by Bottom Line: Wapo Taco makes some pretty darn good birria tacos, and their Macho Sauce really kicks them up.
As many of us who live in San Antonio know, there are plenty of places in this town to get good Tex-Mex as well as authentic Mexican cuisine. But one place stood out to me recently when I was asking around for really spicy Mexican food, and that is Wapo Taco. This is a small, local chain that has three locations so far, and one happens to be rather close to me. I had been informed that their hottest hot sauce packs a punch, so I decided to stop by for lunch recently.
They bill themselves as an authentic Mexican restaurant, and they have a pretty extensive menu that includes breakfast selections, tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and more (and for those who lean Tex-Mex, you’ll find plenty to like on their menu). I’ve been sampling birria tacos around town lately, so I decided to go with the Birria Mini-Tacos with Consomé. That includes five mini-corn tortillas topped with birria stew meat, onions, and cilantro, along with lime wedges and a cup of broth on the side. This dish has become rather trendy of late, and you can essentially think of it as a Mexican-style French Dip. I also asked for some of their hottest salsa, the Macho Sauce.
First off, these might be mini-tacos, but this was a big plate of food! They are certainly generous with the portions, and plenty of meat is piled onto each tortilla. The beef in the tacos wasn’t super tender, but it was still well-cooked and quite flavorful. The fresh onions add a nice crunch, while the cilantro adds an herby and earthy flavor, and both are essential to these tacos. The broth is rich and beefy in flavor, perfect for dipping the tacos. As a bonus, little bits of meat and veggies fall in with each dip, so in the end, you get a nice little bowl of soup to cap off your meal.
The tacos and broth seemed to have a little bit of bite on their own, but they didn’t make it beyond Mild on my scale. It’s the Macho Sauce that kicks things up and was really the star of the meal. It’s tangy with a peppery kick and just a hint of sweetness. It appears to have tomatoes in it, and they add chili de árbol to really bring the heat. I would rate this beyond Hot on my scale, and heading toward Fiery. Combined with the tacos and broth, it made for a tasty and spicy meal.
I have no idea how many calories the plate totaled up to, but for mini-tacos, it was certainly a filling meal. My guess is that it didn’t break the calorie bank, but don’t go adding a burrito or torta on the side if you’re watching your figure! And at $10.99 for the plate, that’s not bad for this level of quality Mexican food.
I went to the location at Evans and should note that it has very limited seating—12 chairs total across two tables and the bar next to the window. Don’t be a dumb gringo like me and take up a whole table to yourself as the lunch crowd is coming in. In fact, ordering to-go is probably your best bet. And I will certainly be placing more orders here because I want to try several of their other Mexican dishes (especially the mole) as well as some of their breakfast items. So far, I’m impressed with their food and would love to buy their Macho Sauce by the pint if they sell it that way. Stay tuned for more reviews on this burgeoning chain.
Wapo Tacos
Shaenfield
7907 W LOOP 1604 N Suite 101
San Antonio, TX 78254
Military
7418 NW Loop 410 Suite 101
San Antonio, TX 78245
Evans Rd
5515 E Evans Rd Suite 205
San Antonio, TX 78261
Website: www.wapotacotx.com
Hours: Varies by Location
