-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

Taqueria El Amigo

196 Willow Street, Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 642-7410 Find location!

Photo of Taqueria El Amigo, Waltham, MA Waltham's Taqueria El Amigo is pretty much what this Web site is all about, as it is about as close to a hidden gem as you will find. First, it is located on a mostly residential street in an area a good ways away from Moody Street, Waltham's main culinary drag; second, it is not the type of place that you would go to unless you were in the know, as it looks like a nondescript hole in the wall; third, not too many dining guides or restaurant Web sites seem to know about the place; and fourth, well, the food served here is among the best of its kind in the Boston area. In short, Taqueria El Amigo is a Boston's Hidden Restaurants favorite, and one that we are fortunate to have learned about.

Taqueria El Amigo is not much bigger than a walk-in closet, and it isn't exactly pretty; the outside of the place looks a bit rough, and the inside is rather stark, with little in the way of decor and only a few tables scattered around the small counter. But the folks who work here are truly nice people, and the mostly authentic Mexican food that they serve is tasty, fresh, and cheap. The menu has a number of familiar dishes, including rich and hearty chicken enchiladas with red, green, or brown sauce, and a pollo con mole that has a moderately rich mole sauce and lots of white meat chicken to stuff into the steamed tortillas that come with the dish. Taqueria El Amigo also has tortas, taquitos, burritos, and chimichangas, all of which can be made with a variety of meats. Some items on the menu are a bit more exotic (and not for everyone!), such as tacos with beef cheek meat, burritos with Mexican sausage, and chimichangas with tongue. Drinks include a sort of milkshake that can be flavored with various fruits, including melon, banana, or papaya. They also have mango juice, sodas, and coffee. There is not much in the way of appetizers or desserts, unfortunately.

It unlikely that Taqueria El Amigo will ever become a popular dining spot, as it is a bit out of the way and, as mentioned earlier, it gets little coverage in the media. But don't let that stop you from trying this wonderful place, as this writer believes that the food rivals that of the best Mexican restaurants in all of Boston, and it surely blows away the Mexican chains in the area. It might not look like much, but Taqueria El Amigo is a lovely little hidden gem that certainly deserves more attention than it gets.