Taco Maria — Restaurant in Ginowan

Taco Maria Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Food: 7/10 Taco Maria offers a mixed culinary experience. The highlight of our meal was definitely the rice bowls, which were flavorful and satisfying. The taco fillings were tasty as well, but the soft shell pastry left something to be desired, not hitting the mark. Chips and salsa were standard; the salsa, however, lacked the fresh, chopped vegetables one might expect in the US, making it just fine but not exceptional.

Environment: 9/10 This place truly stands out with its vibrant, trendy atmosphere. The interior is decked out with graffiti murals and skateboard-themed decor, giving it a very cool vibe that perfectly complements the casual dining experience. The seating is spacious and comfortable, which is a big plus if you plan to linger. The effort put into creating a unique and inviting atmosphere is apparent and greatly enhances the dining experience.

Service: 7/10 The staff at Taco Maria were genuinely friendly and accommodating, especially considering the language barrier. Despite our lack of Japanese language skills, they made a notable effort to communicate in English, which was greatly appreciated. Their warm smiles certainly enhanced our dining experience.

Value: 7/10 We felt we got a decent bang for our buck here. Our meal included 4 tacos, 1 rice bowl, chips and salsa, and two drinks, all for under 4000 JPY. It’s not the cheapest meal you’ll find, but considering the overall quality and the atmosphere, the prices aren't unreasonable.

Other Remarks: One peculiar aspect was the parking situation. There seems to be some local contention regarding parking spaces, as evidenced by a "parking map" provided at our table. With only 8 bays designated for Taco Maria's guests, it’s advisable to arrive early or plan for alternative parking options.

Conclusion: If you're seeking a spot with a casual vibe, distinct style, and decent food, Taco Maria is a great choice. Despite some food inconsistencies and tricky parking, the overall experience is enhanced significantly by the exceptional environment and...

Edit: I’ve been coming here for a while and had the most uncomfortable experience the other week. I brought me family because they were visiting so I brought them to one of my favorite places restaurants we walked in and the workers just stared at us with no interaction. We sat down at any table. One then came up to our table with a sad look and just stared at us.

We had a staring contest for a solid 10 seconds and I ordered. I told him “You know you should greet customers and at least say anything when taking orders.” After that he whispered something, but I couldn’t hear him so I asked him if he could speak up and he walked away. Off the rip me and my family were feeling awkward about this was NOT normal behavior. We asked for our food to go because we really felt unwelcome there it was really bizarre. We didn’t come in loud or anything.

When we were leaving with our to go order which took a good amount of time to cook (which is normal) I told the staff in Japanese how we felt and asked if they were having a bad day while I paid and his response was just an awkward “Ah, okay.” which 100% told me they didn’t care at all that they were making people feel uncomfortable. I will more than likely not come back, that service was absolutely unacceptable and was a terrible experience for my family.

I can’t disagree your food is really good. All of us just agreed that was the most uncomfortable we’ve ever felt in any restaurant.

Old Comment 100% my new favourite Taco spot in Okinawa. Okay he closest thing to actual authentic tacos if you ask me. Chingones is a second favorite spot, but Tacos Maria beats it in...

I have recommended this place so many times that I needed to leave a review. This is one of my favorite places on the island. It has a great atmosphere and it takes you straight to southern Cali. The west coast, low rider, Mexican/Chicano culture from LA to San D. The owner spent some time there in So-Cal and loved it so much that he brought a piece of that back with him and made Taco Maria. You'll find beautiful artwork on the walls, graffiti, skateboard decks, rims, and neon lights all mixed together to give you that feeling of being in sunny California that cant be found anywhere else on the island. The food is delicious and really hits the spot and kicks those cravings we all get when we are missing the flavors of home. Tacos are great! They make the tortillas in house and the tacos are big and full of flavor. The Asada and fish tacos are my favorite! They seriously have the best fish taco in Oki hands down, its so delicious! The shrimp quesadilla is also amazing and the ceviche is great as well. Its hard to find a good ceviche but they nailed it, goes great with a nice refreshing Mexican beer. Another thing they did right is the Michelada! I cant tell you how happy I am to finally find a good Michi in Japan. As someone who makes them at home I can be rather picky when it comes to this drink. Its an authentic Michelada and I highly recommend you try it. It can get busy but the service is great! Everyone is friendly and always greet you with a smile. Thanks guys for making me feel at home and feeding me delicious...