TACOS BAR — Restaurant in Tokyo

This was one of the most memorable meals of my entire life and a week later I am still thinking about it. Tokyo is a city of amazing food but it can often feel like you are eating one chef's variation or version of something someone else has done or has been doing for hundreds of years. Chef Garcia is doing something completely new and unexpected and eating here felt like you were part of something new, something that someone else is going to try to emulate down the road and try to call their own. The concept of this restaurant is true Mexican cuisine with Japanese ingredients. Only the corn (used to make the masa which makes tortillas fresh per order, something even most restaurants in Mexico do not do), avocados, and chocolate come from outside Japan. What you get is the most thoughtful, intentional, and creative food I have ever had the experience of trying. Chef Garcia is a very humble but creative genius who loves to explain his craft to those who care to listen (he is also a polyglot who can speak perfect Japanese, English, Spanish, and probably more languages). Of all the meals I have had in Tokyo, this is the one that I cannot get out of my brain because it was the most original cuisine I have ever had. The flavors were sublime, the ambiance was perfect, even the music playing was just fantastic and I wish he would put the playlist on Spotify (the chef curated the music, too). The staff is also beyond kind and are very accommodating to non-Japanese speakers. This restaurant is going to change the food scene and I would encourage anyone who considers themselves and adventurous diner to try it immediately while you can still get a...

I had no idea where I was going, or what I was getting into when I walked through the door to the very hidden Tacos Bar in Ebisu.

This hidden gem offers a seasonal Omakase style "tacos" experience by the chef, Marco. He takes pride in using corn from his home country of Mexico, processing it into masa onsite, and creating his own version of tacos using seasonal Japanese ingredients. A bold move, taking traditional tacos and putting a local Japanese spin on them. However, each dish brought a new experience and texture that kept us wondering what we were going to get next.

Note, this is a seafood only restaurant, so you will not get any sort of land animal protein on the plate....which, honestly, was not missed with the way the course was curated.

Do yourself a favor and give this place a try. We will...

Although Tacos Bar is spiritually a Mexican restaurant, the food is clearly drawing upon a wide range of international sources for inspiration. I attended a special event set menu and was blown away at the taste and creativity with each item I tasted - each item more impressive than the last. It seems some of the key main ingredients (for the tacos, for instance) are imported from Mexico, and the quality of preparation is outstanding. Marco, the owner and chef, is a treasure - and the overall restaurant vibe is comfortable.

I'm shocked they doesn't have a Michelin star yet. But I'd definitely recommend checking it out now before it does, because you might not ever get a reservation when that day...