By Lizeth Moctezuma, Staff Editor
January, 2022
Hidden around the corner stands a blush-decorated sign, inviting all to its restaurant. With an outside patio around the back and picnic tables out to the front, Austin’s pink paradise, Taquero Mucho, resides downtown on West Avenue.
Going with my cousins, even on a weekday, the place was semi-occupied as the waitress brought us to a table for three. A QR code waited for us to scan and look through a virtual menu. Viewing a hefty amount of drinks, some with notorious names like El Chapo y Kate, and offering objects such as sunglasses, pouches, and strawberry cups. We ordered: carnita tacos ($12), torta de bistek ($14), salsa sampler ($6), elote ($8), lemonade ($4), and a virgin frozen ($8).
The carnitas tacos had pink-colored tortillas dressed in salsa, so much so it couldn’t entirely support its toppings, in the words of my cousin. The bistek torta was filling, the cheese melted in the exact right way, and the fries were small but plentiful. My other cousin enjoyed her elotes, saying it was an even amount of mayo, cheese, and chile. The salsa sampler was a crowd favorite between the three of us as they weren’t overly salty, but the right amount of tasty. We split on our favorite dipping sauce: two of us for the salsa taquera and my cousin for the molcajete. The lemonade was far more sour than I expected it to be but had a sweet cherry at its tip. The best drink on the table was the strawberry virgin frozen. The beverage was a great mesh between sweet fruit and a cold slush, again topped with a cherry, which I found cute. We tied again, scoring the food a seven out of ten for two of us (tacos, lemonade, and torta) and a ten for my cousin (virgin frozen and elote).
The service was attentive. Avoiding going on a busy day, we planned for less crowding than usual and less wait time to evade cramped dining. Our waitress was sweet, engaging in conversation and ensuring we enjoyed ourselves. Spanish music ran through the restaurant as people ate and took photos of the pink accessories surrounding the walls and tables. The staff was friendly, all speaking both English and Spanish. As claimed on the website, only the waitresses wore their masks; the bartenders and the kitchen staff did not.
Props hung outside the establishment, matching the rose-colored interior of the restaurant. The infamous out-of-service phone booth awaited in the back as lights adored the back. We took pictures back to the front; the neon pink followed us and decorated the edges of the parking lot.
With silverware and furniture sets matching as if coming from an IKEA, it’s no surprise the Mexican restaurant gained fame throughout the city rather quickly. Having 23 thousand followers amassed on Tik Tok and over double the amount on Instagram, Taquero mucho is close to the price for its experience. The food accessorized the drinks, cocktails, and looks. It was a good outing and a more than decent meal to share, emphasizing capturing the furnishing with a simple click.
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