Tenoch Mexican — Attraction in Boston

Somewhat disappointing lunch experience. Having seen the strong reviews, I was optimistic and looking forward to some delicious Mexican food.

Chips/Guac/Salsa: 2/5 The chips were pretty bland with no salt on them. The guac was actually quite good, but could have used some additional seasoning. The salsa was the most disappointing part of the entire meal. It tasted like canned tomato sauce with a few pieces of fresh diced tomatoes and onion. Not great..

Burrito: 3/5 I did not have this meal, but my friend did. It was quite large, but was overwhelmingly rice, beans and cheese. Needed more veggies.

Tacos: 3/5 The fish taco was ok. I had taken it to go, so by the time I ate it, it was a bit soggy. There was a smoky sauce of some sort which kind of threw me off, as I was expecting more brighter/citrus flavors for a fish taco. Pastor taco was good. The chicken was a bit dry but complimented well with pineapple. The last taco I had was the Campechano. This was the best of the three. The chorizo and carnitas were juicy and...

Tenoch has some solid tortas. Juicy meat mixed with tomatoes, cheese, pickled onions, avocado, and beans in a pocket of telera bread.

Telera bread is a savory offshoot of a baguette, but softer, shorter, and wider. A chipotle mayo is spread on the bread, providing an excellent, slightly spicy base. It's filled with a ton of juicy, seasoned meat (my favorite is the campenchana: chorizo and carnitas.) Pickled onions provide a sharp, contracting vinegar tang against the savory meat and bread. The tomatoes and sprinkling of cheese cool down the spice and add a creamy, cool texture.

All of this for only $7, which is rather cheap for lunch.

It's a great torta, but I have one complaint: the bread can get soggy. Even after a five minute walk back to my office, the bottom half of the sandwich is often soggy,...

Go for: Probably the best tacos in Boston, no joke.

Avoid if: You don't eat meat.

Something surprising: Rarely does a restaurant execute so many different types of tacos so well.

Reservation needed? No, it's counter-service and there are always a few tables available.

Overall Experience: 4/5. If you go for the taco de pescado, tacos campechanos, or anything with choriqueso, you'll understand how revelatory these tacos are in Boston. The quality is consistent, they are prepared quickly, and the staff is always friendly. The restaurant is pretty basic, but with food like this, you don't need much else.

Value for Price: 4 Sanitation: 4 Food Quality: 5 Menu Precision: 4 Service Quality: 4 Timing: 5 Decor: 3 Access: 3 — 5 among the best 4 strong 3 not too bad 2...