Taco Addicts — Restaurant in Cary

Food was pretty good and the queso was delicious but the service was HORRIBLE. I have never not tipped before, and I am a generous tipper. When the server brought our drinks and dumped my daughter’s sprite all over the place, I was going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Things happen. But then when we were done with our food, she came to ask us if we needed any boxes and walked off in the middle of us talking about it. I thought she was going to get a box but she didn’t come back. We sat there for 20 minutes, watching her clean tables, sweep the floor, and take another table their check and get their payment. After all that, she went to the computer and we thought she was going to get our check but she stayed at the computer for some time then went to clean some more. My daughter tried to get her attention and she ignored us. At that point, I went to get some help and explained what was going on to one girl that was cleaning a table who responded OK but then I figured out that she didn’t understand anything I said. So I’m went to the bar and the very nice bartender said he would bring our check, which he promptly did. He and our server spoke to each other in Spanish and she kind of laughed. She then said “I didn’t know you wanted your check.” My daughter said, “You haven’t been by here in 20 minutes so how would you know?” Yet the last time she was at the table, she knew we were done eating and our drinks were gone. She did not apologize...

Just went today for the first time around 4:00 pm on 5/14. I suspect this may be a restaurant where the unspoken rule is that it is not for you if you’re “other”. I went in to try and place an order for food. The hostess did not greet me and I got the sense she wanted to know why I was there based off the look on face. I said I wanted to place an order and she rudely gestured with her pen behind her towards the counter where the bartenders were. She then proceeded to go back to what ever she was doing on her tablet. I should have walked out then, but I know people can have bad days so I went to the bar and told them I wanted to place an order. They were talking and paused only when they were ready to help me. They then directed me BACK to the hostess. I told her they said I’d place it with her. She walked over to them and said something to them so the bartenders called me back over. There seemed to be some tension and some looks here after this happened. It didn’t seem like they wanted me there. The bartenders spoke English so I thought they knew what I meant when I said place an order? There were only Hispanics inside so it was already awkward when I walked in because they were all staring and watching everything. I’m not Hispanic. I made the decision to just walk out because I didn’t feel welcome at all especially after that. Like I was an inconvenience. I would not spend my money here nor tell anybody else too. Horrible service...

Taco Addicts (or something that doesn't scream "chain"), what was once an Applebees is now a haven of carne asada, roasted chiles, fresh tortillas and more.

The decor isn't fancy, but it's clean and honest. A few colorful murals, some bar signs and banners, and the soft hum of a sports game on one of the TV's. The booths and tables are as standard as it gets, one glance at the menu suddenly gives the impression that this is not where every dish is a bold expression of "that's fine, I guess." The salsa's from a jar, the tortillas are suspiciously uniform, and everything tastes like it was made by someone whose only seasoning is... sadness.

Most importantly, the food. Quesa Birria Tacos, this is what happens when tacos get promoted. These are tacos that went to flavor grad school and came back with a crispy cheese degree. Imagine tender, slow-braised beef—we’re talking birria so juicy it practically writes poetry—folded into a tortilla that’s been dunked in consommé and sizzled on the griddle until golden, melty, and just slightly reckless.

Oh, and then there’s the consommé on the side—hot, beefy broth made for dipping, sipping, or straight-up sobbing into because it’s just that good. Dunk the taco in like it’s fondue from the gods. It’s not optional. It’s destiny.

Warning: Will stain shirts and ruin lipstick....