Second Time's the Charm -- And I'm Officially a Tacowala Addict! Okay, let me just start off by saying: this is my second time dining at Tacowala, and I'm convinced this place is a magical little flavor bomb tucked away in a downtown strip that you'd almost miss if you blinked too hard. The first time I came was with my parents -- a cozy, nostalgic kind of visit -- but this time, it felt like I was on a flavor-fueled field trip with new foodie friends, and it was an experience I won't stop gushing about anytime soon! Let's talk logistics first -- because oof, parking. If you're planning to visit, bring your patience (and maybe a parking fairy). There's only street meter parking available, and unless you're blessed by the parallel parking gods, you may end up circling the block like a shark in traffic purgatory. I've yet to discover a magical hidden lot nearby, so yeah -- parking = struggle bus. But trust me, once you step through that door, the stress just melts away. The vibe inside? Whimsical meets communal dinner party. There was a long table set up for everyone to sit together -- like one big, happy, taco-loving family. It was giving "culinary summer camp for adults," and I was all in. The cherry on top? Katarina's amazing assistant had placed icebreaker cards all over the table, mostly food-themed, so we had a fun excuse to start chatting with strangers. Think: "If you were a spice, what would you be?" Honestly, genius. Social anxiety? Never met her. Now onto the star of the show -- the pre-fix menu! (Or is it pre-fixe? Either way, it was pre-fabulous.) Katarina and the owner curated a five-dish tasting menu featuring two appetizers and three entrées -- each with delightfully detailed descriptions that read like little love letters to flavor. The portions were small, yes, but just enough to tease your taste buds and make you want to lick the plate (don't worry, I didn't... in public). Drink options were simple but satisfying: water, flavored seltzers, or wine. I flirted with the wine for a hot minute, but decided to stick with water because the food was doing the most -- a bold, creative, punchy fusion of Indian spice and authentic Mexican soul. And when I say "authentic Mexican," I mean like grandma's-kitchen-in-Oaxaca level. This wasn't Taco Bell fusion -- this was transport-you-through-time-and-space kind of food. Now let me scream about my favorites: The twisted garlic street corn? LIFE-CHANGING. I would like to be buried with it. And don't even get me started on the Black Magic Quesadillas -- they were soft, gooey, flavorful beyond reason, and coated in some kind of addictive sorcery. I swear they put something in that cheese because once I took a bite, I was hooked. Just one more, I kept telling myself... just ONE more... But alas, not everything was fireworks and unicorns. I had high hopes for the paneer al pastor and the mushroom carnitas taco, but those fell a bit flat for me. Maybe it was an off night, or maybe I was too smitten by the corn and quesadillas to focus, but either way -- it knocked off one star in my otherwise glowing review. Oh! And the heartbreak of the night: they were SOLD OUT of the Black Magic sauce jars. I almost wept. I would have bought five. I would have gifted them. I would have hoarded them like a raccoon with shiny treasures. Please, Tacowala -- restock that magic potion ASAP! Despite those tiny blips, I already know I'll be back. Again. And again. For the community vibe, the quirky charm, and most importantly -- for the corn and black magicness that has utterly bewitched my palate. Thank you, Tacowala, for another spellbinding, flavor-packed evening. I'll be dreaming of that quesadilla until we meet again. read more

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Last Monday I had the privilege of attending this special Yelp elite event, where I was nourished not just by delicious food, but also by upbeat vibes and good conversation. I have been thinking about the outstanding food at Tacowala all week! I can't wait to go back and eat there again. I've already told a bunch of friends in the area that they must go if they haven't been already. The restaurant owner and innovator of this fantastic cuisine, Amish, was a generous and gracious host. I enjoyed hearing about his career journey and how he grew this business out of his hard work and made his ideas and dreams a reality. It's always great to be in the company of our CM Katarina--she gives every event her full energy and enthusiasm--and I was excited to meet other Yelp elites, especially people I recognized from their reviews and from our messages on Yelp: Rhonda, Danny, Amanda, and Jason. Tacowala has the kind of decor that makes me happy as soon as I step in, with murals of people smiling and singing, and a colorful counterface that reminded me of the game Twister. My eyes were constantly drawn to those big flat circles and I liked how it mirrored the shape of the tortillas. Clever. The food here was perfect in every way. The textures were so meaty that I actually forgot it was all vegetarian. The food is spicy and I love spice, so I even added extra hot sauce. As dish after dish that pleased both my eyes and my palate was placed before me, I found it increasingly hard to pick a favorite. I decided that of all the outstanding offerings, the Twisted Garlic Street Corn and the Black Magic Quesadilla are the two I have been thinking of most all week and am craving to eat again. It's so sweet that Yelp gave me a tote bag at the end, too, so I have a tangible nice reminder of this great evening, in addition to my memories and the photos and videos I took. Katarina and Amish, I am so grateful that you chose me for this uplifting experience. Thank you! read more

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I was thrilled to attend a Yelp Elite event here, and it was a fantastic experience. The atmosphere was lively, enhanced by some thoughtfully created icebreaker cards. These conversation starters made mingling even more enjoyable. Tacowala has an incredible story of resilience. Chef-owner Amish had to pivot during the pandemic, going from catering business to delivery service across NJ/PA to launching a successful brick-and-mortar restaurant serving up a unique all-vegan and vegetarian Mexican-Indian fusion menu. What I found impressive? Everything is made FRESH, with no freezers on site. The menu has a variety of plant-based and cheese-based proteins. We were treated to a sampling of several menu items, accompanied by some yummy margaritas served compliments of the hostess with the mostest, Katarina. Starting with the Twisted Garlic Street Corn. This was a standout - creamy, garlicky, and perfectly balanced with a zing of lime. Served off the cob, it was both delicious and practical. Definitely a keeper! The Chutney Nopal Tostada was another revelation. I'm not usually a nopales fan, but they were cut small, the chutney pairing was amazing, and all the ingredients were well balanced. It was so good, I'd definitely return for it! My absolute favorite was the Black Magic Quesadilla. The smoky, rich flavor comes from Chef Amish's homemade Black Magic salsa, which is so popular, it's constantly selling out. He should seriously mass produce the stuff! Next, we sampled the Paneer Pastor Taco. The grilled paneer brought out a subtle sweetness that was truly unique. Loved this! The Mushroom Carnitas Taco, featuring locally sourced shiitake mushrooms from King Farms, was my least favorite. While the mushrooms were plentiful, I found the seasoning, which reminded me of Tajin, a bit off-putting for a savory dish. I also felt they could have been served warmer. Overall, I give the food a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Chef Amish, however, deserves a resounding 5 stars! His passion for blending Indian and Mexican flavors is evident in every dish, and his dedication to fresh, creative cuisine is truly inspiring. It's clear he loves what he does, and that shines through in the food and the experience. read more

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the best elite event ever!!! Tacowala is clean, eclectic, and super welcoming! The chef took his time to explain each of the dishes and all the wonderful flavors behind the tasting event. It was so fun and so fresh. I've had Tacowala catered previously but it is soo good and so tasty. I WILL BE BACK! read more

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Had the best time sampling the menu at Tacowala! Chef Amish was incredibly welcoming and gave us background on every dish he presented to us. It was nice to hear about his passion and how the restaurant came to be after starting off as a catering business. My favorite dish was hands down the black magic quesadilla! However the corn, tostada, and tacos were also very tasty. I look forward to going back and trying other items on the menu (the birria especially). Overall a great night socializing with other yelp elites! read more

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What a great way to do a Meatless Monday! If you've read some of my recent reviews, you will know that I have been working on incorporating more vegetarian and plant-based meals into my diet. Typically, I do "Meatless Mondays" or go vegetarian/plant-based at least one day out of the week. This Tacowala event was the perfect opportunity to check out a restaurant that meets those requirements on a day that I may not feel like preparing my own food. Tacowala is located on Main Street in Somerville. Luckily, it's a little further down the street from where most of the other popular businesses are in the area. This made street parking a little easier to find. Once I entered the building, I checked in with Katarina, who checked my name off the list and directed me to take a seat at the table where everything was set up. I appreciated that there were menus that listed everything that we were going to be trying. First, we tried the Twisted Garlic Street Corn, which was delicious. Next, we had the Chutney Nopal Tostada and Black Magic Quesadilla. Finally, we tried two tacos: Paneer Al Pastor and Mushroom Carnitas. Everything was very tasty. My favorite items were the Black Magic Quesadilla and both tacos. Amish took the time to explain each menu item as they were being served to us. Also, we had a little Q&A session at the end. I loved that this event was a bit smaller. According to an email from Katarina, only 25 people were accepted to attend this event. This definitely made it more intimate and we all sat at a long communal table. This allowed for great conversation amongst almost everyone. A nice addition to this were the conversation prompt cards that were on the table, which allowed us to keep the conversation flowing. Overall, this was a great event! I loved meeting new Yelpers and seeing some familiar faces. I can't wait to return to Tacowala again. read more

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Ah yes - the rare opportunity to be a fully functioning human being that wears actual clothes and communicates with living beings who walk upright and aren't covered in fur. We LOVE a Yelp Elite outing! I've seen the food truck (there is a food truck right? I'm at the age where my brain is making new memories that don't actually exist so please forgive me) but didn't realize there was an actual eat-in restaurant. Let's get into it. Up first, the vibes: This event was so fun! My mom asked me one time - "You just go to these events and don't know anybody?" Yup that's usually how it works lmao. The gag is we always leave as new friends. The crowd was fantastic, personable, and eager to learn more about each other. The convo cards were excellent! Usually in social settings I sit nearest the door so I can dip when I've Had Enough. At Yelp events I always find myself posted up right in the middle of the action though and one of the last to leave. The food: I dunno if Indian fusion is having a moment cause this is like the 3rd or 4th spot I've tried recently but I love it. We had a hit list of fan favorites. The Black Magic quesadilla was a stunner but my favorite was the mushroom taco. I really love mushrooms. I will not elaborate. The street corn was excellent too. Accessibility: I LOVE that this restaurant gives vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free eaters the spotlight. I think that too often food accessibility is treated like a burden when really it's an opportunity for creativity and innovation. Chef nails it! The seating was a win for bigger bodies. The colorful metal chairs offer proof positive that places can lean into aesthetics AND offer an inclusive dining experience. The backstory: I loved Chef Amish backstory. We own a business too that gave us the business so to speak during Covid. Some may say it continues to but that's a post for another day. The point is during those moments when things get hard and you have to pivot or fail, you learn what you're made of. His story is really inspirational - I certainly left dinner with a full belly and a renewed spirit to keep pushing. I sincerely wish the best for him and Tacowala. Katarina, you've done it again. The people you bring together, the businesses you spotlight, the sense of community you create in 2 short hours. That's what we need in times like these. I'm really thankful for things like this. If you'll excuse me, I'm changing back into my athleisure and will resume one-sided conversations with my dog. Enjoy my struggle pictures. read more

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Tacowala has jumped to the top of my "I don't feel like cooking, lemme walk somewhere and get something" list. Katarina, chef Amish, and his team really worked their buns off to bring the heat on a Monday night. I enjoyed each course but the paneer tacos were my fave. Paneer - very underrated. The "good luck tomorrow" hot sauce is actually hot, which I really appreciated as "spicy" food gets main stream it seems milder and milder! Not at Tacowala. Techniques and flavors like these make you forget there's no meat. If you're looking to eat more veggies, Tacowala is gonna give you some great ideas. read more

Yelp Elite Event: Dinner at Tacowala - Tengo hambre! - Yelp Events Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

I feel like this place is a hidden gem (at least it's been hiding from me!)! I loved the fact that Amish was so creative with this fusion of foods while being able to maintain the stricter regulations they adhere to for their GF/Vegan foods. Everything was so flavorful that even when I thought I had a favorite I had to keep second guessing myself on what my favorite may actually be! The only downside I would say is I wish it was a little spicier, but that's just my preference and higher spice tolerance level talking x) I also love that he has given back to the community as well when there was a fire in the area. He helped out those in need! Overall, I enjoyed learning about his business, his dishes, and having the company of my fellow Yelp Elite Squad! P.S. I would definitely like to know when you have more of the black magic salsa available x) P.P.S that drink you made Katarina was really good and dangerous because it was so good! I might need your recipe xD read more

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11/10 experience!!! My first sit down elite dinner and it was one for the books. Been dying to try Tacowala for ages and I'm so glad I was able to experience the flavors in such depth and variety. Vegetarian/ vegan friendly, gluten free, clean, tasty, everything is stellar. We were greeted by Katarina and Amish's friendly faces and the night was amazing. Even more amazing was the FOOD!! Conversation starter cards were so creative (shout out to Carmellina) and such a great way to socialize and get to know fellow Yelpers, and make new friends. I enjoyed the intimate vibe of our private dinner and was super interested listening to Amish talk about Tacowala, his story, his travels to Mexico to learn about the cuisine, and you could truly see the passion he has for his food shine through. I was impressed by all of the food, and ESPECIALLY the black magic quesadilla -- I think it's safe to say that mostly, if not everyone was obsessed. The magic of it was Amish's legendary homemade salsa - the ~black magic~ includes 12 different chilis from Mexico, and the only disappointment was that he had sold out of his jarred salsas in 2 weeks. Such a hit, and I will be back to buy his next batch. I really hope that he is able to open up a second location perhaps closer to the shore soon! I also devoured the mushroom carnitas taco - loved the twist with maca- it added spice and crunch and I was blown away by the taco. Chutney tostada was awesome -- I've never had cactus before and thought it was really tasty and I would definitely try it again in the future!! The paneer al pastor taco was great, a classic Indian-Mexican fusion. The combined flavors reminded me of a classic Kati roll - I enjoyed the pineapple addition as well!! We started with a nice light garlic street corn and ended with a spicy, flavorful mushroom taco. It's safe to say that I was completely satisfied and had the best time at this dinner. I loved all of the food, getting to know fellow Yelpers, learning about Tacowala, and of course, mushroom tacos. I cannot wait to return to Tacowala with my family and try the vegetarian birria tacos! Thank you to Katarina, Carmellina, Amish, and everyone BTS for putting on an amazing dinner!! read more

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i have been hearing the name Tacowala here and there but never knew where it was before. So when I saw that there was a yelp elite event i was really excited to give it a chance. I thought each item tasted better than the one before from an appetizer with corn to crispy tostada to heftier mushroom taco. They had a sauce called Good Luck Tomorrow which complimented it all well and was a nice kick to it. It wasn't very spicy but a lingering heat to it after you sauced your taco. Pairing it with good company like the other Yelp Elite Reviewers gave it a nice atmosphere to enjoy the experience. I definitely want to come back and try more of their items. Amish did mention a vegan Birria which I am looking forward to on my next visit read more

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This was my first time trying Tacowala, and will definitely not be my last! The menu was so extensive and creative, and the spot is really cute and a great combination of everything: great food, good music, wonderful decor, and kind and caring staff! The owner and head chef, Amish, was kind enough to walk us through a wonderful menu (pictures below) with each dish outdoing the previous one! The ingredients are fresh, as it is a freezer-free kitchen, and some of the ingredients are even locally sourced like the mushrooms from Mushroom King Farm over in Manalapan, NJ! Some things seem to be a Tacowala patented recipe like the (now sold out!) Black Magic salsa, and the fusion between the Indian and Mexican flavors is just to die for! One thing I respected the most was that Amish took the time to study both flavors, from his Indian background to also doing an extensive course in Mexico to learn the traditions/importance behind the ingredients/recipes/dishes. I think that makes this restaurant stand out more as it comes from a place of knowledge, respect, and love for both cultures! My personal favorite dish of the night was a tie between the Mushroom Carnitas Taco and the Black Magic Quesadilla. Both topped with the "good luck tomorrow" sauce was immaculate! Thanks again Amish and Katarina for organizing such an amazing event! I had a blast and made a lot of new friends thanks to the icebreaker cards and the great food! read more

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As any Yelp Elite event,it's always such a joy to meet new like-minded people,and even better to get to know new go-to places for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. I live in Somerville and had only ordered a take-out from Tacowala once before (Birria tacos,yumm),eating in and getting to know all the best sellers from the chef himself was definitely a reason why I've been preaching to my friends (the day after the event) to stop by when in the area! It was lovely to have a menu handy,listing the different dishes along with individual ingredients. My personal favorites have to be the first two that were served-Twisted Garlic Street Corn and Chutney Nopal Tostada-just the right amount of flavors and spice,to be craving for seconds. Everyone else were raving about the Black Magic Quesadilla,but somehow I did not find it to my taste - the special salsa was just not to my liking but hey,to each their own :) Having Margaritas "on a side" was definitely a great twist,as it complimented the meals very nicely. I also enjoyed hearing the chef's story of Tacowala's inception,and of all the different culinary experiences influencing his own cooking style,ending up in this amazing fusion of flavors. I also appreciated the colorful interior-and whilst our event was kinda exclusive,I can imagine this being equally cozy to eat in on a busy night. Musical background choices were on-point! Super grateful to Katarina for organizing yet another top-notch event and introducing us to the greatness of Tacowala-we'll be definitely back,to try some other items from the general menu (Birria Ramen anyone??) ! read more

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I enjoyed my time at Tacowala! I appreciated the Instagramable touches, like the photo wall that reads: Taco Love. I enjoyed hearing the owner, Amish's origin story on how Tacowala came to be. The thing I liked most about him is how he really wanted to bring an authentic Mexican flavor to his food. My favorite item was the Chutney Nopal Toastada. The flavors of this were so delicious that I wanted more. One is not enough! I will definitely have to go back and order more of this! I enjoyed my time here and appreciate the invite!! read more

Yelp Elite Event: Dinner at Tacowala - Chutney Nopal Toastada - Yelp Events Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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The event was great. Definitely enjoyed myself Katarina always does a great job. The food was great. You do not miss out on any flavors because it's vegan. If anything there's tons of flavor in every dish and 90% of the menu was excellent. The chef went to Mexico to study the ingredients and came back to offer us this beautiful fusion between Mexican and Indian Cuisines. Kudos all around!!!! read more

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Happy Saturday Adventurers! This place was awesome! Thank you to Katarina who set up this intimate sit down dinner. These days being able to get out and mildly socialize really helps me, so this dinner was just the perfect combo of free form and structured. Parking wasn't too hard to find, I did park up the street and it wasn't far of a walk to get to this cute spot. I loved the decor because who doesn't love taco decor anything ?! My favorite dish was the Toasted Nopal(cactus) because of the uniqueness and taste. I really enjoyed the black magic (which apparently sells out so quickly by the bottle) so grab when you can! I definitely want to come back to try the Birria Ramen because it sounds delicious. This place is vegetarian and gluten free so be aware there isn't any meat except for delicious alternatives. I'd highly recommend booking them for a catering event since this was how the business started. Please be sure to check them out and enjoy the seamless infusion of Indian and Mexican cuisines. read more

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Thank you Amish for having the YES at Tacowala! It was nice to get to know the story behind Tacowala especially that it is GF certified and has no freezer. I enjoyed everything that was served and look forward to coming back. My favorite was the mushroom taco and the black magic quesadilla. I have to get my hands on some of the jarred black magic! read more

I really enjoyed my 1st Yelp Elite Event! The chemistry between everyone was organic, so much so, that I was surprised that many of us were meeting for the 1st time. The table cards were a good way for everyone to be interactive. Amish did a wonderful job of explaining his background and the origins of his dishes, which were amazing! I am looking forward to my next Yelp Elite Event as well as visiting Tacowala in the near future! read more