COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Olé and arriba! The growing Taco Local Mexican food empire has conquered a new Bali neighborhood. The Jakarta and Petitnget eatery just opened its doors in Bukit near the Ungasan Nirmala, giving Balangan and Uluwatu surfers something to cha cha about after they hit the morning waves.
As a Colorado native of the American southwest, you bet your hot sauce I’m a Mexican food lover and grew up on tacos and taquitos while you were eating chicken nuggets and french fries. I have to say, Taco Local isn’t something straight out of a Mexican taqueria, but for Bali and for Indonesia in general, I admit it’s pretty darn good.
The first time I went to the Bukit location, I tried the pollo burrito. It is tightly rolled and cleanly wrapped (something I didn’t think was possible with Mexican food) and lacks that moist smothered in chile verde style I’m used to, but all in all it’s satisfying with its elegant blend of spices starring cumin. I washed that burrito down with some Nachos Con Queso, which again, lack this sort of smothered in so much sauce that you need a tower of napkins to make it through, sort of feel. Passable, but not sure if I’d order them again for IDR50k (or four nasi campurs at the local warung).
My biggest victory with Taco Local was when I went back and gave it a second try. This time for some bunkgus (takeaway). You must know that this Taco Local location is nothing like its hip and chill Jakarta and Petitnget counterparts that make you want to just chat, hangout, and down margaritas. The Bukit joint is more of a small taco shack (as in the size of a large hotel bathroom) and set on noisy busy Jl. Uluwatu. The decor is cute, minimalist and a touch vintage Mexican, but takeout is the way to go. I have a feeling the strategy in choosing this location is to catch surfers and beach-goers as they are going to and from the water.
This place isn’t cheap, but then again what can you expect when ordering from somewhere that sells cheese that isn’t Kraft singles and booze that isn’t just arak or Bintang. Not somewhere affordable to munch on every day for the average budget, but worth a splurge every now and then to get that Mexican fix.
Menu tip: go with the place’s name and get those soft tacos, especially the huevos de lujo taco. Fried egg the size of the tortilla, beans, fresh guac and salsa, topped with some salty crispy pork rind for some texture and flavor.
The tacos seem pretty moist and salsa covered, but when ordering other menu times, order extra salsa on the side if you’re like me and need sauce. Smother it up when you get home.
Best bite: Huevos de lujo taco with fried egg, frijoles, guacamole, salsa fresca, and crispy pork rind
Honorable metnion: cheesy carnita quesadilla with roast pork, salsa fresca, coriander and cheese
FIND IT
Jl. Uluwatu no. 3
Go south past Ungasan Nirmala, and it’s directly after the Mini Mart on your left
11am-9pm (closed Tuesday)
Need more Mexican? Read Top 7 Mexican restaurants in Bali
Photos: Julianne Greco
