Jacksonville's TacoLu: A Review

Located on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida, TacoLu grew from a small shack to a booming taco shop perfect for beach days. TacoLu first opened back in 2008 as a local shop run by two people, Debbie and Don Nicol after having owned Sticky Fingers in Atlantic Beach. I had the pleasure of visiting this establishment on Sunday night and it was immediately welcoming. The atmosphere is an authentic Mexican experience while having the familial atmosphere that you would expect in a small business. Tequila bottles make a regular appearance, lining windows, becoming light fixtures, and even decorative shelves, giving it the Baja Mexicana vibe that one would expect from a taco shop. Bright colors surround the patrons as they eat with decorative skulls and other memorabilia typical of Mexican traditions such as Día de los Muertos.

Not only is the atmosphere something to marvel at, but the food is also exquisite. From the chips and salsa to the tacos themselves, it is a tasteful journey throughout dinner. Chips and salsa are complimentary, giving a spice profile setting the tone for the rest of the meal. TacoLu’s queso is also the best queso I have ever tasted. The cheesy sauce drips off each chip and has a savory yet sweet flavor. While waiting for the food to be ready, just be careful not to indulge too much in those chips. While very tempting to eat 2 bowls, make sure to leave room for the main course.

Photo by: Graecyn Barron - Crunchy tortilla chips and creamy queso

While at TacoLu, I ordered one carnitas taco, and one brisket taco. Tossed in a mixture of Coca-Cola and orange juice, the carnitas taco gives a citrus flavor profile while still having the savory aspect of meat. The taco is topped with jack cheese, cilantro, onion and an option of lime. The lime really brings out the citrus of the orange juice in the carnitas and it is a must-try in the restaurant. Noah Miller, a student at UNF and a customer at TacoLu summed up the carnitas taco with a simple statement.

“The carnitas taco was actually quite good,” they said, “even though there isn’t any spice in this dish, it still has a vibrant flavor.”

Photo by: Graecyn Barron - Carnitas taco topped with onions and cilantro

I also highly recommend the brisket taco. This taco features beef brisket braised in Dos Equis beer with ranchera sauce, cotija cheese, cilantro and onions. The onions on both tacos brings a little bit of a crunch to the soft flour tortillas, varying the textures and creating a different flavor profile with every bite. The brisket has a smoky flavor with a little bit of spice from the ranchera sauce. Cojita cheese is also an authentic Mexican cow’s milk cheese with gives this taco a crumble element similar to a grated parmesan cheese. This taco has a mild spice factor that even the faint of heart can appreciate.

Photo by: Graecyn Barron - Brisket taco topped with cilantro, onions, and cojita cheese

Speaking of spices, hot sauce is a major condiment at TacoLu. While they offer hot sauces that can be bought in stores, their homemade hot sauce is something not to take lightly. TacoLu server Michael Bent described the flavor of the hot sauce perfectly.

“It starts of with a strong citrus flavor, and as it dissipates, the spice really sets in” he said.

The spice did set in quickly, but with the queso ready on the table to ease the flames, it was a rather pleasant edition to the meal.

TacoLu has a lot to offer in terms of flavor and ambience and it has an amazing story to go with it. Jacksonville natives and travelers alike describe TacoLu as one of the best places to eat down by Jacksonville Beach. From chicken to pork, beef, fish, and veggies, TacoLu has anything you may want on a taco and more.