I'm not sure why everyone is so down on this place. Perhaps it's because I waited a while before starting to come here - who knows. I've been here a few times and find the drinks are both decently made and reasonably priced, the food has hit that Mexican sweet spot somewhere between authentic (like someone's mom is cooking in the back kitchen - my favorite type of Mexican food) and slightly upscale, and the vibe of the place is pretty neat as well.
My most recent visit was around 7:30 on a Saturday with a party of 6. We were able to snag a table on the patio very quickly and our waitress was attentive and quick with chips, salsa, queso, and drinks. While I stuck to import bottles and drafts, several partook in the $6 mimosa carafes (probably a liter a piece if I had to venture a guess). We ordered food and it came out about the time you would expect for a party of our size and time/day of the week. I split a fajita with my wife and while nothing blew me away, it was still a good dish. We were able to get our check easily and were well on our way without issue.
This has been a pretty typical experience for me whether it's after a Panther's game or my wife and I pop in while walking the rail trail with our dog (I highly recommend this spot to re-energize with a beer and some chips). I definitely plan on coming back and think Hot Taco has been a great addition to this booming area in Charlotte.