If you live in my hometown of Birmingham, then you’ve likely spent an afternoon or evening at Taco Mama. The restaurant burst on the scene in 2011 and has been a runaway hit ever since. Today, there are nine locations in the greater Birmingham area alone. They’re also sprinkled across the southeast in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, and North Carolina.
Taco Mama’s concept is simple: a lowkey menu of customizable burritos, tacos, nachos, and quesadillas, served in a fast-casual setting with funky décor, glowing multicolored string lights, and exceptionally quick service. Don’t be scared if you see a line out the door; you’ll likely barely have your tush in a seat before your meal is delivered to your table.
Folks love this place because it’s convenient, fuss-free, and crowd-pleasing. You know what you’re going to get, and thanks to their unlimited toppings policy, you can get exactly what you want at no extra charge. Guac and queso? Never extra. Their food is consistently good, but for me the true standout at Taco Mama is their margaritas.
Go ahead and chuck any visions of artificial margarita mix out the window. All of their margs are made from scratch with premium Blanco tequila and fresh ingredients that are sliced, muddled, and squeezed in-house daily. They’ve got all kinds of flavors from blood orange to cucumber to jalapeño, but the very best one—and the one I wait (impatiently) for every year is their watermelon margarita…