Honest Tom's taco shop 261 S. 44th St. (215) 620–1851
Don't Miss: Sweet Potato Taco Skip: Chicken Taco
$
Honest Tom’s Taco Shop does not have a sign. Rather, the small, shack–like restaurant has a chalkboard, with its name scribbled onto it. This lack of pretension seems to be a running theme in the establishment, where everything is straightforward or, well, honest.
The place itself resembles more of a refurnished household kitchen than an actual restaurant, with an island bar separating the open kitchen and the seating area. Cupboards and cheap holiday lights are the only decorations. But this bare–bones atmosphere feels friendly and familiar, almost like dropping in to eat at a neighbor’s house. The cherry on the intimate cake is Honest Tom himself, toiling away at the sour cream mix. Somehow, his presence legitimizes the experience.
It’s obvious, though, that he does not believe in giving people options. There are only two menu choices: tacos (2 for $6) or a burrito ($8). Each can have a main ingredient of either chicken, beef, pork, rice and beans or sweet potato, and comes with guacamole, pico de gallo and cheese. You can also order chips, salsa and guacamole separately. That’s it. That’s everything that’s offered. Perhaps their menu's so limited because they’re still a relatively new establishment, but I like to think it’s because they’re so confident in their food. And they should be.
The sweet potato taco was, to be honest, perfect. The sweet potato was finely grilled, which gave it a smokey, savory taste, while still retaining a sugary bite. Matched with a cool patch of thick guacamole and handmade pico de gallo, it was an ideal, refreshing mix. The chicken taco did not fare quite as well. The meat itself was nicely–seasoned, with a nice mild kick to it, but it was on the dry side and did little to blend with the other ingredients. Instead of mixing together, the guacamole, salsa and cheese just seemed piled on. This issue was solved in the chicken burrito, where the addition of sour cream, rice and beans softened the chicken. The contents melted together, making each bite a fiesta.
Overall, Honest Tom’s Taco Shop was the perfect lunch place. Their offerings are inexpensive, their food is delicious and the atmosphere is a ton of fun. My only hope is that someday they expand their menu to other hallmark Mexican specialties, because they would clearly excel. And that’s no lie.
