Taco Hermanos has moved from its food truck location at the Naschmarkt to a permanent home in the 9th district. There is still a line, but everyone seemed happy to wait for one of the tables outside. All this on what felt like the hottest day of the year, at least until the record was broken all over again the next day. At least the waiting area was shaded and there was a slight breeze.
Tacos Hermanos @Vienna
The breeze disappeared the moment we sat down underneath the large black umbrellas. I am sure they are wonderful on a regular sunny day, but when temperatures are close to 40 degrees, the heat underneath is stifling. So take my review with a grain of salt, as I was sweating profusely throughout the meal. My young companions, by the way, found the temperature perfectly fine. What a difference a couple of decades make.
I started with an Aqua Fresca Milchreis, which has a hint of that rice pudding with cinnamon flavor, but all the freshness you want on a hot day. Absolutely lovely!
aqua fresca and salsas @Tacos Hermanos
Salsa roja and salsa verde arrived alongside it, and of course we tried both. The red one had a serious kick, while the green was bright and fresh with just a little spice.
We started the meal with Flautas de Pollo, Sope Campechano, and Tostadas de Atún. Pickled onions, pico de gallo, and diced onions with cilantro came along as condiments.
condiments @Tacos Hemanos
The Flautas de Pollo are rolled tortillas filled with chicken, Salad, cream cheese, and salsas. They looked enticing, served on a silver platter with the cream cheese and salad piled on top. I found them tasty, although a little bland. The pickled onions helped, but I was missing some acidity. A squeeze of lime might have made all the difference.
Flautas de Pollo @Tacos Hermanos
Sope Campechano consists of beef steak, homemade chorizo, potatoes, beans, crema, and cheese, all served on a thick corn tortilla. Again, I found the dish a little bland on its own, but once I added some salsa verde, pickled onions, and a generous squeeze of lime, it became delicious. I ate it with cutlery, which is probably completely wrong, but the dish was hot and I was in no mood to fry my fingers.
Sope Campechano @Tacos Hermanos
The best of the starters were the Tostadas de Atún. Two large tortilla crackers were topped with chipotle mayonnaise, tuna ceviche, avocado, and salsa macha. I could not really see the salsa macha, just some fried onions, I think, but it was delicious nonetheless. Fresh, with different textures and a lovely level of spice. Perfect summer food!
Tostadas de Atún @Tacos Hermanos
For the main course we ordered Quesabirrias, Baja Fish Tacos, and Gobernador. With three tacos per portion, they were easy to share, so we simply exchanged plates.
The Quesabirrias are filled with braised pulled beef and lots of cheese, served with a dipping gravy on the side. They were delicious and nicely seasoned, but they became a little much after a while. I was very happy we were sharing them, because this is a heavy dish. On a hot summer day, Quesabirrias would not be my first choice.
Quesabirrias @Tacos Hermanos
The Baja Fish Tacos fared much better. Crispy fried fish in a light beer batter came with cabbage, chipotle mayonnaise, and pineapple salsa. The batter was light and airy, the cabbage added a lovely crunch, the pineapple salsa brought some sweetness, and the chipotle mayonnaise provided a nice kick of spice. This was a really good taco that hit all the right spots. I just wish the lime had been a little fresher so I could have squeezed more juice over it.
Baja Fish Tacos @Tacos Hermanos
The Gobernador tacos were filled with shrimp, cheese, grilled peppers, chipotle salsa, and guacamole. These were a little difficult to eat because there was quite a lot of liquid involved, but overall another tasty taco. The shrimp were soft and juicy, without being even slightly overcooked. That was quite impressive. The guacamole was obviously homemade as well, next time I need to get it as starter.
Gobernador @Tacos Hermanos
Throughout the meal I used plenty of salsa verde. That tomatillo sauce really hit the perfect spot. And plenty of lime too, whenever I got a juicy one.
Overall, I think it was a good meal, although some of the dishes could have used a little more acidity and punch. Then again, it was such a hot day that I was mostly concentrating on not sweating into my food. Therefore, another visit is definitely in order. I want to see how the tacos fare when the temperature is a little more forgiving.
Tacos Hermanos is not really place to linger. Despite its sit-down area you want to get up and leave after finishing your meal. Weird, this is the second Mexican place where I don’t to stay longer. Still, I will be back. Yours, Pollybert
Tacos Hermanos
1090 Wien, Kolingasse 7
Tel: +43 676 7708428
Tue-Sat: 17:00-24:00
https://www.instagram.com/tacoshermanosvienna/?hl=en
