El Taquero — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

I have been to el taquero twice before and overall I can say that the food is very tasty. I like the nachos dish especially. The waiters are very nice and friendly. My friend and I sat at the bar and had a really nice chat with the bartender and another waiter and you could feel that they were very accommodating. Also, my friend invited a few of our friends to eat dinner and celebrate her birthday at the restaurant a few days ago and when the waiters found out it was her birthday (she didn’t tell them prior that it was a little birthday get together) they did their best to make it a happy night. There was a slice of cake served for her along with a special picture the waitress had taken of our friends group beforehand with a digital camera. They also served some free shots too so overall I must say it was a very pleasant experience. The only two things to keep in mind when going is to make a reservation beforehand and the dish sizes. I urgently recommend to reserve a table in advance because the restaurant can get very busy at times. (That’s why my friend and I were seated at the bar the first time we came to visit as we had no reservation.) Other than that, the taco sizes are quite small so definitely order more than one if you want to feel like you have eaten well. The shared nachos on the other hand however are quite big. But in general I feel like the portion sizes tend to lean to the smaller sizes so just ask the staff wether the food you ordered is enough and they can help and also give you some recommendations. The atmosphere in the restaurant is fine. Like definitely very lively with many customers and music. Personally, I don’t really enjoy restaurants with super loud music on top of all the people chatting so that is the only thing I dislike...

El Taquero was near my hotel and I wanted something small to eat and thought perhaps I could get something there.

Even though the place is open to 1am, the kitchen. The waitstaff who greeted me were not inviting at all and didn't give a great first impression.

I was disappointed to learn this, but the drinks list looked great so I stayed anyway. I asked if it were possible to just get some cornchips and guacamole or something, but the female waitstaff told me again that the kitchen was closed and I could not order any food. Yet, the kitchen is open plan and I could still hear food being cooked. I found it a little odd that even a small snack was not available. Especially since towards the end of my first drink, a table of four people received a table full of food. I didn't get it but nevertheless it's the waitstaff's choice to represent the business...

Anyway the two cocktails I had were incredible. Really really good. On the high quality of the drinks, and the smell of the food from other tables, I would most definitely go back again to eat and try other drinks on the menu when I am next in Hong Kong. The interior was fun, seating comfortable, music fitting the restaurant and I did enjoy myself there.

So, despite my experience, I would definitely...

The food at El Taquero is incredible, and I would highly recommend coming for the tacos and margs alone.

The fish Sayulita tacos we ordered were perfectly battered and crispy, and paired beautifully with the aioli and the fresh pico de gallo. The al pastor was extremely flavourful, and the fattiness was cut nicely with the pineapple and salsa roja. The drink menu was extensive, and we had some trouble picking but eventually settled for the cocktail of the month, the "passionfruit margarita" and the "blood orange margarita". Both were delicious, but the blood orange marg was definitely the standout and we ordered another round.

Despite the delicious food and the lively, vibrant ambience, the one let-down was the service. The restaurant was packed, so I can understand that the staff were always occupied. However, all of the interactions we had with staff were curt and bordered on rude. It often felt as though we were inconveniencing the staff simply by ordering or asking for minor changes to our order. As it was my second time here, I thought that the poor service during my first visit was a fluke; however, now I can confirm that I had a similar experience both times.

Truly a shame, because I would come here every week for the fish tacos and...