Not many topics garner as much controversy as, “Who has the best tacos?”
Westchase has a lot of opinions about tacos and residents aren’t shy about sharing them on the Westchase Neighborhood News (WOW) Facebook page. Several recent posts have dozens of both positive and negative comments about taco eateries around our area. Things really heated up when Talkin’ Tacos recently opened in the former Tijuana Flats location in the Westchase Town Center. While many welcomed the new restaurant, others complained. I decided to check out the newest taco joint and see what all of the controversy was about.
To be honest, I am a longtime Tijuana Flats fan. Having eaten at many locations around the state over the years, I was sad to see the Westchase location close. However, I was happy to see a new fast-casual taco eatery fill the empty space. In 2020, Talkin’ Tacos first started out as a food truck in south Florida that quickly morphed into multiple restaurants across Florida and other states. Locally, Talkin’ Tacos has a restaurant in Westchase, Temple Terrace and one opening soon in Clearwater.
We went to Talkin’ Tacos on a Friday evening with the intention of ordering food to take home. Before we placed our order, we decided to go to World of Beer to enjoy some craft beer while playing Golden Tee. It’s a good thing we got a beverage there because, unlike Tijuana Flats, Talkin’ Tacos doesn’t sell alcohol. Another big difference is that diners order and pay at a kiosk instead of at the counter. While I can appreciate the technology, there are only two kiosks and some people take a long time to order, especially if they’ve never looked at the menu before.
We sat at a table and waited for our to-go order, noticing a lot of young families coming in to dine and people picking up online orders. The manager brought out our large bag and thanked us for coming in. All of the food smelled delicious on the drive home and looked even better when we unpacked it. I definitely give Talkin’ Tacos credit for having very sturdy packaging because nothing had fallen apart or leaked. Our order consisted of Birria Ramen ($12.99), Chicken Quesabirria ($13.99), App Trio ($21.99), Birria Tacos ($13.99), Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos ($13.99) and Southwest Chicken Tacos ($13.99).
Birria is tender, slow-cooked beef and the hallmark of Talkin’ Tacos menu, so I couldn’t wait to try the three Birria Tacos. They had Chihuahua cheese, onions, cilantro and beef birria on corn tortillas served with a side of consommé. I’ve never had a taco that comes with a side of dipping sauce, but it was absolutely delicious. It made the birria even more tender and juicy without making the tacos soggy. The Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos had fried shrimp, spicy mayo, lettuce, pickled onions and cilantro on corn tortillas. The shrimp was tasty, crispy and held up nicely to the other components on the taco. Another standout was the App Trio which consisted of Pico de Gallo, Jalapeno Taki Quesso and Guacamole served with tortilla chips. Each of the dipping options tasted freshly made and it was hard to pick a favorite. The Birria Ramen was my least favorite dish, although my husband really liked it. Made with ramen noodles, beef birria, consommé, onion and cilantro, it had an odd flavor profile that I didn’t enjoy. Next time, I will stick to ordering tacos.
There are a lot of places to get tacos in our area, but definitely give Talkin’ Tacos a try.
Overall, I really loved it and I’m glad it opened here in Westchase. With all of the empty space in the Westchase Town Center, we should be happy to have a new restaurant fill one of the voids.
Talkin’ Tacos
★★★★☆
9520 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33626
www.talkintacos.net Hours: Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.