Finding Good Tacos in an Unexpected Place

Photo by Terrence Henry

I was told before coming to Argentina that no good Mexican food could be had here. Argentinians are heat-averse, friends said, so if you even try it you'll be sad. Well, maybe La Fabrica del Taco wasn't around when they were here, because we have gone, and it was good. I came up in San Diego and have loved Mexican food all my life, both the traditional and Cal-Mex and Tex-Mex varieties. It was hard living on the East Coast because I never found a place that could get any of them right. Fortunately there's an option here in BA that does.

La Fabrica is a traditional-style taqueria in the Palermo Soho neighborhood. Those are the two taco wranglers in the photo above, taken from the stand-up bar outside (there are plenty of tables, and even a Mexican handicraft shop, inside).

Like most good things, they keep it simple: there are but two types of taco, carne asada (marinated skirt steak) and chicken, which you can have with cheese or without. The tacos come in the original taqueria style, with no sour cream or guacamole or shredded cheddar cheese or even lettuce to muck it up--just meat, a house-made soft flour tortilla, and plenty of juices dripping out the edges.

They have three hot sauces you can add to your taco, at varying levels of heat (and the picante lives up to its name), as well as the traditional Mexican garnish for tacos, minced raw onion and cilantro, and a wedge of lime.

Also on offer: pico de gallo, a few vegetarian options, fresh guacamole, and refrescas like lemonade or hibiscus iced tea. Or a bucket of Corona.

The tacos are two bucks a piece, as are the cold beers, which means you can leave very happy (and a little less homesick for the taquerias of your youth) for eight dollars. Perhaps this isn't a bargain by Buenos Aires standards, but it's reasonable. And worth it.

LA FABRICA DEL TACO
Gorriti 5062, Palermo Soho
4833-3534
Open 8pm til late Tuesday to Thursday; at 1pm Friday to Sunday; Closed Mondays