Sometimes I really wish we could give out half stars. Django is in between 3 and 4 stars for me. A mark of a four star place for me answers the question "Would I come back?" in the affirmative so that's why I rounded Django up to a full 4 stars.
First of all, the house margarita is good. I wish it were just a little bit stronger, but I'm sure they would have given me a dash more of tequila had I asked. They also have a jalapeno margarita that is definitely on my list to try.
We had the house guacamole and jalapeno poppers. The guacamole was pretty decent guacamole, but I wasn't too big of a fan of the jalapeno poppers, despite the insistence of our server. Moving on to the namesake: tacos! So this is where the taco falls apart for me. Coming from California, taco means flour/corn tortilla, meat, cheese, cilantro, and onion. I have come to realize that tacos mean something different in Cincinnati. However, I can't fault Django because they never claimed to be an authentic Mexican taco. So based on just whether it tastes good, Django's flavor profiles were good. I enjoyed the chicken a lot more than the al pastor. The chicken was seasoned well with just a mild spicy kick to it. The al pastor had the pineapple that al pastor traditionally has, but it just seemed like an afterthought that was thrown onto the al pastor rather than an ingredient that was incorporated in the marinade. I probably wouldn't order the al pastor again.
All in all, I'd say that I'd be happy to come here again, though I would think about bringing my own cilantro and white onion to just supplement my tacos and remind me a little more of home.
Northside seems to be exploding with taco places these days.
I'm glad that the folks at Django Western Taco are joining the trend though.
While their prices are in line with Bakersfield OTR, the serving sizes are definitely not. I always make the tasty mistake of ordering way more tacos than I really need.
The chorizo queso along is almost enough to a meal.
Plus they make their own sangria AND have jalapeno margaritas.
I do need to try their special Mexican seafood bowl that serves an army. So anytime someone wants to join me in Northside, lets make it Django.
So we went back. By now this place has been open awhile and I believe they have a new chef. Anyway, I'm really glad I gave it a second chance. Interesting enough we ended up with the same server as last time. Like Django, I think he was more settled and in the grove.
After choosing our table, we ordered a pitcher of Stone IPA which was really reasonably priced. We ordered the queso chorizo again and that was the same as usual, the husband liked it more than me. This time I ordered one al pastor taco with a corn tortilla and decided to try the cowboy stew. The husband had a Sheriff's stone bowl this time around.
So how was the food? The taco was still perfectly fine but not my favorite. While I love the fact that they now have corn tortillas, mine was cooked a little too much making it basically a hard shell taco. The husband enjoyed his bowl and the portion was ridiculously large. He is actually eating leftovers for lunch as I type this.
A huge part in my increase from 3 to 4 stars would be the Cowboy Stew. It was some really tasty stuff. Even though I love tacos, I also like when I find something I really like at a restaurant. I would definitely order this again. It came with some jalapeno and bacon cornbread that added to the already rich flavor. Really good stuff.
I'm sure I'll be back again, now probably a little sooner since I found such a tasty dish.
A well needed addition to Northside. Â While there is a competing taco place across the street, Django attracks a very different, more savvy crowd. Â This is a relatively upscale taco joint. Â The Lenque (tongue) taco is stunning. Â Having grown up in Philadelphia, tongue was as common place as ham. Â So I had little trouble ordering it. Â It is a festival for the palate.
The atmosphere is sleek and campy enough to compliment the spaghetti western theme. Â The staff is brilliant and VERY well trained. Â Everyone in my party enjoyed their tacos.
Go for a nice night!
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I walked in to this place, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised.
There was a squash blossom taco on special that was great, along with the pastor taco and some chips and salsa. Â All were worth going back for. Â The beer list is also ever-changing, which I like. Â The tacos were served community style-plate of tortillas and bowl of filling which is great for sharing.
The only down side for us is that the staff seemed a bit disorganized-this may have just been the night were were there. Â We sat for a bit before our waiter came and asked if we had been served, went away, came back and took our drink order. Â The whole experience was a bit like that; probably just short staffed or an off night.
This place nails it with their Djangorita (which has jalapeño juice in it!) and their tacos al pastor. However, the chips have too much salty seasoning on them and the relleno has too much going on period.
When they first opened, their dessert was a very dry tres leches cake which has sense been replaced by a couple options I haven't had the chance to try yet. I feel like their have a lot of potential, but are still working out a few kinks and finding their stride. Totally allowable since they've been open less than a year.
The staff is nice and the atmosphere is attractive and trendy. I'm a fan now and I expect it to get even better. Definitely recommended.
I really wanted to like this place. But with so many other good taco places in the city, I can't say that I'll be coming here again anytime soon. I gave it 2 stars because the wait staff is awesome and super accommodating, I went with a group of 15 for a friends b-day and they were able to seat all of us together. Unfortunately that doesn't make up for the tacos being overall unimpressive. Maybe I'll change my tune if I got something else on the menu. It's good for groups, but don't order tacos, try something else if you go here, that's my 2 cents.
Review Source:PREFACE: Do not go into this thinking how this will compare to other taco joints. I know it's hard, but just don't do it. DON'T DO IT. You heard it here twice.
You walk into Django and it's kind of an odd surprise. It's modern and industrial with a bit of a rugged edge. It doesn't feel like it fits in Northside. I love the dark sleek colors and the feel of the space. Although be prepared, it is very loud.
We went during lunch and started off with the regular marg, and the jalapeno marg. They reversed the salt and put the spicy salt on the regular marg, and the regular salt on the spicy marg. Not a huge deal, but gross. The margs were good, not great.
The food, was again, a pleasant surprise. I heard that there is a new chef, I haven't been here to witness the previous chef, but I heard it was not good. Please give it another try because our food was inventive, and really great.
We ordered the beef tounge taco, the chicken taco, the carne asada and the guac. Guac was amazing, and fresh. The chicken taco was my personal favorite, but I did enjoy the carne asada with the fresh grilled pineapple on top! Sweet, spicy and savory all at the same time. Yes please! The only one I didn't like was the beef tounge and only because it was wayyy overcooked. I am never looking for a hand out, but I mentioned it was overcooked, and we had only had a teeny bite out of it and they didn't take it off our bill which was kinda disappointing
However the tacos were huge for the price you pay. These are not authentic mexican tacos. They are heartier again DO NOT compare these to other tacos. Take them for what they are and you will not be disappointed.
Django has unveiled a new (and vastly improved) menu...
If you haven't been since it's opening few weeks/months you must revisit.
Great beers, much improved margaritas, homemade jalapeno poppers, deelish fish taco, soy chorizo/veggie taco, bean dip & nightly specials.
They have smoothed out the bumps & are a gem in Norhside!
Is It just me or is Northside a breeding ground for great restaurants? You almost can't go wrong when looking for a place to eat in this area. Django now adds another fabulous pick to the list! While we were all sad to see Vout go, the new tenants are certainty helping me cope with my woes.
I love that they put a western spin on the chic ambiance without being over the top. The meet-cute: coffee shop barista meets taco truck chef at an art gallery. They both like corn tortillas and good beer. It becomes happily ever after.
I went with a group of two other people on a Friday evening and we were seated right away. The waitress was really friendly and attentive. Since it was an early dinner, there were not too many other patrons in the restaurant, but it looked like they were getting ready at the bar for the more inebriated types to come by later. On that note, they seemed to have a pretty good selection of drinks -worth checking out.
We ordered three bowls to share with the table. It was a satisfying portion for dinner, but not  huge; like you may think of when someone says "let's go out for Mexican." I especially loved the eclectic and savory flavors. One mark of a good restaurant for me is that it inspires me to try to replicate the dish. I like to think I'm a good cook, but there's no way I could replicate the beef and horseradish taco amazement we ordered. I think I spend the whole meal saying, "OMG this is so good."
I think some of the other reviews here just went in with the wrong expectations. If you know that this restaurant is about serving up unique flavors and a mature hipster experience, then you won't be disappointed when the waitress doesn't speak Spanish or bring beans and rice with your dish. It's really not that kind of place.
Superb service, subpar food.
Our large group dined at Django and had an attentive, wonderful server. She made sure to explain the dishes and the "taco bowls" to each end of the table, since those at the far end could not hear her. Each order was remembered in detail and she kept our drinks refilled throughout the night.
I especially enjoyed our bartender, Jessy, who makes one strong margarita. Garnished with jalepeno, this drink gave a kick both with spice and alcohol. Jessy is a blast to talk to; very welcoming and cheerful.
The food, however, was just meh. I ordered three tacos: a fish, a veggie, and an al pastor. The latter two were too chunky and kept falling out of the taco shell. There was too much filling for my mouth and the meat was a bit tough. The veggie taco was just squash and zucchini chunks and was hard to eat. Corn, eggplant, tofu,or another softer veg would have been better. Neither were nothing to write home about. The fish taco may have been one of the best I've ever eaten. It was crisp and piping hot; the garnishes complimented it perfectly.
Compared to the other two Cincinnati gourmet taco restaurants (Bakersfield and Tacocracy), Django comes in #3.
The environment is spacious and fun, the staff is fantastic, they just need to improve on their mains.
Price per person: $20.00
Went last night with a group of 10 to celebrate a birthday. Â We ALL thought the food was great (had every variety of taco including the fish taco special, chips, salsa, guacamole and pineapple flan) and our waitress couldn't have been more attentive. Â Great drinks too! Â We will be back to sample the patio (raining last night) and bring taco-loving kids! Â Nice addition to the Northside dining scene.
Review Source:I came here with a friend of mine a few days ago and was very disappointed in both the food and service.
It took awhile for our server to come and take our order even though the restaurant wasn't crowded at all. The rest of the evening was about the same, taking an ample amount of time to get drinks, the check, etc....
We ordered chips and salsa to share, which was mediocre but a decent sized portion. She ordered the chicken and thought the sauce was very good; I ordered the pork and very disappointed at how bland it was, however the meat was cooked appropriately and not dry, just tasteless.
Hopefully, things will improve over time, because I would consider going back one day....
Django Western Taco is a much needed addition to the Northside Entertainment District. I am rating it five stars based on a few things: great food, a great atmosphere, ample seating, a beautiful patio, great drink options, and a very cool, helpful and laid back staff.
Now, let's get this part out of the way. It's not Bakersfield. Bakersfield has more glam, primarily because it's on the Vine Street strip of OtR, which seems to get all the press in the world. I love me some Bakersfield, and that's a great spot for OtR residents and the visitors who go to Vine Street. However, Northside is a very different neighborhood from OtR. It doesn't see the sheer (and often times obnoxious) traffic that OtR gets during happy hour or weekend nights, and I am very thankful to have Django in Northside because now, when I am craving street tacos, I don't have to deal with the hour plus wait that Bakersfield suffers from on any given night.
We now have two other taco/mexican options in Northside, which are the Comet and the brand new Tacocracy. Django stands out on its own against them. The Comet, while having great food and a well-known craft beer selection, is more about music. Their tacos and burritos are merely an addition to this. In contrast, Tacocracy has absolutely delicious food, but it is really a part of "The Northside International Airport", which you should look up and read about sometime.
What really sets Django apart is that it is really designed for group dining. While you can order stand-alone tacos, it's much more fun (and easier on the wallet) to visit Django in a group. For example, I recently went there with six of my friends. We shared four taco bowls, which are basically the meat and sauces that make the base of a taco. These easily filled three, if not four tacos. We ordered a side of the dirty rice to add to our tacos, and two orders of their "pickled six" - which are pickled veggies that also go great with the tacos. In addition, we had an order of the chips and salsa, and three buckets of Tecate beer (five cans per bucket). We split the bill evenly, and mine came to a meager $17.00 for all of that food, beer, and a margarita on top.
With its ample space, outdoor patio, and unique "Blue Rock Beach" (a separate patio filled with 8,000 lbs of blue rock stand and lawn chairs, a perfect place to smoke a cigarette and drink margaritas), it's the perfect place to go with some friends, enjoy some food, and drink adult beverages.
As I said, the perfect addition to the Northside Entertainment District.
PS: when it comes to drinking, you could seriously spend an entire evening there. The buckets of beer come at $5 and $6 a pop, but you can also order a pint of liquor (bourbon, tequilla, or whiskey) for a meager $35. A. PINT. OF. BOURBON. Lastly, you must try their margaritas. The salted rim is mixed with what I believe to be cayenne pepper, and they drop a slice of jalapeno in with the straw, giving it a real spicy pop. Have water on hand.
I went to Django last night with a group of friends and was very disappointed. My fiancée and I both ordered "bowls" and an order chips and queso. I also asked if the server could bring some salsa as well.
The food and presentation was very unappetizing. The pork bowl was a pile of meat with some wilted, sad looking pineapple slices mixed in. Gross. The taco weren't served with anything; no lettuce, pico, rice...just a bowl of meat and some tortillas.
The pork was tough and because you are just eating meat there was no crunch, brightness, or texture. Whatever spices or marinade from the pork was lost in the thick flour shell. The salsa was bland and didn't have any kick or sweetness...it sort of tasted like red water. The queso with chorizo was fine, but I did't care for the seasoning on the chips. It tasted a lot like Doritos dust.
We spent $25 and we both left unsatisfied. I didn't finish my food, after the first taco there's nothing to bring you back for more. I also couldn't believe they charged us $3 for a cup of salsa on top of the $6 for the queso. I should have said something to the waiter, I'm hoping that was a mistake. We weren't given a second order of chips with that salsa to justify the extra charge.
I won't be coming back. They seriously need to rework their menu. If the pork taco was served with fresh pineapple salsa, onions, some red cabbage or lettuce and a good sauce they might have something. But, the meat doesn't stand up on its own. I don't know anyone who would choose to just eat a meat filled taco with no toppings.
Also, they don't have iced tea? I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that didn't serve that!
What saves this place from getting 1 star is the atmosphere. It has a nice patio and the inside is very clean.
Decided to give this place a shot after reading mixed reviews. I must say that I will be back. We arrived on a Saturday about 4:30 P.M. so the dining area was mostly open.
Grabbed a seat near the bar as I always like to watch the drinks that are being produced.
We were greeted promptly by our server, Chandler, who I must start by saying was very well versed in the food. He asked if it was our first time and proceeded to fill us in on the" ways of the taco ". He was also very helpful in our drink selections.
He did let my wife know that the house margarita was jalapeno infused and a little tart for some so she ordered a classic rita instead. He suggested a nice IPA for me which was quite tasty.
When it came to the food ordering he was also careful to let us know which items had a "kick" which was most appreciated as my wife does not care for heat in her foods.
He recommended the guacamole as an appetizer and all I can say is WOW, that stuff was the bomb, fresh with chunks of avocado and red onion as well as radish,a very tasty starter.
We settled on the bowl of Pollo tacos, a side of dirty rice, and The Six, a relish mix.
I have read a complaint about the tortillas being cold but apparently that issue has been resolved. Our meal arrived fast and the corn tortillas were toasty and warm.
We both really enjoyed creating our own tacos by mixing up all the different ingredients so that each taco was a little different.
My only complaint, Â and it is minor, Â was that we only received three tortillas for the two of us which was not nearly enough for the amount of meat and fillings provided. We did ask for three more and were surprised to see an additional charge for them.
For my second drink I gave the house margarita a try, yes it is tart but not in a bad way. I rather enjoyed the uniqueness of this drink even the added touch of a spice mix rimming the glass vs. the traditional salt.
We finished the meal with a dish of ice cream that they make on sight, selection changes daily but I must say ours was quite good.
By the time we left the dining room was filling up nicely so that's a good sign.
The simplicity of the menu is to me an added bonus as I want to spend my time concentrating on the food not studying a ten page menu.
Do yourself a favor and give this place a try, and ask for Chandler, GREAT server.
The food was very good but unfortunately our server was weird. He was really nice but insisted we do things a certain way. One example is he kept encouraging us to share our food and have one check. We kept emphasizing that we wanted seperate food and separate checks. He brought us out a single check... Then he gladly split it for us after a protest but then messed up our orders and had things switched around so once again had to correct our check.
Another example is I asked him if they had a beer list and he replied that he was the beer list. So I asked him to list their beers. Instead of doing so he asked me what I liked. I replied that I liked all beers. So then he tried and practically begged to let him surprise me with a beer. I told him I wanted a beer I hadn't had before and that's why I wanted a list. I doubt he reads minds. Why all that hassle for something so simple? Tell me what damn beers you have! End of story. This was my first time going there and I'll definitely go back and pray I get a different waiter. Like I said before the food was really good. I'll update the review if the service is better.
I was in Cincy for the weekend and wanted to try a new place for lunch. My son had heard positive things about this place, so we decided to check it out. We really liked the atmosphere and decor. It was very open and contemporary feeling. We were there at a very late lunch time, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and helped us with some suggestions on how much we would need to order. Because she suggested ordering the bowls, we also ordered 2 sides. This was a good idea to add additional flavor and textures to the meat bowls. We heard later that they do have additional salsas/seasonings for your meal, but those were not offered to us, so i can't really comment on them. I would be interested in trying them again, to see what the atmosphere is like when they are busier. They could easily gain or lose a star based on our next visit, as it is, the lunch was enjoyable.
Review Source:I'm a sucker for a good taco!!! Â I'm also a sucker for a restaurant that keeps it simple, executes it very well, and leaves you feeling completely satisfied at the end of the evening. Â
The menu is small, and that's all there needs to be. Â I always worry about places who have menus five pages long. Â Is everything out of this world? Â Or would you be better off doing seven or eight things really really well? Â I'll pick the smaller menu any day of the week.
The taco's come with flour tortillas, I love a nice light flour tortilla with my taco. Â A heavy fried or charred tortilla takes away from the real prize, the meat! Â Keep it simple, let the ingredients speak for themselves, the tortilla is just a vessel, so it shouldn't be complicated.
The best thing about this place is the casual atmosphere mixed with the unpretentious food balanced with some friendly staff and cool neighborhood. Â Some people won't get it. Â Those people also think about things too much, keep a light heart, an appreciation for the simple, and a passion for the adventure.
First of all, we ordered takeout....but we sat at the bar to order and had drinks so I think I can testify to the food, service and atmosphere with some accuracy.
We ordered:
-1 beef taco (all corn tortilla tacos)
-1 chicken taco
-2 veggie tacos
-1/2 order chiles rellenos (which was large!)
-pickled six
-queso fundido (mushrooms)
-1 light (Mexican?) beer + lime
-1 Jameson/Coke (good pour)
=$35...not too shabby
Honestly, I was expecting something godawful after reading many reviews and hearing friend's complaints. We tried going to Bakersfield in OTR, but waaay too crowded so we decided on take home tacos from Northside for a last resort.
Atmosphere: Not good. I had never been to Slims, but I heard this was an improvement as far as layout. It was  very open but the dining "rooms" were chopped up (especially near the bathroom) and didn't feel super welcoming. The bar itself looks like it was made yesterday in someone's basement out of plywood, stain and some 2x4s. The backdrop wall art of the bar was scary. I get that they were going for "spaghetti western" but it just looked a little creepy with the big cross and red people...maybe a horse or two could have helped? The bathroom needed a little love. It was pretty clean...but also not welcoming. A piece of art could fix that along with consistent paint color. I liked being able to see the kitchen production, though to no fault of their own, the cooks looked young and unexperienced as they were joking around. I guess it's tacos right? Not fine dining.... I'm guessing the decor/atmosphere will be enhanced over time.
Service: AOK. We were welcomed from the kitchen on arrival and told we could sit at the bar to order takeout. The bartender seemed a little abrasive at first, but she was pretty great overall. She continually checked in with us and gave us informative info about all questions and menu items. Knowing your product/menu is good! As far as the staff overall, it felt like a high school took over a restaurant. We overheard an employee discussing a past drunk evening, the overwhelming use of the word "like", and no one seemed busy other than the bartender/cooks (kind of). All in all, it wasn't bad. We were taken care of and left happy, although I could see how many people would feel like it was kind of a joke.
Food: This is a carry-out perspective because we took it home and stuck it in a warm oven for a few minutes which can improve or negatively alter restaurant food...
Beef taco: drowned in oil, literally. Not my thing at all, but I couldn't get enough!! I've thought about it a lot since then. The meat was sooo good. With less oil, maybe even better.
Chicken taco: Unappealing at first bite, but it grew on me and I want it again. Kind of dry, but the flavor was super good. I wanted more.
Veggie tacos: The veg was not undercooked and crunchy, nor was it overcooked and mushy. Another hit. I was worried that a "veggie taco" would just be an afterthought on the menu but it was surprisingly good.
Chiles Rellenos: I would never order a rice dish from a "Mexican" spot. I hate Mexican rice. He ordered it and I only had one bite. It was excellent!!! I'll be getting this next time. The 1/2 portion is enough to share if you're ordering tacos as well.
Pickled six: We both had a little. I had a piece of okra and it tasted like the failed pickled veg I canned last year and gave me a scare. I'm sure there was nothing wrong with it, but the flavor wasn't a bang and anything that is that prone to harmful bacterial growth scares me. I don't know if it;s made in-house or not, but I got nervous and neither one of us ate it. I can't say it was bad or not recommend it.
Queso Fundido: It's a really dumb idea to take queso to-go. I knew better. Even after being in the oven, it wasn't right. HOWEVER, I would recommend this when eating in. The flavor was really good. I'm pretty sure the mushrooms were canned which is a big bummer, but like I said, the flavor was good. Not bland like many queso dips.
Drinks: I really enjoyed my (Mexican?) beer and my guy's drink was not super weak as with many newer establishments. The price was right and I'm satisfied....but there is NOT a large selection. The bottles at the bar offered few options. I like that I was forced into trying something new as far a light beer goes.
Overall, I don't think I would eat in unless it was after bar time. The atmosphere and image of the organization needs some real improvements..... I was going to give 3 stars, but after a night to sleep on it, and the guy's opinion, we want it again. I'll be going back tonight for some carryout and hoping I get the same product and bartender. Don't be discouraged by other reviews. Check it out yourself :)
Great atmosphere, friendly, but perhaps a bit disorganized staff, I was wanting this place to be a hit. The menu is simple and well done and the offerings of simple tacos and chips and dip made me even more eager. Unfortunately all of this fell flat with bland guacamole (cilantro missing?), chicken meat spiced with black pepper, and poor quality tortillas.
This would be a great place to come and have a drink on the patio (one of the nicer outdoor spaces in Cincinnati) with some chips and salsa, but it you're looking for anything more you may be disappointed.
I am going to go back with hopes of improvement.
We visited a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed ourselves.
We tried the chips and guacamole; a bowl of the al pastor pork; a bowl of the "veggie" option; and a single lengua (tongue) taco. For dessert: tres leches, with caramel ice cream.
Prices seemed pretty reasonable: Â $3 for a single taco; $8 for a bowl (which feeds at least two people). Â The most expensive item was the $22 Molcajete seafood stew served in a clay pot. Â I really, really wanted to try it but couldn't blow our weekend food budget on the first night. Â
The guac tasted fresh, with chunks of avocado, onion and tomato. The Al Pastor pork, with its combo of spices, slices of pineapple and chopped mint was quite tasty, as was the marinated veggie mix. The lengua taco had a great cumin flavor to it, the meat was tender --one of the better tongue tacos I've tried. I also enjoyed the two bottled sauces offered at the table: a tomatillo-based verde sauce and a red, smoky habanero.
Our Tres Leches dessert was a pleasant surprise: the sweet corn-cake grittiness of the cream-soaked cakes went well with the caramel ice cream.
We were admittedly jarred by the flour tortillas over the more authentic corn, but got over it pretty quickly. Â I found out later that they do offer corn tortillas, but you have to ask for them. Â Overall, a very positive first experience.
Django Western Taco is Northside's newest spot - a unique Mexican street food joint with delicious homemade meat, toppings and delicious drinks.
Unfortunately, it's suffering from what I'm calling, "The Bakersfield Syndrome."
A year ago, Django would have been a giant hit. It would have been unlike anything else we really had (and it still is, just not as exciting.) Django is fun - a large multi-level one-room restaurant with sections divided by pillars and walls (but no doors, so it feels very open.) There are oil drums cut in half on the ceiling as light fixtures and tables made from real wood. It's got an Earthy feel to it.
(It's formerly where Slims was and still has that kind of open welcoming feel where you sit anywhere you feel like as soon as you walk in.)
I found the food to be very tasty. There are a few items but many options for them. Basically, it's first chips and salsa/queso and then tacos. But the chips can come with a mushroom or chorizo queso (we did the mushroom and it was delicious.) And the tacos half a bunch of different types of meat - pork, beef, chicken, each with it's own spices or add-ons (we did the beef tongue with onions and a creamy sauce and it was unbelievable, as well as the pork and pineapples and it was equally delicious. We had a hard time figuring out what we liked more.)
You can get these tacos ready to eat for $4 I believe, or for $8 you get them as a bowl - three tacos with all the fillings that you dress up yourself. Then there are things like spicy rice and pickled vegetable that you can order additionally to make the tacos pop even more.
We also tried the margarita, which has an amazing jalapeno twist to it (not too spicy but different than anything else we had). At $6 a glass, they're amazing.
The only thing I wish they did was toast the rather bland flour tortilla. With the bowl, we had three arrive in tin foil but they still felt cold and stuck together, like they'd just come out of a package. I would have liked them a little more toasted to go with the hot meat, but that's a small complaint.
So as I said, unique. However, it's just going to suffer when compared to Bakersfeild, on the simple fact that this is real street food while Bakersfeild is glitzed-up chic "street food." Â Here the fun is making your own tacos with unique, delicious ingredients. There, the fun is being swept away by the atmosphere and gourmet insides. You're getting more food for less price here, but you loose out on the surroundings, and right now, people want the chicness of OtR.
Again, a year ago this would have been a really unique, interesting place. It still is, but some of the magic seems to have disappeared.
I still say it's worth checking out and seeing for yourself and getting a damn good taco.
this place is disgusting. Â i never review anything anymore but i feel that the public deserves to know to stay away from this place.
first of all, the food is gross. Â everything is sour and/or bitter. Â it's like they took bottled lime juice and just dumped it in everything. Â the pork was semi edible. Â the beef was stringy and soggy and sour. Â the chicken was dry and... sour, and my party started referring to it as "fancy feast."
another major issue is that they do not have a beer list. Â your server will ask you to describe what you like and he will bring it to you. Â no matter how much you insist, you will not be told specifically what beers they have. Â i am sorry stoned hippy looking guy, but unless you have the master sommelier equivalent for beer, i do not trust you to choose my beer. Â i got extra screwed by our server who, when i finally capitulated to his demand to choose my beer, brought me a warm bottle ("i'll give you a discount") which had to sit in ice for a while. Â then, when the bill came, the bottle (a large 1+ pint bottle but still), a "sour white ale" was EIGHTEEN DOLLARS. Â if there was a discount on that, i don't even want to know what the original price is.
the bill for four of us was $75. Â that is way too much for some overpriced sour beer, some sour cat food tasting chicken, and margaritas so sour that my friends left them untouched on the table.
avoid this place at all costs. Â i recommend la mexicana, taqueria mercado, or bakersfield instead.
i was super psyched for this place right in my neighborhood. Â I like to go to restaurants who can create an experience that i can't at home. Â Sadly, this wasn't it. i'm writing this in hopes that it gets better. Â The vegetarian meal I got was bland...i gave it a c+ but probably too generous. Â We kept wondering if the chips were supposed to be chewy and stale. total bummer. Â And portion size for the bowl was fairly small but okay we all eat too much anyway. Â I won't mention the other little weird stuff that happened at our stay. Â Will try again for sure and hope it is better next time.
Review Source:This place has only been open for two weeks and I'm already hooked! I've had the queso and all the varieties of tacos and they're all excellent. My favorites are the beef with horseradish and the lengua. Definitely try the queso with chorizo.
With the option to do taco "bowls" for $8 (single tacos are $3), and their buckets of Tecate, it's a great place for groups of people. The taco meat bowl has enough for at least 3 tacos and a little extra.
What makes this place special is definitely the "Blue Rock Beach" - an outdoor area with a bed of blue aquarium stones in place of the usual gravel or sand. Great for relaxing with a few drinks after your meal.
I liked it. The beef taco was very good. The chicken taco was OK. The queso chorizo was like nothing else I've had. Also, very good. I liked the menu. Simple, and the denominations for every item were in single digits. A small touch that points to the approach being taken by the ownership group. Simplify the presentation and get right to the good stuff: the food.
It takes courage to open a new restaurant, and it takes courage to come up with a new concept and present it with gusto. Django Western Taco is doing both.
A word about Slim's. If you remember Slim's, you remember it well. Django Western Taco is not Slim's. Time will give this new restaurant the means to distinguish itself from the former occupant of 4046 Hamilton Ave., and earn a new place in the hearts of people who might still miss the old place. It should go without saying, but Django Western Taco shouldn't have to live up to what Slim's was. Slim's was a fantastic place, but Django Western Taco deserves every right to make a name for itself, and I plan on going back to dig a little deeper into the menu with the hopes of being pleasantly surprised again about how good this place is.
My four stars are provisional, Django. Give me a reason to make it five!
I had a beef taco and a veggie taco. Â The beef taco, with horseradish crema and cilantro, was super tasty. Â The vegetarian one was good; like I could tell this was some quality squash and lovingly prepared, but when I think of a tasty "vegetarian" taco, I think of the one at la mexicana, which by the way probably has lard in it, because lets face it, it tastes too good to not have some lard in there. Â Anyhoo, my dude got the pastor taco and it was almost as good as the beef one. Â The chips were good. Â I like this place.
They might consider corn tortillas, for that maizey flavor we all love.
I went here last week with some friends and ordered the lengua taco and the tacos al pastor (pork). The lengua was tasty...but they skimped on the amount of meat in the taco, putting much less than the in the pork. This made the taco mostly tortilla and not very filling. The lengua hit the spot, the tortillas they use aren't the best, but not the worst either. The pork was pretty good, nothing special with respect to taste. There are two salsas you can add to the tacos - neither of those are great. The chips and salsa my friend got were disappointing since the chips seemed really cheap and as someone else said, similar to doritos. The salsa for the chips was better than the salsa for the tacos.
I came back with my girlfriend and tried the beef taco, chicken taco, and lengua bowl. Once again, they skimped on the quantity of lengua so I don't think it was a mistake the first time. But the beef and chicken were plentiful with meat. The chicken was dry and not good...The beef was good and had a nice flavor from the horseradish.
Maybe they should serve the tortillas hot in one of those tortilla bowls with a cover to keep it hot, that would make them better...or switch to corn tortillas. Tortillas IMO can make or break a taco...
The place itself is a good atmosphere, simple menu, good drink selection, and friendly staff. I may not be back for a while, but still recommend for people to try it out at least once since it's not a bad place, especially if you feel like having some drinks or hanging out for a while, and not just going for the tacos.
ONE WORD: Â Underwhelming. Â
Right out the gate, the chips and salsa were pretty disappointing. Â The chips were basically glorified, plain-ish doritos covered in a spice powder and the salsas were bland and watered down. Â The one that came with the chips didn't taste like anything, the hot was all heat and no flavor and the verde was, well, just kinda sad. The food overall was just so surprisingly bland and lackluster, with the exception of the queso chorizo and queso fundido being good. (I had the al pastor and pollo tacos. They were out of the beef that I wanted to try, but I forgave that as they'd just recently opened and as with any new restaurant, it takes a minute to work out the kinks).
The menu was confusing at best (though it's apparent that they were going for simple) and although our waitress was very friendly and diligent, the upsell process began as soon as you sat down: Â "Your table should get at least 4 bowls for this many people to try everything. Â You all definitely need to order the pickled three to add flavor and some dirty rice to bulk up your tacos." Â The latter being just a part of the problem in a nutshell. Â I shouldn't HAVE to buy additional things to add flavor or filling to my tacos. Â
The pineapple in the margarita added an interesting summer twist, but I don't know that everyone would be into that kind of thing; It got to be a little too sweet about half way through, but was decent. Â
The formerly Slims space was a good one to start with and the bullet-shot barrel lighting, painted tin wall and deck addition were nice touches. The decor was pleasantly understated, considering how spaghetti western themeic the whole affair seems to be. Â It comes off as a little cheesy for the neighborhood. Â "Blue rock beach"...c'mon? Â Yeah, you're on Blue Rock street and you have a yard full of blue rocks for a patio--we get it. Â Hey, but if it brings the affluent Hyde Parkians and other unsuspecting suburbanites to Northside to shop at our other local businesses, then more power to it! Â I guess I just expected more from the people who brought us La Poste, which is delicious. Â
All in all, they just don't seem to get it, though i did enjoy the low-key, communal dining aspect of it all. Â I had to go to Cancun Mexican (at the Western Bowl) the following day to satisfy my craving for mexican food. Â If you're looking for similarly themed food and environment, go to Bakersfield OTR. Â You may have to wait awhile for a table, but the food and margaritas are pretty good, hence their following. Â Most other Northsiders I've spoken to feel the same way, but are hesitant to voice it too, as they also had high hopes and really wanted to welcome a new restaurant to our little neighborhood. Â
Would I eat it again? Â Maybe, but you'd have to be buying and I'd probably suggest anywhere else first. Â The only perk they have going for them is the convenience of being right there, which sometimes trumps getting into a car and driving to a better place.
I was so very excited to hear about a taco joint opening up in Northside, and very much more excited to check it out. I can't wait to get back!
Finally, someone is using that great space that was Slims for a DAILY restaurant, and using it well. The menu is small, but the food was great. Less is more sometimes, folks. Great selection of craft beers, and taco options include beef tongue, beef, chicken, pork and vegetarian.
My dining partner and I ordered up some guacamole. It was served with some spiced house-made chips, and it was a mashed guac with roasted corn in the mix for a nice edge on any other guacamole i've had in town. Very solid. Personally I prefer guac with lots of lime and cilantro, but i would get it again in a heartbeat.
I ordered two vegetarian tacos, my friend ordered 1 pork and 1 chicken. We ordered a side of the pickled veggies (which I truly wish just came with the tacos instead of having to pay for them separately). My veggie tacos were great with sliced grilled squash, bell peppers and onions and topped with cotija cheese.
The Margaritas were a bit sour for my taste, but the craft beer selection was impressive.
Our server was great. Overall the service took a team approach, and was a bit overly eager, snatching up a napkin i was using when I set it down for a moment, and picking up an empty glass another server had just brought for my friend and i to share a 750mL beer he ordered.
I will go back again soon. My one and only complaint as a non-meat eater is the exhaust system. The smell of meat permeates the place and there was all kinds of smoke & sizzling meat fumes all over, which thankfully came after my meal, because I find the smell slightly nauseating.
A welcome addition to the ever-growing foodie haven that is Northside! And I hear they're opening for lunch very soon!
First note, did I miss the memo about restaurants in Northside opening at 5 on Saturdays? It seemed all the sit down ones did this, including this one. Oh well, it only slowed us down a little bit.
Okay so I went here yesterday with two friends on a whim(one of them was spending their last full day in Cinci for a long time) and we decided to take advantage of it. We started off with drinks, and they had a few drafts, so I got a $5 Pacifico. That's fine. Then we decided to get some apps: my friend got chips and guac(3$) and I got the Queso Chorizo(5$). The guac was good guac, but the queso was frickin amazing. Cheesy, chorizo-y, and oily in the good way. Highly recommend this.
We then asked the waitresses opinion and she recommended the three of us split two bowls of meat(8$ each) and we got the Al Pastor and the Lengua. We then got an order of dirty rice and pickled vegetables. The whole process was interesting because the way we did it you paid for each of these separately.
I left the prices out of the parentheses there for a reason, because the bill kind of knocked this place off its pedastal. The vegetables were $2 for a tiny little bowl and the rice was $5 for an equally small bowl. Luckily for this place, the stuff was fantastic, but I do think my final bill of 23$, even though I had a beer and an app, was a bit steep.
Points for very friendly service, decor that reminded me of my romanticized San Antonio, and a simple yet satisfying menu. Good experience, but can get steep quick.
Ate here recently with a group of friends. Â I will start by saying this was during the opening. Â It is a great concept, great space, and something I really hope makes a few changes and becomes successful.
1) Starters - Salsa tastes a bit too much like tomato sauce. Â Needs some herbs (Cilantro maybe), Guacamole was good but wasn't finished by our group, There was a delicious queso with mushrooms that I may go back for on its own. Â Chips were a little thick and not well seasoned
2) Tortillas - I am sorry, but if you are not going to make your own tortillas you should at least throw the store bought ones you are using on some heat and toast them up a bit. Â You can taste the difference. Â The vast majority of store bought tortillas are undercooked. Â Same holds true with these. Â Putting them in aluminum foil and steaming them does not do the trick. Â Corn should be an option but those shouldn't be served straight from the package either.
3) Meats - I think it is great that they are using meats like beef tongue and beef cheek. Â I am sure these parts are often wasted. Â It does seem to me like these should not be your only options for beef. Â They tasted gamey to me. Â Pork I believe was from an "unusual" location as well. Â I am certainly open to trying new cuts of meat but not everyone is and there should be more "normal" options. It should also be clearly marked on the menu that these are the cuts they are serving. Â The veggie and seafood options were good. Chicken looked a little like cat food to me. Â Pickled Veggies were a nice addition. Â Sizes seemed small but lasted longer than you would think. Â Had left overs. Â
4) Rice - Not a huge fan of the rice. Â Plain was pretty plain (not seasoned) and dirty had chicken gizzards or something strange in it as well (I really am not sure whether it was gizzards and honestly don't know that I know what gizzards are but that is what I think I remember her saying was in the dirty rice)
5) Cornbread - Great Idea to serve cornbread but it should be really good with a hint of sweet and a touch of crusty (not moist or soggy) top
5) Atmosphere - Huge Plus. Â Relaxing and really feels like a place where people can just come meet up and hang out for a relaxing meal. Â If I still am not really thrilled about the tacos I would still come back for queso with mushrooms and some drinks. Â It was VERY hot inside but I have heard they are working on the air conditioning and it has been a better.
Plan on trying them again some time in the next couple of months.
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