Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comWhen it comes to tacos, I can’t get enough! Like burgers or pizza, tacos are one of those ubiquitous food items that always seems to hit the spot. The challenge is finding really GOOD and authentic taco places, whether you’re talking food trucks, restaurants or what have you. Online reviews for Chido Taco caught my attention a while back online so I decided to track this taqueria down. Located in the recently constructed McNeill Pointe, Chido Taco is doing some really unique and special things to the traditional taqueria concept. And outside of trying to find parking in this busy shopping plaza, it all really works well in my book!
Kitchen at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comStepping into Chido Taco you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported south of the border! While Chido Taco may be about mercado (market) style tacos, we’re talking about a very modern market! Large and bright space with an open kitchen, cocktail bar in back and casual cafe seating, the front counter looks like painted corrugated steel giving everything an industrial look. And there’s plenty for modern art and logos painted on the walls giving the space a light and lively feel. Maybe it’s the salsa music playing overhead that gets your toes tapping!
Order counter at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Cocktail bar at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comHead on to the back of the order counter and you can order up some classic Mexican eats in the form of tacos, bowls, tortas and burritos. The tacos and burritos come in six different proteins: pork (al pastor), chicken (pollo adobado), steak (bistec), beef tongue (lengua), beef belly (suadero) and cactus-poblano (nopal-rajas). There’s also a menu of specialty tacos like fish, octopus and more. Tortas are a new addition to the menu and come in steak, chorizo, link sausage and more. One negative at Chido Tacos is that you don’t get chips with your meal and have to order them a la carte. Tacos run from $2.49 to $2.99 while burritos are $7.99 to $8.99 a pop, a very inexpensive meal!
Al pastor on trompa at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Condiment bar at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comAfter you order at the counter you’ll get a buzzer and you can grab a table. Couple of things to take note, Chido Taco cooks up its al pastor (pork with pineapple) on a traditional trompa which is a vertical spit and the meat is shaved off, very cool! There’s also a condiment bar with salsa, jalapenos, pico de gallo, red onion, cilantro and lime to bling our your tacos once you get them. Chido Taco serves up its tacos naked so you’ll need those self-serve extras to dress up your lunch.
Bare tacos at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Al pastor taco at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comMy favorites at Chido Taco are the Al Pastor (sliced off the trompa) and the bistecca (steak) tacos! The meat for both is well-seasoned with a bit of char for extra flavor from the flat-top. Their al pastor is served with a bit of sliced pineapple for some sweetness along with the pork, perfection. The tacos are served with a single, fresh tortilla and for the most part it holds up while eating.
Steak burrito at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Steak quesadilla at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comIf you’re not in a mood for tacos, you’ve got burritos, quesadillas, tortas and bowls as your other options and I can say that their burritos are quite good. Packed a bit smaller than I’m used to and seared on the outside, there’s plenty of grilled meat inside along with some lettuce for contrast. While the burrito is decent, I’d have to say I prefer the SoCal style burritos at Los Cuates down the street. But still a good option if you’re dining here at Chido Taco. The quesadillas here are perfectly grilled and stuffed with a good ratio of cheese and meat. A more American option for eats here at Chido Taco!
Decor at Chido Taco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.comAfter the meal, feel free to bus your meal and tray up at the front of the store, it’s a casual eatery so good to help out and keep costs low. Because Chido Taco is offering some great Mexican eats and tacos at food truck type prices. Given the cool, colorful space and options around beer and liquor, it’s certainly a more sophisticated way to do street tacos without the street. And I love that concept here for Raleigh. While there are a ton of little taquerias scattered around Durham and Carrboro, having Chido Taco in ITB Raleigh is a great and inexpensive option for dining. If you appreciate it for what it is, I think you’ll love the food and ambiance here, delicioso!
Chido Taco
2300 Bale Street, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27608
919.594.1930
Chido Taco menu
Best New Restaurants, Food and Drink in the Triangle, 2019 Edition