Taco Boy LoSo — Restaurant in Charlotte

Charlotte might not be the first place you think of for authentic tacos, but it's certainly trying its hardest. The latest contender? Taco Boy, a Mexican-inspired taqueria in the heart of the LoSo neighborhood, ready to spice up the local food scene with a side of humor.

Parking is akin to finding a four-leaf clover in a field of threes. Sure, there's a parking garage with validation, but it feels more like a consolation prize in the grand scavenger hunt of LoSo. Stepping inside, you're greeted by a vibe that's more vibrant than a piñata explosion. The place is bustling, a clear sign that, despite Charlotte's rep, people are here for the Mexican-inspired promise. And with a live DJ spinning house tracks, it's like we've crossed the border into an alternate universe where this is the soundtrack of Mexico.

But let's talk amenities. The heated pet-friendly patio with cornhole is a nice touch, because nothing complements a Mexican feast like tossing bags in the brisk evening air. The welcome snack? Crispy seasoned chickpeas. Because when I think of Mexican cuisine, I definitely think of chickpeas. Or not. The drink lineup is impressive, from aguas frescas to mezcal, proving that even in the Carolinas, a good margarita isn't hard to find. The dinner menu boasts of taqueria staples, and they've even ventured into the dessert realm with offerings like churros, tres leches, and arroz con leche. Though, my sweet tooth went unsatisfied as I didn't venture into dessert territory this time.

Opting for the three taco platter, I embarked on a culinary adventure. The birria, carnitas, and tinga tacos each promised a taste of Mexico, delivered with a side of Charlotte flair. The birria was an attempt at authenticity that fell a bit short, the carnitas were on a quest for moisture, and the tinga brought the heat, perhaps too eagerly.

The real seasoning to the evening, though, wasn't on the food. My dining companion became an unintended participant in a consommé cascade, turning our table into a scene straight out of a sitcom. The ensuing leg massage by the staff was the cherry on top of an already unconventional dining experience. Who knew dinner could be so hands-on?

The sides were a nod to the basics, with rice and beans that whispered of simplicity, perhaps too quietly. Yet, the carnitas taco, despite its thirst, still managed to steal the show with its flavors.

Be warned, the adventurous dining comes with a modern twist—a 3% surcharge for those opting to pay with plastic. It's like a plot twist in a novella, unexpected but intriguing. In conclusion, Taco Boy offers average taqueria food. While it may not satisfy purists seeking the depths of Mexican culinary tradition, it certainly adds to Charlotte's growing dining scene. Will I be back? For the atmosphere, and another shot at those...

We dined at Taco Boy yesterday with a group of 5. We all work in the service industry, so we are very understanding when it comes to separating food quality from service issues. This was a horrible experience due to both of these things.

Let me just preface this with saying that we were the only table in the whole restaurant. Three of us arrived first and we were greeted by our server, who had AirPods in the whole time, asking for drinks or appetizers initially upon being seated. At this point we hadn’t even looked down at the menus, we told her that we needed some time to which she audibly sighed and walked away before we could even let her know that we were waiting for the rest of our party to show up. After the rest of our party arrived, our server wasn’t anywhere to be found. Drink and food orders were finally placed and once again, the server was nowhere to be found after the dishes hit the table. No one checked on us and we sat there for too long dissatisfied with the quality of the food.

The rice came out undercooked. The queso came out cold and was way too thick. The street corn dip came out with a layer of grease on top, and the dip itself was curdled (according to the server, this is how it is supposed to be served). None of this food was edible. After we voiced these issues, we were met with another sigh. As our server made her way back to the kitchen, she punched the door on the way in. After another extremely long period of time of waiting, I decided to go ask the host to speak to a manger considering nobody came by to discuss the problems we faced before the checks were dropped. To my surprise the host was the manager. I explained the problems with the food and the service. He brought adjusted checks to the table but no apologies were given and he didn’t even care to speak with anyone else in the party to address how we were treated.

It would be one thing if just the food was bad, but after experiencing the awful attitude towards guests, I can see why the...

I'm normally not one to leave a review. Often times it seems that folks leave negative reviews and never mention the positive places or experiences they have. I want to change that and shine some light on the wonderful server and dining experience I had at TacoBoy!

I dined in last Monday (2/12) with my friend, Rich. We had Sameese as our server, she was so friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered one of their seasonal cocktails, the Matcha Margarita and it was so delicious! We started with the TacoBoy Queso and the Shrimp & Crab Empanadas. The queso was your typical yummy, creamy cheese dip. The empanadas are a 2ct, which is perfect for sharing and comes with a spicy Chipotle aioli. For the mains he ordered Crab & Shrimp Quesadillas, and a Taco Platter (pick 3) and chose the Al Pastor, Carnitas, & Carne Asada tacos. I ordered a Taco Platter as well (pick 2) with a Grilled Fish and a Baja (you have the option between crispy shrimp or fish) and substituted the rice & beans for Esquites as my side. I was super happy with my food selections, everything came out fast and hot! We each had so much food leftover and Sameese offered to box it up for us to take home. I'll definitely return to try out the rest of their menu, and hopefully Sameese will be working so I can have her as my server again!!!!

The MOD (I forget his name) stopped by our table multiple times in the couple hours we were there. He checked in with how we were doing and to get our feedback/or if there were any issues. It was nice to see management present on the floor and doing table touches with all the guests.

The only "negative" I have is where the front door is located, it's not obvious it's the entrance. I went to the other door on the side, which is locked, before navigating around the patio to the correct door. While I was dining I saw at least 5 other guests try to come in the door I did, so I feel that it's a...