved a niche for itself in the Waco Mexican food scene by serving up a wide range of traditional Mexican favorites and some more eclectic menu items as well. Upon arrival, diners are allowed to seat themselves at any available table and are quickly greeted by the friendly wait staff. Fresh tortilla chips and a choice of red, green, and/or poblano salsas are brought to the table for consumption. The green salsa (made with jalapenos and just a bit of sour cream) is particularly delicious. Drinks are served in large glasses, which is both necessary and appreciated given the dining fare. For those dining after work, in addition to iced tea and soft drinks the restaurant also serves a number of imported beers in the bottle and has an open bar available.

The menu offers a variety of plates featuring enchiladas, burritos, tacos, tamales, and other standard Mexican fare. The chimichanga, a burrito which is quickly deep-fried to create a crunchy outer layer, is an excellent choice and is served with rice and a choice of refried or charro beans. A number of different tortas are also available, and the Torta Cubana is this reviewer’s personal favorite. The torta is a Mexican sandwich served on an oblong roll called a bolillo, and the Torta Cubana (inspired by the classic Cuban sandwich) contains fried pork, ham, melted cheese, avocado slices, and jalapeno slices. Appropriately enough, it is served by itself, as it is more than likely as big as your face! The Lunch Guys have dined at Taqueria Queretaro on quite a few occasions and have yet to have a subpar meal. For those intimidated by the numerous choices available, one simply cannot go wrong with the daily special, often priced at $4.99 or less, which provides both quality and value in the same tasty package.

The staff is friendly and courteous, and they work to accommodate every dining request. When things aren’t quite as busy, they are also likely to strike up a conversation with diners, soliciting opinions regarding the quality of the food and the service. When the lunch crowd stacks up, service can slow down a bit, but it doesn’t detract in the least from the dining experience. For those desiring a long lunch hour, this restaurant provides ample opportunity to loiter and chew the fat (literally and figuratively).

All factors considered, there isn’t a finer option for Mexican food in the Waco city limits. If you haven’t been there yet (or this week), you’re missing out.