Quick Bites: Tasty Tacos
To celebrate the recently opened Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, which has already made a splash on Miracle Mile, we devoted this issue’s Quick Bites to the heavenly taco. Here are some of the best tacos in Coral Gables:
Served on a Silver Platter
Awarded “Best Tacos in Florida” by Yelp, Caja Caliente offers seven varieties ($5.50 to $8.50). Or, you can forgo making a choice and order the Taco Platter ($16), which combines the steak, chicken, and lechon options in five “mini” tacos. The lechon (pork) is slightly spicy, the chicken is easy eating, and the steak, our favorite, is drizzled with an addictive green aioli. Each is topped with pico de gallo, avocado, and cotija cheese.
808 Ponce de Leon
786.431.1947
caja-caliente.com
Tolerable Tacos
On the northwest corner of Giralda Plaza, you’ll find old-world Mexican comfort food with a modern twist. As big fans of Talavera’s refreshing ceviches, we had to taste test the bistek tacos to see if they were worth the price ($21 for three tacos served with rice and beans). The chopped flank steak, onions, and cilantro left a little to be desired — but were rescued by the fresh guacamole and the amazing tequila cocktails.
2299 Ponce de Leon
786.746.7444
talaveracocinamexicana.com
Playing Coyo
Coyo Taco has all the classics – carne asada, beef birria, carne al pastor — along with more interesting selections, such as duck carnitas, fried grouper, and char-grilled “beyond” chicken. Our favorite is the carnitas de pato ($12), duck confit with cotija cheese. Sweet and smoky, as good duck should be, with serrano salsa and red onion to give it a nice, spicy kick. The savory beef birria tacos, always a classic, surpass expectations as well.
126 Giralda Ave.
786.629.7929
coyo-taco.com
A College Try
Tacos and Tattoos is a beloved dining option for University of Miami students, where the on-the-go and “Build Your Own” serving styles make it convenient without sacrificing quality. Our favorite ingredients are the Caribbean-inspired items, so we built a Caribbean taco: jerk chicken, fried plantains, and spicy guava sauce (three for $10). The combination made for a satisfying experience both sweet and spicy.
1306 Stanford Drive, Suite 1350
305.200.3441
tacosandtattoos.com
New Kid on the Block
The open-air garage of Bodega Taqueria y Tequila’s new Coral Gables location offers a casual dining experience, serving the authentic Mexican street food the brand is known for. Choosing from their classic and specialty tacos, the winner was the Tequila Camarón ($5.50), its tequila-marinated shrimp delivering a quiet kick. The richer Steak Chimichurri ($5.75), topped with fresh radish, and the Aguacate ($4.25), a vegetarian option with crunchy potato sticks, were also contenders.
317 Miracle Mile
786.785.1501
bodegataqueria.com