Tacoyote has quickly become a welcome addition to the Moorestown dining scene.
In case you missed it, Tacoyote made its debut in December. The eatery is owned by Moorestown residents Steffany and Carlos Meléndez, the husband-and-wife duo behind the popular Coyote Crossing in Conshohocken. Tacoyote features live-fire cooking over charcoal and wood, handmade tortillas, and vibrant, colorful décor.
A native of Mexico, Carlos Meléndez brings more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry and a deep, authentic passion for traditional Mexican cuisine. At Tacoyote, he brings that expertise to life in a modern, polished taqueria setting.
After a few earlier plans were derailed by bad weather, we finally made it in for a recent visit.
One quick tip: unless you’re going early in the day for a late lunch or early dinner, reservations are highly recommended. The space is on the smaller side, and with all the buzz surrounding the new opening, tables tend to fill up fast.
Also, menus are via QR code. So, make sure you take your smartphone.
For my drink, I tried a very refreshing iced hibiscus drink. This hibiscus tea (also known as Jamaican water) is a sweet, tart beverage that is common throughout Mexico and Latin American countries.
We started with the housemade tortilla chips and pico de gallo. We’re used to smooth salsa with chips at other Mexican eateries, but enjoyed the chunky texture of the pico quite a bit.
We were treated to tamales before our main course, which were quite tasty. The filling consisted of pulled chicken in masa (corn dough), steamed in a banana leaf. They are not formally on the menu yet, but they will soon be introduced. I would definitely recommend getting these when they are. Sadly, I did not take a photo!
For our entrees, we enjoyed the Cuban torta and the chicken and steak fajitas.
As tortas go, it is a large sandwich and is meant to be eaten as a main. The Cuban torta featured Telera bread, white cheese, Oaxaca cheese, braised pulled pork, pork ham, chipotle mayo, and avocado. It was served with yucca fries and queso dip on the side.
The chicken and steak fajitas came out on a sizzling platter as is customary. Ample pieces of each served on top of fire-roasted peppers and onions, served with rice and refried black beans, along with housemade flour tortillas. Absolutely scrumptious!
We ended our meal on a sweet note. We tried the housemade flan. Simple, but perfect.
If you’ve been thinking about trying Tacoyote, you should. We’re looking forward to going back to try more of the menu, especially the Mexican pizzas, empanadas, and tacos. With taco in the name, they have to be good, right? Stay tuned.
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