Taco Tonto’s

Every time I come here I am super depressed… but as soon as I walk in the door it is as if happiness washes over my body. The food makes me want to live for ever. If I had the lazarus pit from season 3&4 from Arrow that made you live forever, I would probably just come here a lot. It’s is as if God himself is making the burrito and the burrito is Christ himself. When I take the first bite I cry. I cry because a wave of emotions crashes down upon me with the force of 1000 waves. And I am happy. I AM GOD. so all in all the food is pretty epic af.

As the legendary Emeril says, BAM! That is the delight that comes with eating at Taco Tantos. A nice riverfront view and brick streets adds to the nice aesthetic. We haven’t gotten our food yet, but as they say, it’s all about the journey. And the destination will be a delight.

I discovered this oasis in the desert of poop my senior year of high school and I always make sure to come here at least two or three times whenever I’m home. The food is great and the staff always have a smile on their face. This time around I got the chorizo burrito with queso cheese and bacon. It was like looking into the face of God and seeing him smile back and say he is proud. So you could say it was decent.

Taco tantos!!! I’ve been going to this place for about eight years now. The burritos are made differently than at chipotle (which I also love), they are warm and are made in an oven and have a completely different taste. They have a good collection of hot sauces that should cater to every spice tolerance. Free chips with your burrito!
Location is perfect and surrounding all other bars and restaurants that are close to campus. Parking can sometimes be a nuisance. Lots of good memories attached to this place, will always frequent it, go try it out!
PS don’t go here expecting authentic Mexican, just consider it in it’s own category (like chipotle)

I really wish a little taqueria would open in town. Or two or three.
Something really hole in the wall, fresh, and inexpensive, to drive away the praise for Chipotle, Fresco whatever it’s called, sparing perhaps this raved about, but ultimately disappointing staple, Taco Tonto’s.
Ever have really great food truck, or mom and pop tacos? Burritos?
Granted that’s not what they’re going for here, and every college town needs it’s burrito place.
Try their featured burritos, they seem like they care about them.
I had a tandoori chicken burrito that was good and interesting.
The rest is sub par, and your money can be better spent.

Honestly, I don’t give ‘excellent’ or whatever the top rating is for much of anything, food, books, music or otherwise because perfection is rather impossible, right?
But…for a taco joint that doesn’t try to «be Mexican,» meaning it just serves up some killer flavors in a taco shell (soft or corn, or both) for a really fair, if not cheap price, I don’t know what they could do to make it better. Fish tacos on Friday; wicked pork tacos; Brussels Sprout taco special ?! Serious creativity, some serious food.
Were I to give Taco Tonto’s fewer stars, it would be because the place seats so few folks, but personally, as an ex-​cook myself, that’s pretty smart thinking. House is always full, flow of customers is self-​moderated, and you can always go next door to the patio and order TT from their window.
If you visit Kent (or the other TT town) and do not eat one of these tacos, you will not have lived a full (pun intended) life.

Really bad food and a bad environment. Also extremely expensive. Their tacos are mushy and their burritos really hold no flavor. Meat seems like it’s canned and heated in a microwave.
NO

Taco Tantos has been a long standing comfort food of mine. After a stressful work day, a massive cheesy burrito can hit the spot! There are classic menu items and unique daily specials that take a whole new twist on what you expect in a burrito. Some are even perhaps on the «healthier» side. I particularly love the Ratatouillerito, which is served only on Wednesdays. Fridays offer Fish or Shrimp for your burrito/​tacos.
Dining in has three options…1) inside Taco Tantos, 2) The Zephyr Patio (a Summertime must!) 3) or now the Venice (where great priced margaritas can be found!). I am so happy to see this company expand in Kent as well as the Lakewood location. The large quantity and quality of food comes for a price that can’t be beat. Chances are you may be coming home with leftovers you will be eager to eat the moment you are hungry again!

When this place first opened up, I remember the owner behind the stove. The food was so good and the service was excellent.
Today I ate there for the first time in 8 years. It wasn’t as good as I remember. When we first got there the server was more interested in carrying on a conversation with a gentlemen customer. I was okay with it. I was in no hurry. After ordering we sat down. Arriving customers were greeted immediately.
The food was warm, not hot. The burrito was kind of bland, no taste to it at all. Others said their meat was cold. It was like they precooked the meat and when it was ordered threw it in a microwave to nuke it.
The cheese dip was really good. It was the only positive.
I don’t understand the big wooden wall hiding the workers. And peaking around the corner to see what the heck.

The food was cold and very bland. The woman who took our order was more interested in flirting with male customers than getting our food prepared correctly. The customer alerted the employee that we were standing ready to order and she waived us off. We were not greeted like other customers were. The music was so loud when we first entered we could not hear each other.
If you want cold, bland food with rude employees, this is your place.

I’ve been coming to Taco Tontos for YEARS. The food has stayed it’s yummy self. The potato burrito was spot on. So glad they went back to the red potatoes. There was a time when they switched to Yukon Gold while I was in college and it just ruined everything.
Whenever I meet a high school student in California that is going to attend Kent State I always recommend Taco Tontos to them. They don’t understand, but they will. Always was a hip (ster) place to be!

Coming from CA a Mecca of delicious food of all sorts, my family was excited to find this twist/​variation of the Mexican food we know and love. Growing up with awesome food kind of spoils us and it is hard to find somewhere that is more than ok. The food here is cooked to order, fresh and consistently great. They have chicken steak and even a sweet potato burrito. Domestic and imports, but they also carry a great assortment of craft beers. Try this hole in the wall you won’t be disappointed.

My favorite lunch spot in Kent. Fresh ingredients, delicious combinations. Best chicken burrito I’ve ever had. I love the home made sauces, the hot sauce is my fav. Had a steak tostada, it was excellent.

What’s not to love about a taco joint with multiple vegan options?
My fiancé and I happened to be in the Kent area and dropped by for a quick bite. We ordered the guac and chips (awesome), a potato burrito with chicken for him (good), and a ratatouillerito bowl for me (solid vegetable goodness served with a side of vegan sour cream). We enjoyed the laid back vibe and blaring Davie Bowie tunes.
If I’m ever back in the area I’ll stop in again.

Taco Tonto’s is a million times better than Chipotle and you just HAVE to trust me.
Go!

This place is the burrito equivalent of the classic one-​man used-​books store: cramped, dim, not exactly spick-​and-​span, and a little confusing at first. The kind of place where the owner has his own system for sorting the books onto unfinished plank shelves and he puts your musty purchases into plastic bags bearing the logos of several different grocery chains.
So, Taco Tonto’s: Climb the concrete steps, shuffle around the stools and see the menu on the back wall. Wonder: Where do I order? Then notice that what you thought was just an opening from the kitchen to the dining area is, in fact, where orders are taken. Order, get your chips and salsa right away, and grab a stool by a narrow ledge to wait. The order of chips is massive and begin to realize you’ve overestimated your hunger.
Hear your name called and look around, confused. Walk up to the opening where you ordered and just see people busy cooking. Look through and see there’s a window cut into the wall on the other side of the kitchen. Go back around to the entrance, down a short, narrow hallway, and find your order waiting. Or, at least, what you think is your order. Get somebody’s attention and ask; yes, it’s yours.
Grab your plasticware from the side of the soda machine, where there are also some slightly grubby-​looking squirt bottles of hot sauce.
Discover that the burrito is good — but probably much better if it were late at night and you were a poor, starving college student. Realize that it’s been many years since you were that. Sob gently into your chicken burrito. Leave at least a third of it behind when you bus your own spot and leave.

I’ve been here once. Discovered it via Unilocal and decided to check it out. I was not disappointed. The tacos were MASSIVE! I move had tacos all over the country, and these were the biggest. Stuffed to the brim with whatever u want… Even sweet potatoes. They were absolutely delicious. I got 3 steak tacos and a sweet potato taco. I was full after 2. They also have a variety of excellent hot sauces.
I am definitely going back for more.

Holy crapoly! Best burrito EVER! Get the hot sauce. I SAID GET THE DANG HOT SAUCE ON YOUR BURRITO! I’m not kidding. If I lived in Kent, I’d go to this place every day, be 500 pounds, and broke.

I would give them 5 stars… But it’s a little dirty-​ish inside…(tables/floors/etc…)
The 1^st time I was here, I did not care for it. I think I just wasn’t use to the flavors. But now I have it down pat what I like, and it’s SOOO good, I actually crave it once in awhile!
My love– a beef taco (hard shell), the thing is packed w/​beef!!! But it’s not seasoned, which now I appreciate! It has a great Beefy flavor! Get a side of their hot sauce and a side of their queso cheese sauce. Put a little bit if each on each bite… Omg, heaven!!!
The meats r from local farmers which I love that! The guacamole is good too!
I had a bite of their pork and did not care for it, but I might try it again sometime!!!

For years I’ve walked by this place wondering if it was any good… now I feel like an idiot for not going there sooner. Wow!
It’s pretty cool inside, small but colorful, lots of character… plus its elevation provides a nice view of Kent.
The food was really good! I ordered the ‘el biggo steak burrito’ and a chicken soft taco. The taco was much bigger than I expected and the burrito was enormous, it puts Chipotle to shame. Plus I added the ‘Fatali Ghost Sauce’, freaking awesome! Lots of food (fresh ingredients) at a reasonable price.
If you’re downtown you might be tempted to try the new Mexican restaurant around the corner (Fresco). Don’t. Save you money and hop over to Taco Tontos, you won’t regret it!