Ver Daddy’s Taco Shop

The most amazing grilled chicken quesadilla I’ve ever had.

Here’s a little equation for you:
(Pure love for burritos + Ver Daddy’s Macho Taco) x (Living within five minutes driving distance from Ver Daddy’s + Going there about 2 – 3 times a week)/A love for mind altering *herbal* substabces to the fifth degree = Gaining 10 pounds in a month.
Although the food here isn’t authentically Mexican (I like to call it hippie-​Mexican), its pretty awesome. A tad pricey for a place that looks like an old fast food joint spiffed up slightly with a fresh coat of paint, but the food portions here can make the Cheesecake Factory blush.
Lots of refried beans, cilantro, pico de gallo, cheese, chopped veggies, and this sour cream-​heavy house sauce (they call it Mexican Cream) smothered all over everything.
My favorite thing here, by far, is the Macho Taco, which is basically a huge open-​faced burrito packed with spicy shredded chicken and all kinds of tasty goodness. I’ve also given their tortilla salad (a macho taco with cabbage and strips of tortilla rather than wrapped in a whole one), guacamole and chips, and their taco plate a whirl as well, which were all pretty fantastic… and filling.
Their puffy nachos are pretty badass as well, but the puffy chips in it are deep fried, so you may want to go Ghandi for a week or two afterward.

Closed

I’m a fan of this place. After a night of heavy drinking this place really sets you right back on the road to recovery.
Everything I’ve had there has been great. I usually get the crispy enchilada plate, and it is delicious. Trying to tackle the Macho Taco makes me feel like a little girl and is bad for my self esteem — the only person I’ve seen finish it is this one Asian kid we think has a tapeworm. The Puffy Nachos plate is bigger than your head, unless you have a gigantic head. I could do with some spicier salsa choices, though. I like to be titillated.
One thing that is strange is that my friends and I have been many, many times, and still we have yet to see the same employees at the counter to this day — ever. I think it’s safe to say they can only be hiring and subsequently killing their employees at a pretty unreasonable pace. While they are alive, we have always been happy with the friendliness of the staff. Some of the servers are even a little fiesty.
…rawr.

SO OVERPRICED! In an effort to be organized, my complaints are as follows:
— one taco platter + one taco + chips/​queso = $ 28 total = unacceptable for a counter-​operated «taco shop». You’re really going to charge me $ 5 for one shredded chicken taco? Really?!
— Taco vs. Burrito — I asked the cashier what their Macho Taco was — the first word that came out of her mouth was «burrito». If it’s a burrito, call it a burrito — so confusing.
— steak was overseasoned
— tables were super wobbly
— queso (which I paid $ 6 for) was lukewarm. I asked the cashier/​attendant to heat it up. 6 minutes later, I got a cup of the exact same queso. Clearly the pot of queso is not heated enough.
The chips are homemade and the salsa verde was good. Honestly, if I paid half the price, I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. But I will not be going back here.

We were pretty disappointed with this place after all the good reviews. While the macho taco and the quesadilla definitely lived up to their «huge» reputation, the flavour was just not there and the food is extremely greasy, even by fast-​food standards. Maybe our expectations were set a little too high based on their reputation in the area, however I feel baja fresh and other chain mexican counterparts make for a much more flavourfull experience — even if they don’t serve as large quantities.
The service was good, and the seating area of the restaurant seemed clean (definitely a hole in the wall, in an old KFC building, however they were clean), but I wouldn’t have tried anything off of the salsa bar.
We arrived at about 9 PM, and everything looked as though it had been sitting there all day, which wasn’t very appetizing. We probably won’t try Ver Daddy’s again — over $ 19 for a macho taco and a grilled steak quesadilla is a bit expensive for the experience.

So, after reading the rave reviews on this place we were SUPER excited to try it last night. In the afternoon i’d checked their hours of operation online and was relying on their closing at 10pm. We arrived at exactly 8:52 pm full of anticipation. Unfortunately, as we walked in we were told the place was already closed. Needless to say, this infuriated me as their hours of operation are clearly on display to customers before they’ve come in through the door. I don’t see what kind of business ethic this place is running on, but to close over an hour early does not indicate any level of customer service.

Got the fish tacos, but wasn’t to impressed … I was expecting more flavor and texture out of the fish. hmmm, I’ll go back to try out other tacos.
Everything looked fresh, prices were fair, the place was clean

Great spot for Mexican in Miami. This taco shop offers authentic dishes with a flair. Today for lunch I had the rolled tacos, with chicken, cheese their special sour cream sauce, and a shot of guac on the side. Delicious!
Their salsa bar offers a variety of different types along with pickled hot carrots and jalapenos which is one of my favorite things in the world, but it is hard to come by in most wanna be mexican places north of homestead.
I would recommend Ver Daddy’s as a great stop for a mid week lunch, or if you’re in the mood for some Huevos Rancheros on a hungover sunday morning! The prices are more than reasonable, the portions large but not over sized and their no bullshit nice service makes this a very authentic mexican eatery!

Still as delicious as I remember. Though, this time I opted for the Guaco Taco. Macho Taco fans: Yes it’s huge and a great deal for the price but I have converted. The Guaco Taco is made up of all things I love; spicy chicken, guacamole, and cilantro. It looks pathetic in comparison to the Macho Taco, but the flavors do it a great deal of justice. The chips and queso dip are incredibly addictive, so beware.
Although the inside has changed a bit and the air doesn’t seem like it’s ever on, I’d happily sweat it out for the delicious tacos they create here.
And just in case you’re wondering, refills are free. The soda dispenser seems a bit out of place sitting right on top of the front counter, but don’t be shy.
Just a side note — another patron was walking out as we sat down and told the cashier, «That was the best taco I’ve ever had since I left Mexico.»
Tacos lovers rejoice, this place is a must try.

After all the reviews wanted to give this place a try. Came by yesterday afternoon. Iniitial impression is «this place is a whole in the wall».
We ordered the rolled chicken taco’s which were very good. Then the taco platter with rice and beans (steak) they were just o.k. The quality of meat was not very tasty. Had a very unique taste to it, that I did not care for. And the chips were very thick, hard to bite into to.
Probably should have tried the fish taco’s, maybe next time…
The prices were a little high. $ 9.50 for a taco platter. The food was not awful, just o.k. but the place looks like it is getting remodeled which they need. The salsa bar was awesome, every sauce we tried was very fresh and tasty. From mild to spicy… yum…get better chips though!
Service was good, the cashier was very friendly and nice. If I am looking for a fast meal, I would go back and give the fish taco’s a shot.

This place has best guacamole in Miami, hands-​down, and yes, I have been to Rosa Mexicana. I never leave the Beach for anything, but make a weekly schlep to Ver Daddy’s for the «macho taco,» which is totally ginormous. I actually have the restaurant’s number saved in my phone as «Macho Taco,» and that is how I refer to the restaurant – wasn’t actually sure of the correct name for awhile. I also love that they have fresh jalapenos, not the pickled ones. The owner is so friendly and always on-​site, ensuring things are running smoothly. It may look scary from the outside, but inside is pure heaven.
I opt for the shredded chicken, which is in a spicy green mole sauce. My sister also swears by the breakfast – huevos rancheros – although I have yet to try it. She crosses the causeway for it early in the AM, despite living and working on the Beach, which is quite the testament to the deliciousness.

When you walk into a restaurant and ask «what’s good here,» you’re usually pointed to one or two of the more popular items on the menu. Sometimes you’re just greeted by a dumb stare. But when I walked into Ver Daddy’s, that question was answered by a sermon on the philosophy of Ver Daddy’s Taco Shop.
And it was awesome!
I think I found heaven under the red roof of Ver Daddy’s Taco Shop: Fresh, high quality ingredients, traditional foods with a flair and a staff and owner with a pride that’s almost palpable.
The sketchy, formerly a fast food building lends itself perfectly to the vibe of this grassroots Taco Mecca — short on looks, long on content.
Try the guaco-​taco, a taco dedicated to the glory of guacamole. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I am heartbroken that I don’t live in Miami, as I would probably eat at Ver Daddy’s on a daily basis. If you have the opportunity to, I encourage it!

Two solid fish tacos ($ 7), although I’m not so sure if it’s authentic. When I think of fish tacos, I don’t think of fried fish nuggets as if it was Long John Silver’s. Plus, the spicy cilantro mayo (?!) sauce was way too spicy for me.
The steak and potato burrito was open-​faced and MASSIVE. At first I thought the price was expensive, ($ 11) but the portion explained it — it was a mountaon on the plate filled with bits of steaks, french fries, refried beans, and rice. However, it didn’t leave me thinking about how good it was — instead it left me thinking about what junk I had just eaten. Admittingly, I liked it just on par or maybe a little more than the fish tacos (damn the spiciness!).
But the good stuff from here are the nachos which are really tasty. And the cinnamon puffs for desserts.
Otherwise, I probably would not be in the rush to return. I felt better eating a burrito for nearly the same price at Lost & Found than here thanks to more healthier fillings (aka less fried stuff).

I know I’m not adding much to the already resounding roar of applause for Ver-Daddy’s, but my Unilocal profile wouldn’t be complete without a review of my absolute favorite taco place ever, anywhere, in the whole world.
I have dreams about the Baja Fish Taco and the Chicken Guaco Taco. It’s heaven with a salsa bar.

Fish Tacos mmm hmm
I was having lunch with *the cool guy* so you know we were hanging in the UES. I’d heard so much about this place that when he mentioned picking something up I jumped at the chance. He suggested the fish tacos and I gladly agreed. He phoned in the order and about 10 minutes later we took a short drive down.
Our order was ready and the owner was there and delightful. Dave (the owner) suggested we try one of their Mexican sodas or their house concoction think arroz con leche meets cacao. We went with the latter and liked it, of course someone suggested adding rum for more of a thrill.
The fish tacos were good (2 small tacos, fried grouper, cole slaw) and service was friendly.
FYI: The soda machine is working, so no worries on that front.
I wanna come back to grab a breakfast burrito or huevos rancheros in the a.m. so look for an update on early morning eats.

The food was delicious. Two or maybe three people can share the nacho platter itself!
My only complaint is the following. After ordering our sodas, we found out that niether one of the two coke dispensers were giving out coke. Instead it was some white liquid that tasted horrible. After we complained, they said they would put in a new coke. Well, we sat down and ate, waiting for the them to change it. It was until we almost choked on our food that I decided to check on the coke situation.
Apparently the guy just decided to give up on changing it and didn’t tell us. When I asked he said some knob was jammed and he couldn’t change it. THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW AFTER THE FACT! We had to settle for water, even though we paid for drinks.
Other than that, don’t expect something fancy when you come here. The food is delicious though, it’s a shame the poor customer service ruined my experience.

Best mexican fast-​food in the area but as someone else mentioned there isn’t much competition. If Ver Daddys was located in southern California it would be a 3-​star establishment.
I ordered a ground beef macho burrito. The serving was so big that they don’t even bother folding it into a burrito, you definitely have to fork & knife it. I’ve included a picture to prove my claim isn’t ridiculous. The flour tortillas are heated to crispy perfection and the fountain drinks are bottomless.
There isn’t a big amount of seating choices so take-​out might be a good choice.

I LOVE Ver-Daddy’s. And so does everyone who’s been introduced to it. I know there are a lot of Ver-Daddy’s haters out there (particularly on Chowhound), but if you’re in the mood for good, cheap, «mexican» food, check out Ver-Daddy’s. You will not be disappointed.
The food is not traditionally Mexican, nor is it Tex-​Mex. So I’ll just call it «New-​Mex.» I’m a huge fan of the Macho Taco, with shredded chicken — and it’s such a huge portion that I can definitely make 2 meals out of it! The shredded chicken is marinated in some kind of sauce that gives it a nice kick, which I love, The Macho Taco comes loaded with rice, refried beans, cheese, and crema (like sour cream kicked up a notch). You can customize these toppings to your liking — just ask. And all for only $ 9! That just can’t be beat!
I’ve heard only great things about their Baja Fish Tacos, and the Enchilada Taco Plate as well as the Steak & Potato Macho Taco, but I usually stick to my shredded chicken one. Before you believe all the haters, give Ver-Daddy’s a shot — it’s totally worth it.

Best tacos on the Upper East Side, YO! But that doesn’t say much, since their only competition is taco bell.
Their fish tacos are solid though and give yourself time at the salsa bar to get all that you need.
Service is nice, but a tad slow. Still though, Ver-daddy’s is where it’s at.