Dine Out : Tacombi At Fonda Nolita


Located on Elizabeth Street in Nolita, Tacombi is one of those places that you notice as soon as you walk by. The breezy taquería which replicates a beachside operation originally launched in Playa del Carmen operates inside an open air space that was once a garage. Just like the original, a converted vintage VW bus also acts as a taco stand. It is the centerpiece to the colorfully and graphically decorated eatery which is meant to evoke a carefree beachy lifestyle. The Instagram worthy decor which provides much visual interest isn't really outfitted for comfort with foldout metal tables, chair and stools though it does aesthetically fit the theme.

The straightforward menu consisting of traditional Mexican street food staples arrives on an order sheet which the customer marks up. Of course we had to start with the Guacamole con Totopos which is always a must whenever we have Mexican food. The guacamole had a smooth and creamy texture. It tasted fresh but the flavor was lacking and a touch bland. The Oaxacan tortilla chips had a nice crunch and were substantial enough to hold up the guacamole. We also ordered a variety of tacos. The standout had to be the Barbacoa Taco with roasted angus beef short rib which was juicy and packed with flavor. The Crispy Fish Taco featuring fresh  tequila battered cod topped with cabbage was also good. We also had the Carnitas and Chorizo con Papas which were okay if not particularly memorable. This service was friendly and efficient. While it was a fun experience, I would probably not eat here again. There are better Mexican restaurants where the food isn't as pricey for as little as you get. The tacos were tiny and we ended up spending over $50 with tip. And while the atmosphere was cool, I'd prefer to dine somewhere where my chair doesn't scrape the concrete floor every time I move. I do say this as someone who honestly doesn't mind dives as long as the food is good.

Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish?

Tacombi At Fonda Nolita
267 Elizabeth Street
New York City
917.727.0179
$ - $$


Tacombi at Fonda Nolita Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

23 comments

R.ChamberofBeauty said...

Wow, such nice place. Would love to visit it <3 Thanks for sharing Rowena :)
http://www.rakhshanda-chamberofbeauty.com/

Lilli said...

Oh I do love Mexican food! The food looks tasty even though it seems like a "so so" place where to go. Kisses Rowena! xo

Beauty Editer said...

The foooooood! So nice!!!

BEAUTYEDITER.COM
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Sugar Lane said...

looks great! i love tacos and guacamole!
have a good day!
S

Jackie Harrison said...

The food look amazing and the places you found are tempting to go make a trip and try a bite great job in the finds.

R's Rue said...

Love.

Paola Lauretano said...

Such a cool place and this food sounds delicious!
Kisses, Paola.
Expressyourself

Unknown said...

Wonderful place!
Have a nice evening!
Gil Zetbase

Emmylou said...

From the pics, the food does look good, chingu, but yeah....$50 for Mexican food is a bit too much, esp. if the servings are small. In NYC where there are literally hundreds of amazing places to eat in, businesses really have to step up their game in ALL aspects, not just the setting. Just my 2 cents:D
Anyhoo, thanks for the great and honest review as always!

PS OMG! TBH, when I did the photo op with Norman Reedus, I also did think he was too scruffy! Hahaha...but he smelled soooo good. I wanted to ask him what cologne he was wearing but I didn't want to freak him out:P

Jenny said...

The vibes of this place looks really cool, but wow, that's a lot for a casual dining place! I actually haven't tried a lot of Mexican food other than Chipotle...oh goodness that was embarrassing to admit! 🙈

Jenny // Geeky Posh

FASHION TALES said...

Interesting, I've only been to a pricey Mexican restaurant twice and both times they had white linen tablecloths, and I was still shocked to pay so much for this style of cuisine. But I agree, there seems to be better places around I am sure far less expensive and better portions, even food trucks! The décor here does look lovely and artsy!

Ivana Split said...

I would love to try it out. Tacombi seems like a great place...the food there looks yummy.

How have you been? I've been absent for a while, health problems and what not.

Beauty Unearthly said...

What a great collection of pictures!

Midnight Cowgirl said...

The food looks good! Too bad it was pricey.

Unknown said...

I do not eat enough Mexican food. OMG these tacos look amazing. I love the decor also, it’s so cute and fun. I’m going to check it out.

Blackswan said...

Love the hipster cafe! xoxo

Margaret Dallospedale said...

Mmmm they look super delicious! The place is very cute!
Kiss
Maggie D.
IndianSavageBlog by Maggie Dallospedale

Doctor Anne said...

I am not the biggest fan of Mexican, so other than tacos and guacamole I haven't tried a lot. And while I appreciate an inspiring atmosphere, the quality of the food is what keps me coming back to a place. I guess I wouldn't return there either.

Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpaging

Pilar said...

I haven't tried too many mexican dishes outside of tacos, but this looks like a great place to try mexican food!

Lena L said...

I would love to try this place! Lately, I am eating more tacos and ones with fish are my favorites. :)

ALLIE NYC said...

Too bad the food wasn't tastier, because the space design is great. I would go here at least once just for that.

Allie of ALLIENYC
www.allienyc.com

Jane said...

The place looks cute. Yangkyu loves Mexican food and is always trying to find new places to go -- places where immigrants hang out thinking perhaps that may be more authentic :)

A Very Sweet Blog said...

The first couple of pictures I thought Mexican. I love mexican food, but I agree if your chair is scraping the concrete and the food is just ok, it's not worth it. LOL
Such a shame.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/