Hole-in-the-Wall Quest: Taqueria San Marcos
Posted Sunday, April 30, 2017Let's face facts: Cincinnati needs another taqueria like a hole in the head. Still, there's something to be said for having a good one in your own back yard rather than having to travel to Newport, Over-the-Rhine, Fairfield or Madisonville. Taqueria San Marcos, which is tucked on a corner of a mostly residential swatch of Carthage Ave. in Norwood, fits that bill.
The small, drab-white, unassuming facade belies the fun, fire engine-red 50's diner theme awaiting inside. Upon the suggestion of fellow area food blogger Heather (aka "The Food Hussy,"), we stopped by to give them a try.
San Marcos' dining room is small, showcasing about four or five booths and bar seating. There was evidence that they may be expanding soon. We sat down and perused a very comprehensive menu that, in addition to tacos, includes full dinner plates, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas and more. The menu is quite meat-centric: there are only a few vegetarian options here but they are available.
Chicken torta: gigantic and amazing bread My girlfriend chose the chicken torta, a Mexican sandwich filled with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, avocado and mayo stuffed inside a very impressively light and fluffy "Mexican bun." I focused on the list of tacos, whose available fillings included most of the usual suspects like al pastor, chicken, barbacoa, carnitas, tongue, tripe and fish, But there were also two variants I'd never seen before in Cincinnati: a chorizo/steak combo known as "campechanos" and an adobo, chili and tomato-marinated chicken variant called, "pollo adobado." I eagerly choose one of each, as well as an al pastor taco.
Within minutes, we were presented with our lunches, dumbfounded and jaws dropped as we marveled at the sheer size of my girlfriend's torta and its amazing bread. It was a monstrous sandwich. We've had tortas before, but there's absolutely nothing we could recall that ever looked or tasted like this. The magic of this sandwich was definitely in the bread: it was light, airy, a bit sweet and paired perfectly with the savory components it contained. The chicken was tender and juicy, the avocado adding another satisfyingly filling nuance, finished with the vinegary bite of the pickled jalapenos and refreshing hunks of tomato. Even after collaborating, we came nowhere near finishing it.
Tacos: chicken adobado, al pastor and campechanos My tacos arrived sporting classic street digs, each reinforced with two corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro. The chicken adobado was far superior to virtually every chicken taco I'd ever had (the exception: Chilango's Chicken Tinga taco). The spicy, tomatoey sauce and caramelized bite of the grilled chicken made it an easy favorite. The campechanos taco, with its combination of chorizo and grilled steak, was mildly spiced and satisfying. My tasty al pastor taco came with hunks of marinated, grilled pork and onion.
Taqueria San Marcos is the kind of modest, local hole-in-the-wall we've been itching for.
5201 Carthage Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45212513-351-1363
Rating: 3.5 out of 4
= Outstanding
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
The best TACO joint in the city. I go there as a treat to myself every Monday. TEX MEX TACOS are delicious culinary treats that look beautiful and taste great. I'm so impressed with this place that I never explore the other items on the menu. If you don't get your taco fix here, you're losing in life.
posted: Tue., Apr 27th, 2021 @ 2:37 PM
My Wife and myself dined at Ferrari’s on Saturday and the Food and service was great/ I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli with misc nuts and sauce and it was the best meal I’ve had there/ My wife had the Fish and Vegetables and was very happy/ I also got a couple of their pizza and olive loaves of bread/ The bread is always a hit at work.
posted: Mon., Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 1:14 PM
@Rick: Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to remember to give them a try.
posted: Sat., Nov 21st, 2020 @ 9:06 AM
Try Joe's Pizza located at Airway and Smithville Rd. You might like it...That's one of favorite haunts. I definitely think it beats Cassano's.
posted: Fri., Nov 6th, 2020 @ 4:19 PM
Hands down the best Indian in the area. I have yet to find their yellow Punjabi dish anywhere. It is my favorite, and what keeps me coming back time after time. I think I have been here over 100 times. I love this place.
posted: Thu., May 28th, 2020 @ 12:03 PM
I found a gyro I keep thinking about
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tazikis-mediterranean-cafe-cincinnati
their lamb gyro is about 2-3 bucks higher in cost than a gyro elsewhere - B U T - it is made with whole pieces of lamb meat, not the lamb and beef loaf that all other Gyro joints in Cincinnati seem to do
it is a chain. A minus for me, and I suspect for you as well.
But its good.
really, really good
one caveat: skip the baklava as it is not made in-house
posted: Mon., Dec 9th, 2019 @ 12:43 PM
I'll take your word for it, then.....it is fairly close to work so it'll be an upcoming lunch
I also need to try out this little taco wagon near Quatmans in Norwood
posted: Mon., Sep 9th, 2019 @ 6:21 PM
Hi @TJ - We were pretty impressed with the quality of the items, which I think justifies some of the pricing. I really liked the house-made tortillas and their salsas. Chilero offered some extra little touches that were a pleasant surprise. :)
Just by way of comparison...that same week we'd tried the new Mazunte location downtown...and our experience at Chilero beat them out.
posted: Thu., Aug 29th, 2019 @ 10:18 PM
Great food and fantastic atmosphere
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 8:29 PM
Seems very pricey for a mostly carryout/counter-service joint
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 5:51 PM