Panchos Takos
I can confirm the hype this place receives is absolutely legit!!! We’ve had al pastor style tacos all over Puerto Vallarta and these are hands down the very best, Pepe’s is good for sure, but Pancho’s is fantastic. We put off trying Pancho’s for one reason; the line. There were always a minimum of 15 people, sometimes double, and in the busy season, triple that. We happened to pass by one day on the way to the beach area and wouldn’t you know it, on a random afternoon, before sunset there was a very small line, and we were like “it’s a sign!”- time to try Pancho’s Takos.
This is a small spot, with cramped indoor seating on wooden chairs and benches that gets nice and toasty, and about 6 tables outside, this is an in and out type of dining experience, so none of that really matters, it’s all about the tacos. Walking up you will see the largest trompo you have ever seen, and it’s perfect. It’s charred, juicy, and being manned at all times with a lot of love and care. It smells incredible and it is, the view of it alone will make you starving if you aren’t already!
They have a large team working there and they turn and burn those tables. You are quickly seated, not the time to be picky, lol, and if you have been waiting in line they give you a little order form so you are ready to go the second you sit down. They have a lot of taco options on the menu, but there is one that is quite obviously the king of the castle, and it is the al pastor pork tacos. They are 35 pesos (roughly $2 usd) a piece. Usually I would get 2-3 tacos when hungry, but I heard these were loaded with meat, so we each decided to get one a piece (almost unheard of in taco quantities) we realized we could easily order more if needed. They were not kidding, these guys were loaded with meat, at least 2 tacos worth if not 2.5 or 3. I could do two, but that would be my max, it’s like 4 good sized tacos, but so worth every bite! The tortillas are corn, kind of thicker and chewy, and were heated on the flat top to order, we think they have a company specially making them, because they are different than the usual corn tortillas, in a great way! The meat is freshly sliced off the trompo, then liberally topped with fresh onions and cilantro, last but not least juicy slices of pineapple. The meat is flavorful, tender, perfectly charred, and all around simply the best we have had, salty, sweet, spicy heaven. the salsas are actually spicy (yay!!!) delicious, and perfect to use either a little or a lot on these little master pieces. The green- zesty and herby with lots of cilantro, the red was a roasted chili salsa, tomato based but medium to hot, the orange colored one is habanero, and the flavor was tangy and hot, but not so hot that it overpowered the flavors in the taco, they also had a pickled pineapple, habanero and onion salsa that is very very hot! Delicious, and perfect, we both loved them, and so did everyone else enjoying!
If you have the chance to grab these tacos while in Puerto Vallarta do it!!! This is one of the few restaurants that actually lives up to the hype!
