Taqueria Del Sol

I“m SO sad. I went to Taqueria Del Sol this weekend and they were closed. Me and two other people just stood there with tears in our eyes. Yes, the queso was THAT good. Sure hope they are planning on opening somewhere close — Wah!

Fantastic queso and green pork chili. We had a groupon, but if you go with tacos, enchiladas and queso, it’s really not too expensive.
No drink machine, just cans for soda.

I ate here all the time when I lived in Georgia, and it became my go-​to place for a quick, delicious meal. I was so excited when they opened in Cary, but now I heard they’re closing soon! So disappointed to not have this gem available anymore. If you can get there soon, get the fried chicken and fish tacos, and the queso. You won’t be sad.

So what kinds of things do you expect from a decent restaurant?
Nice ambiance? Not from this place. Very little décor: a TV, country music, and tables and chairs that look like they were bought at a yard sale (and not in a trendy chic way).
Good food? Of course, but not here. A very limited menu and none of the food is memorable. Their salsas taste like nothing and you have to pay $ 3 for the chips which you usually get free at other Mexican restaurants.
A wide selection of spirits? Here you’ll find several Latin beers and top shelf tequilas but not much else. No rum that I could see and only one choice for vodka. Even the non-​alcoholic drink options are extremely limited: soda cans, water, and sweetened or unsweetened ice tea.
Obviously cleanliness would be expected, right? Wrong again. We watched a busboy push down the trash in the trashcan with one of those plastic baskets they serve you your food in and then place the basket back up in the stack to be used again without being washed. Then we saw the same young man scrape the uneaten scraps of people’s meals into the trashcan with his hands and then proceed to carry the ice tea bucket and pour it into the ice tea dispenser without washing his hands in between. I’m not a clean freak but the guy from the table next to me now has his mouth germs all up in the ice tea. We saw all of this because they keep the door to the kitchen open so you can see right in. If you’re listening restaurants, at least have the decency to close the kitchen door if you’re going to be disgusting back there. We don’t need to know what’s going on.
Feels like the owners of this place just aren’t trying hard enough and don’t have their heart in it. Somebody should shut em down and put this place out of its’ misery.

Really good food, great service, family friendly atmosphere!
We had the fried chicken tacos and wow! They were great.
The cheese dip is also great !

Taqueria del Sol is reliably cheap, quick, and medium-​good. A convenient choice in Crossroads, this location is bright, airy, and has great outdoor seating. My wife and I took our dog recently, and sat outside under their perky green umbrellas. Extra points for dog-​friendly.
We started with chips and a side of guacamole. The chips came hot, fresh, and lightly salted; the perfect vehicle for the super-​fresh guac, which is less salty than the same at Lime and some other Amerimexican options. Minor gripe is that salsa is not free; I’d suggest that they feature a salsa bar.
Main course soft tacos:
— The Memphis (shredded pork with BBQ sauce) was greasy and somewhat bland for BBQ, but still tasty.
— Carnitas taco (shredded pork) had a good flavor but was still a little greasy
— Cubano (beef) was also flavorful
The staff is young and friendly and we were served our food promptly. The server also brought out a pie pan full of water for our dog, which was a nice gesture and much appreciated.

Taquerias seem to be popping up everywhere now. They are cheap, filling, & offer a variety of combinations. The tacos here definitely fit all of these qualifications. The fillings are good quality and quite tasty. The tacos are large enough that I only needed two.
The guacamole was meh. It had fresh avocados, but I can make better at home. The chips also were not as fresh or flavorful as I would have liked. This is the main reason I’m giving 3 and not 4 stars.
Although the menu is small, the tacos were very tasty, so I anticipate going back again, just maybe getting a third taco next time and passing on the chips.

I have eaten here 4 times and loved it each time. It’s affordable, quick and especially tasty! The tacos and enchiladas are my recommendation.
btw — I have been in and out in 15 min each time. They’re on it!

Very strange place with an usual ordering system. There is a sign that lets you know where to order but the menus seem to be about 15 feet away by a door (I came in the wrong side door I guess) and no other «signage». After you place your order you pick a seat and the server brings it out. I was impressed they knew how to find us despite not giving us a number or table sign (do they write notes about the patron?! :).
Some of the Tacos were unusual (fried chicken) and the sauces were nice but the tortillas killed the deal for me. Cold, right out of MY fridge texture for the tortillas.
My kid enjoyed her meal but the Quesadilla was on the small side and I didn’t notice any prices on the kids menu so I have no idea if it was priced accordingly I had 2 tacos and an enchilada as well and I’d rate both as just okay with points off for the tortilla.
All of the staff were very nice and despite it being busy our food came out quickly and they checked up on us.
I am not really that picky when it comes to Tex-​Mex style food but I think there are better options in the area.

I stopped in the other day to get a bite for lunch. Never been here before. I ordered 2 veggie tacos a side of guacamole. Over $ 9. This better be good. No. It was the worst excuse for a «taco» that I have ever seen. It looked like it was made by a child. I thought I might be on a hidden camera show. I ordered the tacos with no cheese, so basically I had unintentionally ordered a tiny amount of refried beans, and a tortilla. No veggies on the veggie taco? If I wasn’t in a hurry, I would have complained, but I just sadly ate my terrible tacos and went on my way. I did shake my fist at the building when I drove off and said «Never again will you steal money from my bank account».
If you are looking for a veggie taco, you will not find one here.

For what you pay for, I expected more. I got a small soft taco shell and a little blob of meat. No garnishes, no veggies, nothing. The were so lacking anything in the taco it was very dissapointing. What I could taste in my 3 bites of meat tasted delicious, but its a shame they dont actually put more stuff in there. For the price per each, there should have been more «umpfh» in the taco.

A-​OK really does define this place, and it’s a decent spot for a workday lunch. One of my favorite things at Taqueria Del Sol is their cheese dip, topped with jalapenos. It’s pretty standard, but satisfies a certain craving. Chips have always been hot and lightly salted.
The tacos I had on my first visit were meh; I preferred the Veggie Taco (Veggie jalapeño refried beans, queso blanco and roasted tomatillo salsa) over the bland Brisket Taco (Shredded beef brisket with pico de gallo), and as a carnivore — that’s saying something.
I had one of their specials on my 2^nd trip, a steak burrito. When it came out, I was confused to see what looked a lot more like an enchilada (tortilla stuffed with beef and onions, covered in a red sauce) with rice and beans on the side. It was actually pretty good.
Also of note: on my second visit, my friend and I sat at the bar and were repeatedly pestered by the bartender (ex: weird, drug-​related stories about his other job; He really wanted to show me his misspelled tattoo, etc.) and he weirdly offered us a free sample of the new corn chowder, which was not yet featured on the menu. I’m not the type to say «yes» to things to be nice, but my friend is! The guy brought her a small cup of soup, she took a bite and immediately asked if there was seafood in it (she’s allergic to shellfish). There was, in fact, shrimp in the soup and I immediately yanked the bowl away and asked the bartender to take it away. My friend ended up being fine and the bartender seemed concerned (not enough, if you ask me), but I’d seriously reconsider sitting at the bar here ever again.
The shrimp-​laden soup was clearly an accident (though, 1. who the hell puts shrimp in corn chowder? and 2. why didn’t he mention it?) but the bothersome staff member was enough to make me consider taco take-​out.

2 Words: Very accommodating. I’ve formed some new eating habits for 2013 and I cut out a lot of carbs during the week. If you must know I’m doing the slow carb diet (4 Hour Body by Tim Ferriss). What I wanted (taco salad wasn’t listed on the menu but they created the meal in a cup. The filled 2 small cups with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, salsa verde and refried beans (see photo). It was just what I needed. If you’re rolling through Cary, NC and want something a little different than Chic-​fil-​a, Bob Evans, or Olive Garden you should give them a try. AND they serve drinks. Next time… ;)

Delicious!!!
I love the Memphis with pulled pork, and the fried fish with the delicious sauce and hot jalapenos, and the chicken even though more simple… they are all good and I love how you can order them mix-&-match however you want.
I also really like the collard greens side — tasty and not oily like in some other places.
Tequila bar and other liquors are available, which make it a good spot for a dinner, not just lunch.
All an all you can eat a yummy meal for under $ 9! Good deal, great food! And it’s usually not very busy (I think the reviews that talked about a long line to order were during opening week and/​or during the soft opening)
I can’t wait to go back!
USEFUL INFO:
— Kids’ menu available
— The servers are friendly and attentive. You order at the register, but they take care of bringing you the food and picking up dirty plates.
— And on a nice day, you can sit outside!
— They cater for events and parties

I think Taqueria del Sol is a great spot! I was recommended TDS by friends who grew up going to TDS in Athens and Atlanta. When I found out TDS would be in driving distance, I was thrilled.
I have visited twice, and enjoyed the food and the ambiance both times. I have tried the margaritas (!). the salsa trio, the guacamole, the queso, the fish tacos, the Memphis taco, and the turnip greens. All are really delicious, at a great price point, and surpassed my expectations for an almost-​fast-​food restaurant. And not to mention the service is very friendly and helpful.
I sure hope they open more in the Triangle!

Taqueria Del Sol takes over the Crossroads Cary location from the departed Salsarita’s. It’s a good location, has plenty traffic for your business, if you play it right. So, the question is, Does Del Sol has its stuff together?
What I can say is that Del Sol is a very good spot for quick Mexican food crave. Single file queue in front of the register, loose menus provided up front at the door, and with a simple menu like theirs, it shouldn’t take long to pick out what you want.
**Notice** Take a look at the back of the menu, you will see Words of Caution. Tables here are first come first serve, and they rather you not send someone to ‘hold a table’ while others are ordering.
Since I am by myself, I stepped right up to the bar and found I have it all to my own. A nice young lady greeted me, offering some refreshment with house made margaritas. She was very pleasant, and we chatted quite a bit while I sat there.
Speaking of the simple men, I admit I was turned off when I first checked it out online. «Memphis BBQ and Fried Chicken tacos? Are they for real?!» Now I really have to check it out!
**Notice #2** all tacos are soft flour tortilla
«Memphis» was okay, basically pulled pork with BBQ sauce inside a taco topped with cole slaw. «Brisket» got a lot of juice inside that I needed a few more napkins. «Carnita» was standard taco, no more no less. «Fish» taco is not how I normally make it myself; the fish wears a wet batter coat before fried, topped with tartar sauce and jalapeño.
So this evening, I sat in front of a clean bar, inside an spacious and quick service Mexican place, drinking some tasty margaritas, wolfing down some tacos, and watch the Panthers took down San Diego. Overall it wasn’t too bad of a night.

Arrived at lunch and it was busy, they only have 1 register to order food?! It took me about 10 min to place my order. I got the blue plate special. It didn’t have very much pork, just a lot of beans. Cost 8.99 and didn’t come with chips or a drink.
Was a little disappointed. Probably wont be going back.

Quick, cheap and tasty is how I’d quickly describe Taqueria del Sol! Think Chubby’s lite and you’ll have an idea of what I mean. With a very small menu of options, Taqueria Del Sol does a decent job with Mexican-​American, especially in an area that’s bereft (Cary Crossroads) of good dining choices. The large open space is airy but loud, you order at the counter and the food is brought out to you. My fish taco is nicely spiced with jalapenos while the brisket taco was less interesting. The key part of the meal was the dense, cheesy queso and basket of chips, yum!
Taqueria Del Sol is an above average quick Mex spot that should keep you happy if you’re shopping in the area. But I’d confess to wanting a more authentic option if I had my druthers. Nice to have a liquor bar but please add a salsa bar and provide an option for a bag of chips…

This location JUST opened up right next to Starbucks, and as I was sippin my cinnamon dolce latte, someone recommended that if I wanted good Mexican food, go to this place.
This place has a simple menu of tacos and enchiladas, as well as some sides. The salsa was awesome. I tried the brisket taco and the hamburger taco. Both delicious! I’ll definitely be stopping in again.

I was invited to one of the soft opening events and it was a very busy atmosphere!
The ordering process goes like this: walk up to the counter, order and pay for your food, and then find any open table and wait for the food to be delivered to your table. The service was relatively fast for the amount of people in the restaurant and after we were done, our table was quickly cleared of our trash for another group to take over.
My friend and I ordered a side of guac and chips. The chips had a decent amount of salt on them but the guac was completely bland. I’m used to lime, garlic, and cayenne but this guac seemed to be just avocado.
We both ordered two tacos. I went with the Beef Brisket with pico de gallo and Memphis taco. The beef brisket taco was the heartier of the two but I wasn’t too impressed. The beef was tender but it wasn’t very flavorful and the pico didn’t really add much. The Memphis taco’s description was more interesting: «Chopped smoked pork with a spicy jalapeño coleslaw and tequila BBQ sauce.» A taco with a southern twist? Maybe. It had a bit more going on but they definitely skimped on the meat! The BBQ sauce was very sweet to me and spicy jalapeño cole slaw delivered no discernable kick.
I guess I’m biased to my family’s homemade corn tortillas, so I didn’t find anything exciting about the run-​of-​the-​mill flour tortillas used for the tacos.
I’m thankful for the invitation, but this not somewhere I’d pick as a first choice for a taco fix. Go find a taco truck for something cheaper and more authentic.