Taco Trio

Not great, heard great things but not too impressive. Order a bunch of different tacos, beef, goat, mole chicken, pork. All just OK, got 6 tacos and they charged me for 6 individual rather then for 2 – 3 taco meals. My kids we also unimpressed

Really GREAT authentic Mexican food in the neighborhood! Hooray, the burritos are big and generously filled. The meat selections are great, I have tried the steak, chorizo, chicken and fish. Not sure if I am brave enough to try the goat though. Especially Liked the fish tacos, delicately flavored portions of white fish, not overwhelmed by the other favors. The enchiladas are wonderful; add the roasted veggies for a real treat. It’s really big enough to feed 2 adults if you are not looking for a huge meal. Each order comes with a generous portion of chips and self serve portions from the salsa bar. The 12 or so selections of Salsas are fresh and range from mild mango or pineapple, tomatillo, traditional tomato based, up to really tongue sizzling hot! The salsa bar does get a bit messy on busy nights. The one time they still had the flan available it was great; traditional, nutty and rich, not overwhelmingly sweet, but it sells out quickly.

I have had a lot of plain burrito cravings lately; just your standard rice, beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream and guac type deal.
Taco Trio is by far my favorite burrito in the area.
Best tip ever? Hit the salsa bar– mix the hottest hot sauce they have with their mango or pineapple salsa. Sweet and spicy! Throw that in the burrito, and its banging.
The one time I dined-​in, they must have been blackening something because I could barely breathe! Not kidding– I needed to leave and left smelling like smoke.
Take out– YES! Dine In? NO!

Decent taco’s in an otherwise barron land of good mexican. Its good, but nothing notable. Probably top two in Portland, that being said. The tortilla wasn’t soggy, the meat had flavor, but the toppings were what I would expect… they were flavorful but not outstanding.
I still think of going to Kittery for Loco Coco when I think taco’s

Best tacos I have had in Maine so far since leaving the West Coast… and believe me I have been doing my research! Salsa bar is a nice touch-​hot means hot! Portions were gigantic. I don’t know if I just got lucky, but the meat in my single carnitas taco seemed like enough to make 3 tacos. 4 dollars seemed like a lot for one taco, but when they are huge and also come with chips and salsa I’d actually call that a steal. I had 2 tacos, and I couldn’t finish my meal. New location, looks like a bar is in the works, but right now its just bottled soft drinks and water, Jarritos and Maine Root, not bad! Others in my party had burritos which also seemed pricey but then they were gigantic and came with chips and salsa and everyone raved about the quality, so don’t be put off by the prices if you are accustomed to cheaper taco stands, you are getting your dollar’s worth. And yes its a small parking lot but there is plenty of parking on adjacent streets, (really a non-​issue unless there are people with mobility issues-can’t remember if I saw handicapped parking spot now that I think of it? Anyway…) Great Mexican. Thank you Taco Trio I will be back!

I had eaten at the South Portland location and was PSYCHED that they were opening a location 2 minutes away from me. These guys have my favorite tacos in the area, and they are also my wife’s favorite tacos. They are the closest to the ones she used to eat in Texas that she’s tasted. I love their tamales too. I’ve read some reviews about them being less friendly, but they were actually quite nice to me and my sons (we went on a little outing together here). The one thing that prevents me from eating here are the prices — it’s $ 4 a taco! There are 2 places that are competing in the area, Hella Good Tacos — who is cheaper and more friendly, and then there is here who edges out on flavor alone. Choose wisely (I want the image of the knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). You can’t go wrong with either one.

Skip this place and head to chipotle. The parking is limited to about 10 cars and located on a busy road. Granted they have take out but that makes leaving any parking spot you had a mere possibility of obtaining impossible to get out of.
I don’t understand why the computer needs to be turned when I use a card so everyone can see weather or not I tip the cashier. Why would I tip and for what.
The food came out in less than ten minutes. The salsa bar they boast about is limited to 3 types are you will be frowned at if you attempt a refill on one the tiny plastic cups. The salsas were good although a bit chunky for my preference but nice spice. The food was lacking flavor and dripping with grease. Also why are there two tortilla shells for each taco. And please can I get a regular Coke. Or at least something with refills. I tried the chorizo the pastor and the barbacoa tacos. But why am I paying 30 bucks for takeout tacos.

Not impressed by this place. It seemed liked everyone was raving about this place so I was excited to go.
First there is not nearly enough parking for the location. I had to illegally park across the street and stalk out the previous unfortunate souls that had just wastes their money here and follow them to their car.
Looking over the menu, I couldn’t get over the costs, these are just tacos right? Oh wait they come with a side a 7 chips ummm still not worth it. The taco shells were so dry, I’m pretty sure they actually sucked all the flavor out of the meats. The only thing that actually had taste were the salsas but again totally not worth the price.
The service was ok but I can’t stand a quick service restaurant that requests a tip. I mean seriously how many times have you been asked to tip the counter person at McDonald’s? Just because the establishment you work at supposedly is superior to fast food chains does not entitle you to more of my money. Trust me you took way more than you should have got for a taco in the first place.
I honestly can say I wouldn’t go back to this place even if they changed the name to Taco Free’o!

I had been reminiscing about the good tacos I used to get in Connecticut (yes, Southington of all places). While I have tried a few places in the Portland area, I had not found the perfect taco to satiate my craving until Taco Trio.
Holy mole! Try the chicken (pollo) mole taco. The sauce is delicious. The cotija on top doesnt hurt either. While these tacos seem a tad bit pricey, they are overstuffed. 2 is definitely a meal for a normal adult, 3 of course gets you the dollar discount (hence the name taco trio) and they come with chips/​salsa.
Both my dining partner and I did not like the carnitas. Too «porky» … like eating a pig on a farm porky. Too real. Kind of strange actually, and oh yeah greasy beyond belief.
Other than that, great chicken mole, great carne asada, great burrito, great salsa. We ordered a tostada, taco trio, and a burrito and were provided 6 cups for the salsa bar. Standouts were medium salsa and the verde.
Looking forward to when they get their liquor license.

I finally had the opportunity to try out the new Taco Trio. There is a decent size lot for parking and the interior feels very roomy. The line to place orders is on the right when you walk in the door. It feels like a better use of the space vs. the layout in the original location. The full menu was offered when I visited and they even had some specials. Service was speedy, the salsa bar was full, and the food was delicious! Now I don’t need to drive over the bridge. :-)

I met a friend for a late lunch at Taco Trio on a Thursday (we’re talking 2:30pm) and was instantly struck by HOW MANY PEOPLE there were eating here. Good for Taco Trio! Clearly that’s a statement in and of itself — this place was needed in this mostly forlorn area of Portland. The space is simple with clean lines, and very welcoming feeling despite the extremely intimate seating (my advice to you? Grab a seat at one of the two windows overlooking Forest Ave!).
I asked if I could get the three taco plate deal (which is a «deal» at $ 11, instead of the $ 4 per taco price tag) with vegetarian options: specifically the Champinones (a blend of mushrooms, onions, jalapenos, and herbs) and if at possible the Vegetales Asados (grilled red and green peppers, red onions, zucchini, and summer squash), which is listed as a filling option for other items — like the burrito and the quesadilla — but not as a taco item. They were super accommodating and did just that. The tacos were pretty tasty; both fillings were hearty, and flavorful, and really sung with the addition of a little lime juice.
The grilled pineapple salsa made me weak in the knees (that fruity, slightly charred combination is brilliant, and Taco Trio executes it effortlessly); while the chipotle salsa had just the right amount of smoky heat to compliment the pineapple one. GREAT combo!
BONUS POINTS to Taco Trio once I realized my entire meal was vegan. Score!
The staff was SUPER friendly.
And there’s (albeit limited) parking! Also fab!
However…
— The price is so high it’s painful. How does 1 burrito, 3 tacos, 1 4-​oz guacamole cup, and 2 drinks come out to nearly $ 40? Yikes. I can get my street Mexican food elsewhere for half the price and way more food.
— The «complimentary» chips are just a suggestion, I think I had nine of them.
— On the contrary, I hope you like cilantro. There’s a lot.
— Despite getting three tacos, I didn’t get the three-​for-​$ 11 deal as advertised.
— The salsa bar. Oh, the salsa bar at Taco Trio. It’s the bane of my existence (not really, but y’know what I mean). I think it’s ridiculous that I can only have as much salsa as THEY dictate. For this meal, my friend received two 2-​oz cups and I received 3 2-​oz cups. I would have loved a little sour cream, or try the mango salsa, but after choosing limes, grilled pineapple salsa, and chipotle salsa, I wasn’t allowed to have any more. I’ve heard friends say that you can directly top your food with goodies from the salsa bar AND THEN ALSO fill your cups… but that seemed frowned upon when we were here.
Would I come back? Maybe. I really do love the geographical location and the food is pretty good, but I’ve got my go-​to Mexican food place already. Should that one cease existing, I could see myself become a (this location) Taco Trio groupie!

Stopped here because I was craving tacos but needed to grab a quick bite. It was moderately busy, no line when we walked in, and we only waited about 5 minutes for our food. The tortillas seemed a bit soggy but that may have been because they were wrapped up immediately to go, but I love the choices at the salsa bar and the fillings are wonderful. A few great vegetarian choices as well! I will be coming here again, but not often because they aren’t the cheapest option.

I know I am going against the grain here… but I just do not get what the big deal is. We’ve been to the SoPo location, and thought it was just meh, but thought we’d give the new one a try. Waste of time, money, and calories. First of all, if your a Mexican restaurant, you would think guacamole would be second nature. It was bland, and $ 6.80 for a cup a little bigger than a ketchup container? No thanks. They boast this wonderful salsa bar, but it should really be a topping bar, about half the slots are salsa, rest are other toppings (sour cream, limes, etc).
Maybe we are ordering the wrong thing that we are missing all the to-​do?

I’m not gonna lie, before I got my food, I had my 2 – 3 star review ready to go. People that came after me were getting served before me. The service was definitely less personable than Hella Good, where they remembered me after only one brief visit. I was still a little ticked about the high prices (2 tacos for $ 8 and 3 for $ 11; I’m used to tacos being made by non-​English speakers in shady areas for $ 1.25-$ 2 each). The A/​C wasn’t on, and I wasn’t sure if chips were coming with my meal. Plus, parking was tight, and backing out onto Forest Ave mid-​day sounds like a disaster when you’re in a rush.
But after the food… WOW! For Maine, this was amazing Mexican food. I got a variety of tacos (Pescado, Pollo con Mole, and goat) and salsas and was pleased. And yes, I did get fantastic homemade chips with my meal. I was extremely satisfied with the food.
Not to be a snob, it’s good Mexican food for Maine (⁵⁄₅) but a 3.5÷5 based on my past Mexican experiences elsewhere in the USA. I decided to round up to a ⁴⁄₅ since I was leaving on a high note, and after seeing the Portland Fire Dept also eating here (I trust their judgement). It’s worth a visit, either here or their original South Portland location!

Tacos Tacos Tacoooooooooos! I am so excited that Taco Trio opened within walking distance from my apartment and within driving distance from my work. Hallelujah for 1 hour lunch breaks so I can sit down and eat here for lunch and have time to spare. I was the first person in the door today at 11am when they opened. You go to the counter and order your food. I ordered a carne taco and a carnitas taco (comes with a side of chips and two small cups for your choice of salsa). There is a salsa bar where you can choose whatever you want to put on your food or put in the small cups they give you at the register. They have green tamatillo, pico de gallo, sour cream, mangos, pineapples, and some kind of shredded jalapeño salsa. My order was ready in less than 5 minutes and the food was delicious! They did not skimp on the meat at all. I am still so full an hour after eating here, and I couldn’t even finish the chips.
There is a small bar with 3 stools but it is not functional yet. The woman at the register said they would be getting their liquor license in November, then they would have Margaritas! I’m totally going to be a regular at this place. Oh and ERR MAH GERDD they have Maine Root Ginger Beer!

Taco Trio Forest Ave location is finally open! All the same great food that you would have in SoPo. Coming soon they will have their liquor license. Then they will have a nice little bar set up.

As I counted the days in anticipation for Taco Trio to open and, surprise surprise, today was the day! Arriving on the scene, they seem to still be doing some modifications to the restaurant so I couldn’t help but take a picture of the front. I followed my nose inside and noticed that it was a quaint place with a descent amount of people. I assume they are still in a soft grand opening since it didn’t seem like their tap was set up yet. The menu was also limited and weekly specials were still being established.
I took a look at the menu to see what would be a nice light lunch for a Tuesday afternoon, and of course there was only one answer. It’s a Tuesday… Mexican restaurant… Taco in the name… TACO TUESDAY! So I ordered a carne asada taco. After ordering, I went over to the salsa bar to take a look. Colors of green, red, white, yellow, and much more! (sour cream, green tamatillo, salsa, pineapples)
So now to the main event. The taco. It came fresh and hot with chips. I put topped it with some sour cream and green sauce and took a bite (of course after snapping a picture). mmm… perfect texture of tortilla and steak for my teeth to sink into and bite. The sweet scent of grilled steak meat rose inside my mouth and filled my nose cavity fulfilling this perfect bite. The taste of steak perfectly seasoned with the hint of grill. Overhead was mariachi music filling this meal’s auditory needs. Sight, smell, scent, touch, taste-​all senses were met.
Then I noticed how much steak was on the taco. There was an abundant amount of steak on the taco and some hefty pieces too. Each bite I took afterwards seemed to have pieces of steak fall onto my basket of tortilla chips. The chips were a bit on the salty side, but were a perfect combination to the taco. After I was finished with my taco, I found I still had a meal; with the fallen sour cream steak pieces scattered among my tortilla chips. I found myself another meal of steak tortilla chips with salsa.
Overall, I’d have to say that for the Mexican food lover, this is definitely a place to try. I’ve always gone to the one in SoPo, but to have one just down the street might be a bit dangerous for me.

Today was opening day at Taco Trio. I’m a rookie, having never been to the SoPo location that continuously boasts rave reviews. Located in a former sandwich shop after Riverton School, Taco Trio is unassuming from the outside, with currently just a small sign. Inside is all bright neon yellows and oranges. There are about a half dozen tables and a bar that will eventually (hopefully soon) have a handful of draft beer. The layout is simple, but it works.
The current menu is quesadillas, burritos and tacos. I decided on a fish taco and a pork taco with pineapple while my friend excitedly chose the steak quesadillas. At about $ 8.50 (which includes chips) this isn’t cheap fast food, but it correlates with the quality. We were handed two tiny containers for salsa (boo to no unlimited!) and immediately filled them with delicious sauces from the eight available.
After five minutes our name was called and I quickly realized that the hype is legit. Taco Trio has amazing food! The nearby Tortilla Flat is a joke next to this, and it’s much better than Hella Good (which is its direct competition). It’s some of the best Mexican in the Portland region.
In the coming weeks the menu will expand and alcohol will be served. Taco Trio can’t (and isn’t trying) to compete with the atmosphere of a Taco Escobarr, but for top-​notch Mexican food without the frills, this is a great new addition to Portland.

Danger, Will Robinson! Having a Taco Trio within ½ a mile of my house equals a winter of weight gain to come. I can’t tell you how excited I was when I saw them start construction and now that it’s open? Hooray for tacos!
I got there early and ordered tacos and as usual they were awesome. Carne asada, pollo asada and my favorite, the carnitas. The meat was flavorful and I got some good salsas to accompany them.
They are definitely still figuring things out at this new location. I hope they get bigger signage outside so people know what it is. The menu was small but they expect to add more items. I’ll patiently wait for the tamales to arrive. The décor is so clean and bright looking inside. I love the orange chairs a lot. Hopefully they will get taps added to the bar area and then I’ll definitely be back for beer and burritos.