Taco Bar in Frederick

By Aden Sievert

Address: 1450 W. Patrick St. Frederick, MD 21702

Contact: 301-732-5716

Website: Frederick@tacobarone.com

Hours: Every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Pricing:  Starters $4-$15, Combos $17-$23.

Food: ****

Service: ****

Atmosphere: ***

{Outstanding: ****   Good ***   Fair **   Poor *}

Taco Bar Frederick might not be a place you have heard of. It’s a very “if you know, you know” spot. The restaurant opened in 2014 as a sister to its Gaithersburg location, which opened in 2002.

On the front page of its website, in big bold letters, Taco Bar states its mission: “To provide the community with authentic Mexican fast food. We want all our customers to be involved in an experience that welcomes them to be part of the Mexican culture. Also, we strive to provide exceptional customer service from our attentive staff that will help our customers’ experience be a remarkable one.”

As I arrived at the restaurant, which sits right off the Golden Mile, I was a little worried because I was the only car in the lot. I walked into the restaurant and was instantly greeted by two hosts. I ordered the No. 1 combo, which has two tacos, rice, beans and a drink. The drink selection was slim with only water and a few types of soda as options.

Once my food arrived, I was happy to see that it was served on paper plates; it felt like I was at a cookout. One factor that sold me on Taco Bar Frederick was that the main dishes can be customized any way you like. Across from the register is a cart that contains various fresh toppings, including pico de gallo, onions, cilantro, jalapeños, lime wedges and several different house hot sauces. The food was amazing, the chicken was juicy and the tortillas didn’t rip apart leaving me with a pile of meat and vegetables.

After I finished eating, I took a proper look around the restaurant. I had been so excited to eat that I didn’t realize how nicely decorated the inside area was. There was a mural on the wall that read “Taco Bar Frederick,” and plants and signs are placed very strategically around the room, so it doesn’t feel too cramped. Several signs also indicated their daily deals: 20% off tacos on Tuesdays and special birria tacos on Thursdays.

Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant. Taco Bar is extremely interesting and the one thing that really stuck with me the most is that they serve their food on paper plates, the emphasis from the restaurant is solely on the food and how it tastes.

I give this restaurant 4.5/5 stars.