Bar Takito

Bar Takito is a shared plate Latin American fusion restaurant, and from halibut ceviche to polenta with ham and kimchi, Bar Takito delivers food with serious flavor. And when they say shared plates, they mean it. No more fending off your culinary territory, as there’s plenty of food to go around in apps, entrees, and sides.

While the food says “serious,” the space is down to get down. The drink menu is twice the size of the food menu, and the drinks are boozy and delicious (we’re partial to the refreshing cucumber margarita with a salty, spicy rim). The entire space is colorful, bright, and loud, and the staff is bubbly and warm. Come on a Thursday night to really fire things up with live music. You might have to talk-yell, but it’s still a good time.

Food Rundown

Papas Fritas

Purple discs of potatoes drizzled with a spicy cheese sauce and garnished with pork belly and onions. The potatoes are crispy on the outside and the sauce provides a good amount of cheesy kick.

Octopus a la plancha

A must have shared starter of grilled tender octopus in a light olive oil, parsley, garlic, and cayenne chile spices with lemon potatoes.

Carolina Gold Rice

Rice with choclo corn, which is extra big kernel Peruvian version, and pickled vegetables. We’re a sucker for anything with choclo corn, but besides that, this dish is fine. It won’t knock your socks off, but it’s an acceptable side.

Coffee Braised Beef Tacos

Usually restaurants have a clear winner for the title of Favorite Taco. But Bar Takito is a house divided where half prefer pork, and half prefer beef, and we’re in the braised beef camp. Flavorful, hearty, yet delicate beef with cheese, pickled red onions, cilantro, and crunchy peanuts in a beer tortilla. They tend to run out, and we’d stockpile them if we could.

Pork Shoulder Tacos

The silver medaler taco with smokey pork, avocado, pickles, and a chile-mezcal sauce.

Brunkow Cheese Tacos

Our expectations were blown out of the water on this one. The cheese is substantial and it’s paired with avocado, pickled jicama, and a peanut sauce.

Fish

Lightly battered fish, basil, herb custard, and crispy rice for texture. Give it a little squeeze of lime, and you’ve got yourself a pretty darn good taco.