Taco Buddha Takeaway. I'd Rub This Taco Buddha's Belly Any Day. Fun, fresh, family atmosphere with mostly outdoor seating. 7.9 / 10 Mexican food overall. My favorite chips in the area with a score of 8.6 / 10. Unfortunately, the chips cost extra 🙁 at $4.25 and $11.25(!!) with guac. My kids and friends love the tacos, but I'm not a taco guy, so I go with the Baja salad with chicken for $13.50. All in all, $71 for lunch isn't cheap and lowers my overall rating for the Buddha.
The atmosphere at Taco Buddha is hip and trendy. The kind of place where the chairs don't have backs, the tables have QR codes instead of waitresses, and it feels like you're eating family-style. They have a pretty extensive drink menu, but I mostly come with family or friends at lunchtime. Parking is easy on Pershing, and it's never more than a 3-minute walk. They have dedicated parking spots for curbside pickup.
Taco Buddha Experience Summary
We went to Taco Buda this past weekend after going to the Nature Playscape with a group of 15 people.
Like most Mexican restaurants in St. Louis, Taco Buddha is both the kind of a place you could bring a group of 15 or just get drinks with friends. They have an extensive alcohol menu if you want to go later in the day for drinks.
But, if you're like me, my family, and my buddies, we usually go for lunch or grab takeout for dinner on occasion.
I've had tacos from there, but I'm not a huge taco fan in general. Their tacos are fine--all of my friends who actually like tacos like these tacos.
I could write a whole opus on why tacos aren't a good food type, but that's for a different day.
Their chips are an 8.6/10 for me and the best in the area in my opinion. Unfortunately, it's at least $4 for chips with salsa and another $7 for guac.
My wife and I are big fans of the salads. For $13 with protein, it's a delicious filling meal. I'd put it in the high 7's, giving the overall food score of 7.8 / 10.
It costs $70, including tax and tip, for our family of four, which is not cheap. My wife and I pay $13 for the salads, $10 for two tacos for my son, and $5 for a quesadilla for the other guy. Then tack on $11 for the chips and guac.
The service was quick and friendly, and there were no hiccups. They have QR codes on the table as a relic from Covid times. But I've found that it makes ordering fast and seamless.
No complaints here.
The Food At Taco Buddha
I've really enjoyed my meals at Taco Buddha since I've moved away from getting tacos.
You read that right. I'm not a huge taco guy who goes to Taco Buddha. I have had several of their tacos, and I would call them good for tacos. All my friends like tacos, and my son does, too, so it's more than just me.
With the taco disclaimer out of the way, I'll move on to my favorite part of Taco Buddha - the chips. The chips come in at best in the area for me, 8.6 / 10. On the saltier side, they don't have an overly oily texture but maintain a satisfying crunchy crisp. Dipped in the above-average salsa rojas or guac, it's a chip symphony in your mouth.
But much like going to the symphony, these chips come at a cost to your wallet. One of the few places to charge for chips, they ain't cheap. $4.25 for chips and salsa or $11.25 for chips and guac feels a little like price gouging.
But I still pay the tax.
For the main course, my wife and I have settled on the Baja salad with chicken as the family favorite. For $13.25, you get a bowl of salad that is significantly bigger and fresher than Chipotle's and has a hefty amount of chicken. The dressing pairs nicely with the chicken; you can use the remaining chips to help scoop up the last bit of salad.
Or innovate like the tinkerer you are and sprinkle them on top.
Taco Buddha Atmosphere And Miscellaneous
Taco Buddha has a college-town vibe, and with its color scheme and modernity, I feel like I'm pushing the acceptable age limit at 37. That said, I see plenty of people with gray hair eating here, so don't take that as a negative.
In that vein, you order via a QR code on the table that opens a tab. I actually really, really like that style of ordering because it seriously cuts down on the time wasted waiting for a waitress or waiter to come over.
When we arrived on Sunday, we just sat down and ordered the food immediately because the kids were starving. We didn't have to wait, even for the typical water dance.
After you order on your phone, they bring you the food without issue. I've done it three or four times now.
Tip: When you order tacos, the app will prompt you for a "basket." It took me a minute, but think of a basket as a person. Group someone's taco order by "basket" in the app.
And I've had the same experience with ordering online for curbside pickup. The food is ready when the restaurant says it will be, even if you have never talked to a human.
Besides the futuristic ordering system, you'll remember the outdoor seating at Taco Buddha. The restaurant has a giant patio that surrounds the building.
Most of the family-style, big, wood tables are outdoors under fans in summer and heat lamps in winter, with a limited selection of maybe three tables indoors.
In all my visits, I've never wanted to sit indoors.
Parking At Taco Buddha
Parking is straightforward at Taco Buddha on Pershing or a side street. I've never had to park more than a three-minute walk away on Pershing. Even when we were turned away because they were full at 6:30 on Saturday night, we still found street parking.
Taco Buddha Receipt
