CHOMP CHECK: LOCO TAQUERIA & OYSTER BAR
The day I ate at Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar, I actually planned on eating somewhere else further up the street. Fortunately, that place was so overpacked for Sunday brunch that it forced me to walk down the street and discover this hidden gem. When first walking into Loco Taqueria, you are greeted by a host who asks where you'd like to sit. I was with two friends of mine, and we chose a table in the back corner. Our table had the option to sit on a wooden booth seat or on the chairs across from it. It was designed in a style where the booth extends the length of the wall. I took the booth side, as I enjoy having the opportunity to people-watch. Our table had a view of the bar and the kitchen entrance. Many people were sitting around the bar, it extended through a good portion of the main room. It seemed fun to sit there. The bartenders were kind with a smile and a light conversation. Many people may steer away from sitting near kitchens in restaurants due to the level of noise or perhaps the busyness of people going in and out of them. I, however, loved it. I got to see all of the food being sent out to various tables, each one more mouthwatering than the last.
Our table ordered 12 of their $1 oysters. Only two of us enjoyed oysters, so I had six. A delicious appetizer I wish I had photographed before the dish was merely ice and shells. We then put in an order of ceviche and shrimp cocktail for the table, and my goodness, those dishes were incredible. As a daughter of two Mexican immigrants, not only have I had an abundance of Mexican food in my youth, but I have also visited the country and experienced their most authentic cuisines. My father used to tell me stories about growing up in Baja, buying a freshly caught yellowfin from the fishermen by the water, and cooking up his own ceviche. I’ve had a fair amount of ceviche in my lifetime, but the ceviche in his stories always sounded the best. Eating this ceviche across from my two friends almost brought me to tears. Being away from my father so long, I had forgotten his stories. The first initial bite was a messy one, as the seafood was served in a crunchy plantain cup; and I attacked the dish via hand and mouth, rather than fork and knife, which I later switched to.
The shrimp cocktail was my favorite dish of the afternoon. Shrimp lined the top of a cup filled with chopped shrimp, avocado, and a spicy clamato cholula sauce. The delectable interior of the cup was like a parting gift for ingesting the large shrimp with the haste and vigor our party delivered. Shrimp cocktail has always been easily one of my top 5 favorite foods. However, Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar has forever altered my mind so that no other shrimp cocktail could ever measure up to the one I enjoyed within their walls. You may see me sitting at their bar one day, with an order of shrimp cocktail paired alongside a real cocktail. I think many people fear eating in public spaces alone because others may assume they are sad and lonely in real life. I disagree. When Loco Taqueria’s hostess sits me down alone at that bar, anticipating my beverage and shrimp, I will be the happiest girl in all of Boston.
As a main dish, I ordered a birria torta, served alongside fries. The fries were battered to perfection, and when I asked my waiter for hot sauce, he brought me a bottle of Cholula. That hammered the nail on Loco being my newest favorite Mexican restaurant in Boston. Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for Cholula hot sauce. Normally, I carry a bottle of it everywhere I go; however, on this particular day, I only carried my wallet and left my bag at home. Needless to say, I was very happy to be bestowed the bottle upon my request. The birria was exquisite, and the bread was toasted to be strong enough to withstand being dipped numerous times and still hold the fixings inside, although I wish it was only a little softer to absorb more of the sauce. As you may or may not be able to piece together, I am very much a sauce girl. It’s hard for me to believe there are people out there who do not enjoy saucy meals or who prefer their meals dry. To each their own, I suppose.
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar has locations in South Boston as well as in Fenway. Both locations are open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. So if you’re ever in the area craving Mexican food, you can always count on a great experience from Loco.
