Taco Trio — Restaurant in South Portland

I don't want to burry the lead. Taco Trio is a bad restaurant.

I have visited South Portland three times, my brother has lived here for years. Portland is great. Now, I have visited Taco Trio on each visit, and each time has been worse than the last. I have tried the Tacos, a Burrito, and a Quesadilla. What is going on at this place!? The first two visits sent me strait to the bathroom, and the third made me question all my life choices. I'm not kidding.

That third trip to Taco Trio involved a barbacoa quesadilla. Let me try to describe what I experienced. EXPLICIT: I received my meal in a bag and tin foil. Upon returning home (a 2 minute walk) I pulled out the contents of the paper bag. A cardboard container with chips and a tin foil wrapped quesadilla. Lifting the quesadilla to unwrap the foil resulted in an oil spill of sorts. Think, the scene in Risky Business where they open the Porsche's car door and lake water and fish pour out. Gross gross stuff from a quesadilla, which if memory serves are one of the less moist Mexican options. So, imagine my surprise, or lack there of, when I discovered a sopping mess of a flour tortilla. EVEN IF, you think ordering a quesadilla to-go is inherently a bad idea, it wasn't going to be good even before they wrapped it up to-go. The tortilla was cold, doughy, and completely untoasted.

Let me summarize the rest a bit. The barbacoa (type of beef) was grey, chewy, and tasteless. The cheese was coagulated and again, pretty flavorless.

I should have taken it back, but I didn't. Since I was on a late lunch break and needed to get back to work, I powered through one half of the thing just to call lunch a mission accomplished. BUT, the point is not that I am admitting I should've gone back to request some kind of exchange or explanation, it's the opposite. For a 4.7 STAR RESTAURANT I should never had to think of returning the food. THE FOOD SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD, even GREAT. And remember, this was my third try at proving the 5 STAR reviewers right.

Am I going long? Did I mention my quesadilla cost $12!?!? 12 DOLLARS. I realize the food scene is burgeoning in Portland, but COME ON.

This review has not been a dig at the workers of this establishment. The owners are the ones who bare responsibility.

And to the 5 STAR reviewers of Taco Trio, where do you have to come from on this planet to consider Taco Trio such a qualified staple of Mexican cuisine??

I have made my third and final mistake in visiting Taco Trio for the third and last time. Finally, I understand this review may offend some, but I hope you can understand where I am coming from. I am a very disappointed customer, and have given this restaurant three chances to live up to its name.

I will go on, happy to buy a pound of ground beef, chicken, shrimp, etc. and cook my own delicious tacos, burritos, and yes, the elusive quesadilla. It's just so easy and fun to cook great Mexican food.

All the best, and, best of luck turning things...

The food is good - - if they have it! Last year my wife and I moved back in to our condo only a few blocks from Taco Trio in Sout Portland. We were delighted to find a mexican restaurant with authentic mole sauce and a great rendition of southern California fish tacos. We ate lunch there at least 3 times a week while reestablishing our home and getting our own business up and running. We told everyone about our new find! Toward the end of summer last year we had put in a monster day, heading home around 8PM we stopped for take out dinners. They were out of mole. I was upset but understanding. We coped, selected alternate meals and continued with our patronage. You see, for 15 years I ran a lot of restaurants, many Bonanza steak houses as well as independent establishments ranging from multi dining room full service (including liquor) places to breakfast and lunch cafes. It is an adictive business that I enjoyed very much in spite of it being very demanding. I understand. A few weeks later we were coming back from business in Portsmouth and decided to hold off our hunger until we got to Taco Trio to get a mole and a fish each for lunch. They were out of both. We complained but settled for other choices. While they were both good - we did not get what we wanted. Last week my wife and I again planned our day around picking up lunch at Taco Trio - - again tey were out of our favorites. All of the staff have aways been friendly and helpful but the management/ownership is clearly a mess. One can only imagine how poorly management who cannot handle getting food in and out on a consistent basis, handles cleanliness, food handling and quaity control. I will never understand business owners who go through all of the really hard work and expense of setting up a good food service operation, only to destry it with poor business pracitces. 3 strikes -...

Simply awesome food and fresh condiments! Small, out of the way, authentic Mexican food. Located in Mill Creek's Legion Square, the "forgotten" section of what used to be "downtown" South Portland. It's easy to get to, use your GPS.

Great flavors brighten the usual menu selections you would expect at a mex-takeout. Average size portions, and reasonable price. What makes this place stand out is the taste of their food. It's delicious! Made from fresh ingredients while you wait. You select your own freshly made toppings from a condiment bar. For takeout they hand you two tiny containers. I prefer their mango and mild pico de Gallo.

The little plastic containers are pretty small, but you can ask for more than two. They make a big deal about recycling EVERYTHING so that helps boost their eco-friendly rating.

I have yet to eat-in here. They say you can refill and/or try a variety of toppings if you do. Free lemon water is available, or buy the usual selections of canned beverages.

No off-street parking, but like I said, not much traffic in this part of town anymore so plenty of on-street spaces are available. And a small free parking lot is right across the street next to an equally small park with two benches.

The new drawbridge bypassed this area years ago, effectively killing any incidental vehicle or foot traffic along with several local businesses. You don't come to old downtown unless you're looking for something. Taco Trip is worth finding.

Great food, nice people, reasonable price for what you get. No...