This review is for the NEW reincarnation of Tacos Atoyac. Having known from some sources that it opened yesterday, I had to do some investigation on my favorite taco joint's abrupt closure and what this next stage is all about.
Arrived shortly after 11:00 a.m., there was a already a queue. Looks like a lot of you are lurking though the Yelp Talk threads. Word comes around fast especially with cheap, good food. First. I looked at the menu. What? That's the same as TA Version 1.0. plus/minus a few items. Conspicuously absent upfront was my main man Dan, yes the BIG dude that usually addresses moi as the Duke. I'm reserving my praise for the guy for my next review of the old TA version 1.0 later. I looked at the guys at the back, they were the same guys who were cooking there before. The lady cashier, she too used to work here before. Beware, she's a little light on English so be patient (I saw a wanted sign on the door that should address this issue).
Having eaten a heavy breakfast an hour earlier, I just ordered 2 carne asada, 1 pastor and a quesadilla de epazote + a Mexican coke. I figured this should be a good litmus test of what this place is compared to the original. I was then given a number, that's a first.
10 minutes later, my food came. Well it looked like how it was before - came with 2 kinds of salsa (chipotle + the guacamole based) + the sautéed onions with a slice of lemon & pickled jalapeño. This gets better and better. I ate all that food in a flash and it brought me back to my last trip to the original TA. My only complaint is the corn tortillas that the tacos were made of had some noticeable crunch which tells me it's a day old. But that can be remedied easily.
All in all, I say if you like the tacos before then come since they are done by the same folks. Same good and cheap tacos. The only thing missing is the imposing presence of Dan The Man (all 6'6" and 200 lbs. of him).
I don't really know what exactly happened (personal or legal matter related to the original joint's closure) but I hope this NEW place survives. I also wish Dan (wherever you are) all the best.
Today's scene was like one in Despicable Me when Gru was gone and the minions took over the operation :)