Location: Downtown Lawrence. Ambiance: Small but comfortable. Ok for a taco place Food: delicious. This is not a texmex place. Try their juices including pineaple, Jamaica and cucumber and mint Service: you order and pay at the frontdesk. It was quick read more

Taco Zone - 3 Tacos 3 Taco - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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They are tucked away in a small(ish) space just off Massachusetts Street. It seemed obvious to me that they wanted to make their tacos their own way; with little concern given to authenticity. The food was decent enough. The food came out rather quickly. You get 3 tacos in an order and can get 3 different tacos if wanted. However, I just got 3 of the Green Chili Chorizo and Potato tacos. If was good I guess. But, it's chorizo is easy. Also, I would have to say, it was probably the worst chorizo I've ever had. We also got the chips and queso to share. My favorite parts of the meal was the pickled veggies that came on the side and the margarita. I'm not sure I would go back. read more

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I came here on a Taco Tuesday night and loved the unique atmosphere of being low-key and not flashy for a town like Lawrence. I shared 6 corn tortilla tacos for me and my date; 1 Chicken Mole Poblano, 2 Lengua with roasted peppers and onions, 1 Beef& Mushroom, 1 Roasted Garlic Hongos, and 1 Pork Al Pastor. We didn't leave a single bite on each of our plates and loved that the little front seating area outside. My thoughts were it's yummy and worth a try... would I come here again. Yes but I'd like to try other taco places around time to see if there are better options. read more

Taco Zone - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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I hadn't been to Taco Zone in a few years, but I had received a gift card a while back... so it was time for me to stop by for some lunch! It was a Tuesday so they had a $5 taco special going on which was a great deal. I asked the cashier which 3 tacos were his favorite, so I got the pork, chicken, and beef. The top 3 choices on the menu. There was probably 3 other taco choices that I didn't get, at least 2 vegetarian I believe. I took it on the road with me and it was delicious! I also ordered a side of queso and chips. The chips were so crispy and salty they were straight addicting, so good! There are lots of taco places in Lawrence, but if you're right on Mass St. this is the one to hit! read more

Taco Zone - 3-Tacos, Steak picada, pork carnitas, chicken tinga - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Really like the tacos! I just moved to Lawrence from Phoenix, so was a little skeptical about the tacos in Kansas but hey, the tacos were delicious!! I got chicken, beef and pork - the pickled veggies were a great touch! Highly recommend. Will be back to try the other ones! read more

Taco Zone - a plate of tacos and a side salad - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

It's just not the same. You always worry when a new owner takes over and closes the restaurant for several months to "retool" it. My partner and I took a risk one night this week and were sad we did. First, I'm not sure why it took them several months to basically build a partition wall between the kitchen, paint the ceiling black and dim the lights. It gives the whole place dark narrow cavern atmosphere and it was not inviting at all. We quickly moved to the front window seats. The place was weirdly empty. We were there relatively early, but in the "old days" there were always families eating before their kids' bedtimes. We overheard an employee telling the only other couple in the restaurant that it was slow because KU was out for the summer. I felt Taco Zone always had more of a townie vibe, so I'm not sure how lack of students would impact their business. We did think the food was still good - the meats braised nicely and excellent crema on the nachos. But oh my - the prices were not!!!! Perhaps they had to raise them to account for the "free" chips and salsa and the rice and beans that now come with the two tacos (no longer three). It was a pleasant surprise that the Cadillac margaritas are now $5 every day and not just Friday, but even so, two orders of nachos and two margaritas totaled $48. That's an enormous jump, even accounting for inflation! We likened the experience to the Burger Stand - the food is good, but just not worth the prices they are now charging. Sadly an era seems to be over and we won't be back. read more

Ah-mazing tacos that are reasonably priced. The portions aren't very big, but the flavors are delicious. I ordered lamb, beef, and chicken tacos. All were tasty, but my favorite was the chicken. The tacos are pretty small, so if you're hungry you'll probably want to order a side. My husband ordered nachos with lamb, and we shared the queso with chips. Both were very good. I also tried the prickly pear margarita, which I would recommend. It wasn't super crowded around 5pm, and the food was ready in less than five minutes. I'll definitely be coming back here again to try more of the taco filling flavors! They also have daily specials, so I'll probably try to come for taco Tuesday (3 tacos for $5). Q read more

Nice staff and good food. Servings were perfect but many might find them small. I had three street tacos which hit the spot.

I crave Taco Zone all the time and go there at least every other week. I can't believe I haven't updated my review until now. TZ's LA-style street tacos are the best Mexican food in town. I have my favorite fillings -- calabacitas, green chile chicken, roasted garlic hongos -- but they really are all So. Yummy. I have tried every single filling, except lengua, because, well, I'm a gringa. Of course, you can also get nachos, burritos, tortas and Mexican-style mac and cheese (don't knock it until you try it!). TZ's nachos are such a gourmet indulgence. Yep, I said "gourmet" and "nachos" in the same sentence, the nachos with their artisan fillings, yassss! Best margaritas in all of Lawrence, the Cadillac margarita. I've seen them juicing the piles of limes, so don't be put off by the Hi-C-type juice machine they serve them out of. They are tart and strong, just how I like them. If you wanna get fancy, ask to add a splash of agua fresca to them. Oh yeah, the aguas frescas are huge hit with my kids, they're all homemade and so refreshingly delicious. I love them too, but margaritas get priority for me, in case you can't tell. Taco Zone has been a revelation for both my vegetarian and GF friends, as they have so many options here. And the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. I have never been a restaurant regular anywhere. But Taco Zone is becoming that for me. It sounds good to me 7 days a week (if only they were open on Sundays, but that's a conversation for another day). read more

This is a little hole in the wall place right around the corner from The Bottleneck. They have a small menu. You can choose from 3 Tacos, a burrito, a torta and a Nachos Royale. Once you decide what you want then you choose your filling(s.) They offer seven fillings per day (check their Facebook page.) It isn't fancy, but it's really good if a bit pricey. I recommend. read more

Just moving to Lawrence I needed to know where the tacos were ! After the reviews I figured we'd stop in and I went in with high hopes. I won't say it was what I wanted but it was decent and the food was fresh. We got the pork chop nachos royale, a couple of kids meals, and the chorizo burrito. Nachos were a bit skimpy and I was left wanting more of the chips, which they weigh out and I thought that was so strange. Like they are chips...... fill the bag or make a quality amount on the plate. The pork was delicious though and it was spicy and tender. The chorizo was just not for us though, my husband is a chorizo snob and he likes to make sure that he's trying it out if it's offered. He didn't care for it and it was just missing something. Mac n cheese was probably the BEST thing we had next to the chips. It was spicy, creamy, and had a good flavor to it that we all enjoyed. All in all I wanted to love this place because it would have made my life better knowing I had a go to taco place. I'm not saying don't try it because we are all different but I won't be rushing in to come back. BUT I will come back eventually to try something else out read more

Taco Zone - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

We were hanging out around the corner at the Bottleneck when hunger struck. Not familiar with many restaurants in Lawrence and not wanting to walk too far since we were there for a show, I took to Yelp to find something quick and tasty for us to eat. Taco Zone was the closest thing to us, which we almost passed on due to the name. I mean, how good could the tacos be at a place called Taco Zone? Um, we were about to find out how wrong we were. The food here is amazing! I do not lie. You will not be disappointed. They have some of the best queso I've ever had. Their nachos were amazing as well as the tacos themselves. They also serve margaritas, which we didn't try on this visit. The service was also excellent. We will be back here soon! read more

Taco Zone - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Taco Zone never disappoints. I come here often, but always have the opportunity to try something different since they are always rotating the fillings they offer! My personal favorite is their steak picada nachos. Their kale salad is also top notch! They are great at catering to allergies- with gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options!! read more

Taco Zone - Baby Kale Salad - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Best damn tacos in town! I'm from Arizona originally and I'm so happy I finally found a place in Lawrence that really knows how to make tacos and Mexican food. Very reasonable prices too. If you're hesitating, just say yes! read more

Most authentic tacos and drinks on mass street. Really great place. I go about once a week.

Vegan burrito is really good!! And FILLING. Vegan options are such an afterthought for most places, but you can tell they really wanted theirs to be enjoyable. And they are. plenty of outdoor seating, & the staff is wearing masks. read more

Carry out Chicken Mole. Tortillas were included but I just used the chips. Chicken was tender and mole was good but the star of the show are the accoutrements. read more

Taco Zone - Chicken Mole - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Absolutely amazing. This is totally a no frills restaurant, but it is worth it. I came here on Taco Tuesday and it was 3 tacos for $5. I tried the steak picada tacos, green chile chorizo tacos and the chips and queso. The queso was awesome. You could tell that it and the chips were fresh made. The tacos had a pleasing presentation and were phenomenal. Also, the staff was friendly and I received my order very quickly. Absolutely recommend! read more

Taco Zone - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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I had the chicken burrito, and it was awesome!!!!! Also, rolled tight enough I could eat it while driving!!!! PLUS, they have the "Cadillac" of margarita machines. read more

A friend and I needed a quick lunch close to an appointment we had so we ran across the street to this taco joint. I was expecting more of a street taco like joint. My friend ordered the beef and mushroom nachos. I ordered the lengua (pork tongue) in most mexican taco places I've been to is beef so that was an interested twist. The chips says they're homemade, and they tasted good. I didn't taste my friends protein choice but mine was totally off. Texture wise it was fine, but the flavor tasted like it was braised in Chinese five spice, which was really weird in a nacho. I don't know if I'd go back because I love just a traditional street taco, and this place just didn't hit the spot read more

Taco Zone - Lengua - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Don't come here! The lines are already too long...This is my new favorite place to spend a Friday evening. With $3 margaritas (really really good ones) and badass tacos, how could you go wrong? We've tried almost everything on the menu and it's all great. If you don't try Taco Zone, thank you! If you do try it, you're welcome. read more

Love this place ! We had the nachos with chicken poblano and tacos . The food was very fresh and delicious . I am in love with the nachos they were amazing and the different meats are all very flavorful ! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone ! Service is very friendly as well . The only reason for the 4 stars was we had the horchata and it seemed a bit water down. Overall I would recommend this place to everyone and get the nachos you won't regret it ! read more

Taco Zone - Delicious and amazing nachos with chicken poblano ! - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Arguably the best nachos I've had at this price point, or maybe any price point. The tacos are imaginative and delicious too. This place rules. read more

The best homemade chips and queso I've EVER had - so delicious! The tacos were great as well - I had the steak, chicken mole, and chorizo. They were also excellent. But those chips tho... read more

Awesome garlic tacos. Nachos with chicken and queso was delicious. Come here for really good food!

Tacos are the way to my heart, so a first experience with Taco Zone is more like going on a first date than a restaurant experience... Giddyness getting ready for it, anxiety hoping it's good enough, excitement when you see the menu.. We walked in and the service was super positive and friendly, allowing me to peruse the menu and take my time figuring out what I wanted. Local, cool without trying too hard, and a cozy little shop. We were off to a great start. For what it's worth, I have a type; Tacos Al Pastor. I fall into old habits every time I'm around those and had to order one. I also tried a green chile chorizo because that combo sounds delicious. I also split some chips and pico, and both appear to be house made and delicious. The chips and I had legit chemistry. I was starting to feel bold here and wanted to change it up and ordered a house made horchata. Props to them but not my thing. The ground up almonds (?) make it too grainy for me, but I think it beats having a fake powder mix. Taco time. They came out and I have to say they looked a little small. I'm not so superficial that I would ever judge my tacos from the outside, it's the chorizo, pork and hot sauce on the inside that counts. They were both really good. The chorizo and green chili had potatoes and was totally stuffed, making it a bit tough to eat but delicious nevertheless. The pastor was good but different than the norm I'm used to, so the search may continue on that one. I gotta admit, mid-way through my meal my eyes wandered over to someone else's order of the Royale Nachos. They looked insanely good just hanging out at the taco bar. Maybe next time in I need to just go over there and order them. All in all, a pretty good first date, I mean first experience at Taco Zone and I'm glad Lawrence continues to have so many good options for food. read more

One of my Lawrence favorites! Great specials almost every day. The chicken tinga is so flavorful. During the winter, they serve posole in interesting and tasty ways. The escabeche on your plate is tangy amd refreshing. read more

I would have never found this place on my own being from Shawnee, so glad it is on Yelp! It is off the crazy Mass St madness just enough to miss this gem. We started with the delicious, thick homemade chips. Not a drop of grease and just enough salt. Pico was very fresh. Then had the taco trio so we could sample the different meats. The Green Chile Chicken was by far my favorite then the Pork. I tried a veggie taco as well, Calabacitas. It was incredible, nice mixture of white beans, zucchini and more. My husband had the chorizo and potato instead of veggie. It wasn't anything memorable. I would try one of the beef choices next time instead. Service was stellar. So sweet and for being made to order I felt it was very fast. The had a great and very reasonably priced beer list as well. Along with a margarita and different flavored waters. The place isn't huge but big enough although I could see it being crowded at prime times. A lot of people of complained about the price vs serving size. Being from JOCO I felt like it was right on. We had a 24oz beer, two taco trios and the chips with pico for $25. And I didn't leave hungry. Maybe it is pricey for a college town but it wasn't pricey for the quality of ingredients and taste. I am willing to pay more for that. read more

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My expectations for this place were super high based on the reviews, and while it wasn't disappointing, it didn't quite blow my mind like I thought it would. My boyfriend and I ordered a taco plate and nachos. For the tacos we chose lengua, chicken mole, and rojo steak and sweet potato. We got the chorizo and sweet potato nachos. I REALLY wanted to give this place 5 stars, but there were a few things I think needed improvement. 1. Where are the limes and salsa?! Both plates came with a tiny paper cup of salsa, which was appreciated, but left me wanting more. And I just can't have street tacos without a juicy wedge of lime to squeeze all over them. It's just fundamentally wrong. The best taco places I've ever gone to all have limes on the side and have at least 3 different serve-yourself salsas. If Taco Zone added limes and a salsa bar that would definitely bump it up to 4.5-5 stars. 2. The tacos were really small. Which, I mean, street tacos are small, so no big surprise there. But these were, like, reallllly small. I think that for the price, they should have 4 tacos instead of 3. 3. As a self proclaimed nacho aficionado, I was very excited about the nachos. They looked incredible, but I was really, really disappointed in the complete lack of chorizo flavor that I got from their chorizo and sweet potato topping. Maybe they accidentally made them with the rojo steak instead or something, because I didn't get a hint of chorizo (of which I am a HUGE fan). So that was a bummer. Regardless, there weren't any left over because whatever topping they used was still good and the other toppings were delicious. I'd probably come back again because it was tasty and reasonably priced. But if they made a few adjustments I think Taco Zone would go from "That was yummy" to "HOLY SHIT I WILL NEVER GO TO ANOTHER TACO PLACE AGAIN". read more

Taco Zone - Chorizo and sweet potato nachos and taco plate. - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Absolute joke... if you want real authentic tacos. La Estrella on 23rd and Iowa is your spot. Behind crunch fitness. Thank me later... Taco zone sucks read more

There's a reason why this place is rated so well. I have not been to every Mexican or Latin American restaurant in town, but I think I've seen a good cross section. Since food south of the border is much more varied and less monolithic than most Americans realize, it's natural that different places will do well with different emphases, and that's what has happened here. It might help to explain briefly what Taco Zone is not. It's not another Chipotle knockoff; it's not set up that way and it doesn't serve quite the same thing. It's not a slightly fancier downtown-ified "better fast food" of Taco Johns or late-nite "drunk food" glory of Burrito King; the whole approach is different. It's not a direct competitor of La Parrilla or Port Fonda; it's not a table-service, fancy decor, three-course-meal kind of place. What Taco Zone is: The kind of place where a person really can eat every week, and the best taco joint in town. The space is small but bright, cheerful, and clean. The prices are reasonable. I can see why some people don't like the portions, but honestly portions at most restaurants in America are just too big, because that's what we've come to expect, or worse, restaurants sometimes substitute quantity for quality. When they do it right they don't need to do that. You can be satisfied with quality over quantity, and this is a fat guy telling you that. Eat there, wait ten minutes, then ask yourself if you're really not satisfied. If you really need to you can always split an order of nachos or chips & guac, depending on your group. What Taco Zone serves is a So-Cal style fusion of Americanized Tex-Mex, traditional Mexican cuisine, and artistic license. Ingredients lean toward the unusual, but the choices are well thought-out. Things that sound strange work better than you'd think, like pickled carrots, which were served on the side. Those choices are inspired and the ingredients themselves are good, but they are also handled deftly. There are a dozen little touches that crank it up to 11 and let you know that these guys know what they're doing, from some really nice fresh chips to garlic in the queso. I'm glad the folks working there suggested that I try the hot sauce. I usually don't because it's such a crapshoot. Anyone can throw a fistful of peppers into a blender, and too many taco joints don't give it any more thought. Good hot sauce has much more to it than that. You don't want it to be weak of course, but if it's too hot you can't really taste it. The house sauce at Taco Zone is wonderful. I would seriously buy it by the bottle. It hits different notes- citrus, sweet, tangy, cumin, and then the heat creeps up a bit. Honestly I really only tried the place on a lark. I was in the neighborhood, I was hungry, and I remembered someone saying it was good. I'm very glad that I did, because Taco Zone is my best discovery in quite awhile. read more

Yum. Taco Tuesday means three little flour tacos for $5. Awesome fillings. The chorizo with potato and green chilies, chicken mole, and pork shoulder were all great. My friend got a veggie version w garlic and mushrooms. I would get that one next time. We also had a hibiscus beverage that they make. Yum. Yes there is beer and margaritas. Not fancy, minimalist seating area. I am going back read more

Taco Zone - Mexican Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This place is so yummy! I have celiac disease and I love that basically everything here is gluten free. I can walk in and have a variety of menu items to choose from, and know that all of them will be delicious. Another thing I love about this place is that it is fairly authentic, which is a rare quality for a "fast food" type of Mexican joint. I think of this restaurant as fast food as opposed to a typical sit-down restaurant since you order your meal cafeteria style and there's little seating. However, I'm just as happy to take my order to-go and enjoy it in the comfort of my own home. In summary, this isn't really the place to go with a group if you are looking for a sit-down family meal type of experience. However, if you are out an about in downtown Lawrence and want to grab a quick bite, it's the perfect spot! read more

Best. Nachos. Ever. The chips are impossibly crispy. The cheese is savory and melty. The toppings are spot on: Tender, carefully seasoned meats, delightful beans, just the right amount of crema. They're also served with pickled vegetables that perfectly complement the meal. You may be tempted to get something else here, and that would be fine. The tacos, burritos, and sandwiches are all quite serviceable. But only the nachos infuse my dreams with feverish desire. Those flawless, delightful nachos... (P.S. The Cadillac Margaritas are also quite tasty. Beware: They are also quite stiff.) read more

Hands down my favorite taco joint in Lawrence. Their rotating option of meats are perfect every time, and kind of a surprise every time I visit. Been there a dozen times or more, and I'm never disappointed. read more

Delicious. Friendly. Cheap. And beautifully presented (really). Best margaritas in town, too. Just go--you'll love it.

I was not extremely impressed the first time we ate here and am not overly so after the second. I hear many in Lawrence raving about Taco Zone, but have yet to see what all the fuss is about other than it may be the best of many mediocre Mexican food options in a city of nearly 100,000. The food is pretty good, hence my rating (in comparison only to Lawrence, Kansas and the lack of decent retail food establishments), but in Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York City or other food havens, they would deserve 3-stars at best. I am acquainted with one of the owners (through the American Legion where they do most of their preparation), a very nice man and well trained at the infamous Le Cordon Bleu in Paris on a scholarship from Julia Child no less, but think Taco Zone is trying too hard to be a "trendy", Mexican-fusion outlet when they should focus a bit more on the basics. There has not been a traditional Mexican taco filling option on the menu in my two visits ... "chorizo and potato", "chicken mole", "chile rojo beef and sweet potato", and "braised lamb and green olive" for example. They should stop trying to be quite so trendy and eclectic and stick more to the basics (carnitas, adobada, carne asada, al pastor, etc.), offering at least a couple traditional Mexican taco fillings. Then there are the tortillas. I have rarely seen such tiny corn tortillas used for serving "street tacos" and when I have (which is rarely), there are traditionally two. The fillings appear generous when compared to the teeny weeny tortillas, but when you can eat an entire taco in three (not so large) bites, something ain't right. Their "Taco Plate" consists of three tacos for $7 or $2.33333333 per taco with no rice or beans, only some pickled carrots. On "Taco Tuesday" you can get the Taco Plate for $5, a much better deal, but the tortillas are still ridiculously small. Their guacamole is decent, but also small for the price, coming with chips that are better than many places, but fried a little too long and a tad too salty. The strangest thing being the fact that they scrutinize the number of chips they put in each paper bag order, weighing them on an electronic scale to ensure you do not get one chip more than they have deemed necessary. I really do want to like this place more because I encourage creativity, thinking outside the box, and the entrepreneurial spirit. If you are familiar with my blog or reviews, you know that I am also brutally honest and rarely give 5-stars (9-10 Bombs) and 4-stars (7-8 Bombs) is reserved for those who go above-and-beyond the call to duty. Taco Zone is average in my book, not a bad thing at all, no matter how many reviewers in general and LFK brethren in particular bestow the highest rating far too frequently in my eyes. CombatCritic Gives Taco Zone 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... A Slightly Above Average Rating In My Book And A One Bomb Downgrade From My Previous Review Because My Recommendations Were Ignored ... More Bombs Are Better! read more

I ordered the 3 tacos (7.50), so I got the chicken, chorizo and pork tacos. The chorizo was not my favorite, it did not have the best texture. The pork was pretty good but definitely needs to be served with a lime wedge. Lastly, the chicken taco was amazing, really good flavor! Cute little taco place right off mass street. I will definitely be coming back to try their nachos. read more

The missus and I went here for an afternoon snack and were pleasantly surprised by the flavorful tacos. All were top notch. I could have had a second round of tacos as they ultimately were not filling, but the flavors were spot on. I would come here again when visiting Lawrence. read more

I probably visit this place every other week. It's cheap. It's extremely tasty. They add menu options all the time. They are super aware of food allergies (just ask). They are quick. They are clean. They offer very unique takes on 'mexican tacos'. Honestly, if you aren't looking for a formal sit-down lunch or dinner, just stop by. The place is much nicer than the name implies. It's a bit small, but I have never encountered a wait longer than a few minutes. The best tacos I have had (for a location that isn't a super traditional Mexican joint; let's be honest). read more