Taqueria del Sol

If you talk to anyone who is familiar with 12th Avenue South in Nashville, they will likely tell you one of the best restaurants on the strip is Taqueria del Sol, known by many locals as simply, “Taqueria,” or even more simply as, “Taq.” (There is also a location on Charlotte Avenue which is less popular but also less crowded.) Taqueria is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant offering typical Mexican cuisine as well as Southern-inspired plates to please every palate in your party. After reading this post, I hope you will understand why it’s a go-to for my friends and I anytime we get together.

The menu at Taqueria del Sol changes depending on the season and whether it is lunch or dinner time, but there are many items that are always offered. A favorite menu item for many of my friends is the fried chicken taco (pictured in the above photo). All tacos at Taqueria are served in soft flour tortillas, and this one is filled with a fried chicken tender, lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato. Other regularly-offered tacos include the “Memphis” which is composed of chopped smoked pork, a spicy jalapeño coleslaw, and tequila BBQ sauce. The main component of the fish taco is tilapia which is dipped in egg wash, rolled in corn masa and bread crumbs, and deep-fried; poblano tartar sauce and pickled jalapeños are added for extra flavor.

Enchilada are another regular menu item. There are several different filling options, as well as multiple choices of sauce. The roasted chicken enchilada with lemon cream sauce is my go-to order, and I will even let you in on a little money-saving secret… To me, the lemon cream sauce tastes like a sweeter version of their queso. So, when I order, I ask for my sauce on the side, and then I basically get an order of cheese dip for free!

But for real though, let’s talk about the cheese dip (pictured above) because I know that’s what we’re all really here for. I mean, let’s be honest, who actually has the willpower to walk out of a Mexican restaurant without ordering some? And you would have to be crazy if you didn’t get an order when eating at Taqueria. Their chips and cheese dip are truly some of my favorite, and for those who prefer salsa or guac with your chips, they have those options as well. The menu also lists your typical Mexican side dishes such as refried beans and rice, which are both great, especially paired with the sauce from an enchilada!

My personal favorite part of the menu is the “Weekly Specials.” There special tacos featured in this section from time to time. Recently, the “Cheese Burger” taco was offered as a dinner special. It highlights a mixture of ground beef, spices, and jalapeños and is topped with cheese dip, lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato. My friend tried this taco and said it was full of flavor and ranked above the fried chicken taco in her opinion. This is something I will definitely have to try for myself if I see it on the menu again.

The best thing I have ever ordered at Taqueria was also a weekly dinner special titled, “Green Chile Pot Pie” (pictured below). It had a layer of Mexican rice topped with a puffed flour tortilla and smothered with a nice helping of a chicken pot pie mixture, complete with roasted New Mexico green chiles. I was hesitant to order this dish because I do not like spicy things at all, and I was unsure if the green chiles would have a kick. I was pleasantly surprised to taste only a hint of chile spice, and I was even more pleasantly surprised to find the Mexican restaurant had added their own twist to the typical chicken pot pie mixture. To me, it tasted almost like queso. What could be better? It was honestly the best dish I have ever had from a Mexican restaurant. I hope one day you are lucky enough to find it on the menu so you can taste the beauty of this unique dish for yourself. I am honestly glad it’s not a regular menu option though because I would be both severely overweight and in extreme debt.

Taqueria del Sol has a couple of different soups and chilis on their menu as well, including a shrimp corn chowder. I don’t even like corn chowder, but theirs is undeniably delicious. Taqueria also has a couple of salad options. The choices change periodically, and I have actually never ordered one because why would you order a salad when you could get a taco? But if a salad is what your heart desires, they are available.

Now that you have been thoroughly informed of the food offerings, we should probably discuss how much all of this goodness is going to cost you. Taqueria offers comparable prices to typical Mexican restaurants. Tacos are about $3 each, enchiladas are a little over $4, sides are just under $3, starters ring in between $3-$4, and weekly specials are around $12.

Annnnd what about the parking? Honestly, good luck if you plan to eat at the 12 South location. There is a small reserved parking lot behind the restaurant, but if you don’t get lucky with one of these spots, you will either have to park in the street or pay to park in another lot. My advice is to simply avoid this location unless you are going for lunch. At dinner time, the Charlotte Avenue location is a much better option. I have never not found a spot in the large reserved parking lot behind the restaurant.

For the overall experience, I have to give Taqueria del Sol an 8/10. Since it is fast-casual, the only waiting you have to do is in the ordering line. After that, you choose your own table, and they typically bring out your starter by the time you have filled your drink cup. With above-average flavors at an average price range, Taqueria truly offers an eating experience you will enjoy time and time again.