Tacophiles, start your engines: It’s almost time for the 2024 edition of the Nashville Scene's Taco Week. I know I’m on record for saying that I personally believe Nashville has reached maximum taco, and I was surprised to learn that the imminently arriving Nacho Daddy was not actually opening inside the bathroom at the recently opened Torchy’s Tacos, but will indeed be two blocks away. (Or to put it another way, 0.1 mile from Velvet Taco and 436 feet from Chuy’s on Broadway.)
Still, Nashvillians’ appetite for tacos seems to remain unquenchable, and we’re here for it! During Taco Week from Dec. 2 to 8, more than 40 restaurants will be offering $5 taco specials; some are discounted regular items, and others are brand-new creations just for the occasion. As always, there will be some nontraditional outlets offering up tortilla-wrapped delights, so go find a new favorite!
Of course, we always like to remind you about how best to participate. First of all, be patient. This week drives crazy demand, so there may be longer waits than usual, and some restaurants may run out of a particular item. That’s why we make it a week, so you can try again another day if need be. Secondly, these restaurants are offering incredible deals, so please tip as if you were paying regular price and maybe order a few other items plus a drink to help get their food costs out of the red range.
An efficient way to try to sample as many entries as possible is to form a taco posse so that team members can stop by several restaurants that are offering takeout options and bring them back to a single location for a communal taste-testing feast. Also, the Taco Week website indicates which restaurants have partnered with Uber Eats, so you can leave one team member at home to receive them and add them to the bounty of to-go tacos. Some restaurants are offering only dine-in service, and that’s cool, too. Please patronize these spots as well if you’d like.
If you download the Taco Week app, you’ll have access to a map to help plot your path between stops, as well as earning points for each place you check into. These points represent entries into a contest where you can win free stuff like gift cards and swag from participating restaurants and sponsors like WYNK THC Seltzers. You can also check out individual menus and drinks specials, which are being updated constantly. Also, feel free to share your experiences on social media using #SceneTacoWeek24 and tagging @nashvillescene.
Any time during the week, you can vote for your favorites in different categories to help determine the winners by visiting the special voting page. Who says living in Nashville means your vote doesn't count?!
Specific menu items are still being added to the list of participating restaurants, but I’ve gone ahead to do a little perusing to discover a few intriguing options to whet your appetite. Here are a few options that are on my list.
I always like to try at least a few items from places that aren’t ordinarily thought of as taco joints. That’s why I’ve got my eye on the smoked pork butt with HabaQ sauce and grilled pineapple salsa from 12 South Taproom; the breakfast taco egg roll with scrambled eggs, chorizo, potatoes and cheese from Punk Wok; and International Tea and Coffee Co.’s deal for two Korean BBQ beef tacos topped with cotija, radish and cilantro.
Limo Peruvian Eatery certainly has my attention with their offering of a lomo taco made with strips of marinated steak tossed with sautéed onions, tomatoes and green onions, all glazed in a savory soy-based sauce. Thistle and Rye at the Conrad is going over the top with their Taco Bell-inspired Gordita Crunch, featuring slow-braised beef cheek in a crunchy tortilla shell dusted with Doritos nacho season and wrapped in a flatbread with melted Oaxaca cheese.
Stretching the definition of “taco” is certainly allowed, and Otto’s is bending over backward with a Mississippi pot roast taco filled with tender slow-cooked beef, provolone cheese and pepperoncinis on a roti bread with zesty lime ranch. These are just a few of your options to pick from, so as always, plan your eating, and eat your plan!
The fun kicks off Monday night, Dec. 2, with an opening party at Calle Taco at 600 Ninth Ave. S. from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees will enjoy drink specials, photo booth fun, samples from our sponsors and of course, tacos! Plus, you’ll start the week with 100 points toward those prize contests. iBuena suerte!
