alike.com.ph—Choosing the perfect date location can be hard especially if you want to leave a nice impression on the person you’re interested in. You want to give it your best shot without appearing to be trying too hard. If you’re looking for a place that’s filled with character, then we suggest checking Taco Joe’s out.
This taqueria is located along Katipunan Avenue. It is known to serve Mexican staples like tacos, nachos, and quesadillas. When asked about the name of the restaurant, owner Joseph Salomon said the idea behind it was simple: He loves tacos, his name is Joe, and he wants a straightforward and catchy name for his restaurant.
“There used to be a place here 20 years ago called Tia Maria’s Cantina. I just wanted to bring back Mexican food in Katipunan. It’s pretty nostalgic for me,” he said.
Joe is very passionate in serving nothing but quality Mexican food. In fact, he only uses real and fresh ingredients in his restaurants. Even if it’s your first time dining here, you can be confident that you and your significant other will only be served good food. There are a lot of choices available on their menu but a good starter is their Macho Nacho. It has corn chips with chili con carne, salsa, salsa verde, and queso suemado. It’s perfect for sharing, and it’s a good snack to prep up your palate for the other dishes that you will try next.
The tacos you’ll find here aren’t the usual bites, either. It’s good to remember that introducing novel dishes is one good way to impress your date. Their bestsellers are Baja Fish, Sisig Crunch, and Steakboy. Baja fish taco is made with deep-fried fish in a light and crunchy batter, topped with colorful salsa, and finally drizzled with homemade mango puree. The salsa is equally spicy and refreshing, and is made more interesting by the sweetness of the mango-flavored sauce.
Sisig Crunch is the restaurant’s take on the classic Filipino favorite dish. The combination of crunchy sisig, a fried quail egg, and lots of cheese surely won’t disappoint. Make sure you squeeze a kalamansi over it for that much-needed touch of tang.
If you love beef, then Steakboy is the perfect choice for you. It’s made with premium tenderloin paired with garlic yogurt sauce. But that’s not all—it’s also topped with crunchy shoestring potatoes for that additional texture that goes well with the tender meat.
Choosing healthy alternatives is becoming a trend nowadays, and Taco Joe’s knows this by heart. In fact, this taqueria also offers vegan-friendly tacos for diet and fitness enthusiasts. Be sure to try their BBQ Jackfruit taco, which is made with langka ribs seared in hickory barbecue sauce. It’s also served with fresh apple slices and mango sauce on the side. Joseph reveals this is a surprisingly balanced and healthy meal on its own.
We all love surprises and being a little extra can go a long way. After finishing your meal at Taco Joe’s, bring your date to the open space parking at the back of the building complex. Colorful wall arts and graffiti will welcome you that will surely set a romantic mood. These wall arts are made by Jappy Agoncillo, Miggy Antonio, and Kookoo Ramos so it’s a given that everything you will see is quality work of art.
Ending your day with art appreciation can give you a hint of the type of person your date is. Remember, you can learn a lot about people from the way they perceive art.
Photos by Norman Talla
Find Taco Joe’s at the 3rd floor of 318-B, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
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