Madison Heights, MI — It’s always exciting foodie news to share when you can confirm (even double-confirmed with a follow-up visit) that a nearby restaurant has become a “go-to” spot.
Whatever the reason or cuisine may be, everyone has their local go-to spots for their favorite dishes. Something that connects them to their communities through support for local small business owners and families, all while enjoying a meal that resonates within. After a suggestion or two from friends and spotting Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana on a fellow local foodie’s top-tier lists, this establishment has quickly become my go-to spot for Mexican cuisine.
This casual little eatery serves an array of Mexican bites and classics, from tacos and burritos to enchiladas, tortas, fajitas, tostadas, and more. The best part is that Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana is basically just up the street from me along John R Road, about a half-mile south of 14 Mile Road. For the sake of brevity (I know, coming from me right?), I’m going to combine both dining visits into one general overall adventure.
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The parking lot for the L-shaped strip mall at John R Road and Whitcomb Avenue (just south of 14 Mile) is quite the beehive of activity — and for good reason! This little hub is also home to several Asian restaurants and shops, several of which I want to circle back and check out in the near future. There was a constant flow of traffic, cars, and people, especially the latter regarding Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana. During both visits, I observed a consistent stream of people coming in to dine, pick up takeout or food app delivery orders, or buy a few things from the right half of the establishment, which is a market.
My first trip included two friends, one of whom is my roommate and one of my best friends. He had ordered tacos via DoorDash on several occasions in the past and is a big fan of the establishment, so he was more than willing to join for this adventure with burritos in mind. The three of us briefly perused the menu, which was pretty straightforward since we essentially just had to decide which protein we wanted for our respective burritos. Since I don’t get to enjoy it as often as I once used to like when I lived in Phoenix, I had to go with my beloved chorizo!
As you can see from my photo above, this burrito was truly a sight to behold! These burritos were LOADED, hefty, and rolled to absolute perfection despite the overflowing amount of delicious meat, veggies, beans, and cheese. My foodie colleague peanutbutter_bacon was spot on with his review and suggestion because this burrito was probably one of the best I’ve had around Metro Detroit.
The chorizo had that nice kick to it in terms of heat but without being overly spicy. It was woven in perfectly amongst the beans and rice section of the burrito. Chorizo cooks pretty quickly, so I enjoyed the light searing and texturization across individual pieces throughout the burrito. The portioning of ingredients also helped propel this burrito to the top of my charts since nearly every ingredient was encountered by every bite. This beast of a burrito was nicely rounded out by a thick, cheesy outer ring that had melded with the rice layer and helped keep the tortilla and interior together.
I love it when burritos are so packed you can observe and appreciate the ingredients’ respective compartments without fear of them falling or sliding out of place. It’s a true masterpiece in terms of food semblance and taste. From phenomenal authentic ingredients (shout out to those tortillas for being able to hold all of that together) to exceptional taste and presentation/delivery by the excellent staff, Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana makes a damn good burrito!
As hungry as I was, I couldn’t finish the last two bites despite really wanting to. Another cool aspect of Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana is selecting your beverage from one of the fridges on the market side and bringing it back to your table. Then, at the end of your meal, the server leaves your tab at your table, and you take it up to the main counter (also on the market side) to pay for your meal and drinks. This gives you a great excuse to peep through the market’s aisles as you either make your way to the counter or wait in line to pay. For example, my roommate has a sweet tooth and selected a few different candies to try out later in the night, and they were all money! As people checked out their tabs or picked up orders to go, we eventually paid our bill and departed beyond full and even more beyond satisfied with our meals and experience.
About a week later, I embarked on a second trip to Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana, except this time, I was in the mood for tacos!
I went in laser-focused on trying the birria from Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana. It’s a staple of the taco scene and my usual first selection when trying a new taco place or food truck for the first time. I just love everything about birria, the consommé recipes, and the fun of dunking the salty, meaty, and cheesy mouth-watering taco into the aforementioned stew.
To go along with my birria taco (because in my book, three is the minimum), I initially decided to try the Al Pastor and Asada (steak) but then noticed the daily specials menu posted on the wall. I couldn’t help but pass up the chance to try the Barbacoa (beef cheek) and Pork Belly, so I pivoted for those two to accompany my birria.
As seen in the photo above, I also decided to roll the dice and add the chipotle-type sauce to the Barbacoa taco on the left and the Verde sauce to the Pork Belly taco on the right. This was one of those rare moments where the second the plate hit the table, I immediately sauced and went to seize a taco with my hand before stopping and remembering to take a pre-meal photo. I was hungry and ready to eat!
I obviously kicked things off with the birria taco. While unfortunately not visible in the photo above, I did get cheese added to all three tacos, and I must say, the sheer amount of cheese oozing between those mighty corn tortillas (along the bottom of the tacos when held) was deeply cherished by yours truly. I ripped the lid off the stew and poured the savory contents throughout my middle taco, drenching the already tender and juicy slow-cooked meat. Each and every single bite from that point forward was an experience; the explosion of flavors blew me away. This birria came to play and was a grand slam, possibly the best birria I’ve had thus far since being back in Detroit. If you are inspired to check out Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana from this post, please at least try the birria in either taco or burrito form.
I lined the Barbacoa taco with a modest and desired amount of spicy sauce, which definitely had some kick, but I loved every bite. The beef cheek was moist, another slow-cooked meat that was well seasoned. All three tacos maintained a perfect amount (at least for my liking) of diced onions and cilantro throughout the taco. It enhanced the flavor profile, delivering a more authentic and enjoyable taco experience. The barbacoa appeared to be braised and braised well, helping illuminate the seasonings and allowing them to saturate the overall taco with its flair. This barbacoa paired beautifully with the cheese-lined bottom of the taco. Another must-try if available!
The Pork Belly was interesting, certainly good, and I enjoyed it, just not as much as the birria and barbacoa. For this taco, I squirted the Verde sauce across the meat and onions/cilantro. The Verde sauce wasn’t as spicy as the orange, but it still generated a good amount of heat and awareness in my mouth. The Pork Belly itself was tasty, although it didn’t have the texture I was expecting. Still, nonetheless, it was a solid and enjoyable taco.
The hustle and bustle of Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana adds to its charm as an eatery with great food, great service, and quality authentic food and products. My only regret is that I hadn’t visited this establishment sooner despite only living 10 minutes away! But there’s the whole joy to this blog and my foodie adventures; we’re all surrounded by wonderful restaurants and businesses just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed! So next time you find yourself near Madison Heights or craving tacos on any day that ends in y, check out and support Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana!
For more information on Tu Taco Tienda Mexicana, click here.
MI Foodie Adventures 