Grabbing a casual bite on 12th Avenue South has grown increasingly easierespecially if you're on the hunt for tacos, thanks to the recent addition of Bartaco. With a whitewashed interior, wanderlust-inspiring photography on the walls, woven basket light fixtures, and a sprawling bar at the center, it feels like it might belong on a beach in South America. Meanwhile, the food and drink offerings hail from Mexicoand even further beyond. You'll spot influences from Spain and Asia mixed in with Mexican and Peruvian favorites. And while tacos do anchor the menu, there's another list of dishes that are 'Not Tacos,” featuring a good rendition of guacamole, pork tamales, plantains, a hearty pork posole, and mahi-mahi ceviche. There's even a rotisserie half chicken, which you can partner up with sides like the spicy cucumber salad.
The taco options veer from traditional pork pastor and chicken to pork belly, falafel, and cauliflower. Served on palm-sized corn tortillas, an order of three or four might fill you up. Rice bowls are a sturdy entrée and can be topped with many of the same items you'll find in the tacos, like sesame rib eye and curry shrimp. Our choice? The portobello rice bowl, which gets a creamy, salty bite from the addition of queso fresco.