Scrumptious Spotlight: Coyo Taco
Tacos again, Nicky?!
Good afternoon, fellow foodies!
Yes! Tacos again, lol! Working in Homestead, FL for the past two years, I've been exposed to what traditional Mexican food really is. Like I said in my Taco Tuesday post, if you think that traditional tacos are served with the works (i.e., Taco Bell), the word Wrong would be a huge understatement. Not saying that tacos can't be delicious with all the trimmings, because they can, but traditionally, the meat is what shines through usually. My friends, this taco place is far from the ordinary.
Saturday night, I was wandering aimlessly with some friends looking for a place to eat. As usual, we went to Wynwood to get our weekly fix of booze (and art, of course). Walking down 2nd Avenue, I heard bass coming from what ended up being a restaurant. Its vibrant blue name caught my attention immediately since it was the only source of light down the street. It read COYO. It's a small little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, there is an industrial feel with concrete block walls and exposed pipes. Outside, there is a long picnic table making it easy to share meals with old and new friends alike. The atmosphere is inviting, the staff has friendly faces, and the overall vibe is relaxed. You walk in and you immediately get in line. You grab a menu and hope to make your decision quick because, even though the food is made fresh to order, the line runs swiftly. I ordered the Carne Asada tacos. They come two to an order, and these tacos in particular came with Pico de Gallo and Cotija Cheese, finished with a little bit of Cilantro.
I was in taco heaven! First, let me say how authentic the tortillas were. They were soft and chewy, but sturdy enough to hold all the meat and toppings in (just like at Taco Tuesday's at Wood, shouts out to them). The Pico de Gallo was so fresh and delicious. The tomatoes were juicy and diced evenly along with the onions and cilantro. The Cotija cheese was such a perfect touch. It was the little bit of saltiness the taco needed to bring it to that new level. But, what really stood out to me was how tender the meat was! It was perfectly cooked to a medium well (fully cooked with just a teeny, tiny hint of pink inside). It had a great crust on the outside from being seared on a flat top, which added texture and flavor to the meat. There was a good ratio of meat to fat on the strips and it was cut against the grain, which provided for maximum succulence. Now, I know you see the big bow of Guacamole in the picture. Coyo Taco makes their own, in house Guacamole recipe that is so simple, it's too good to be true, because when you scoop the fresh made tortilla chips with the Guacamole, you think to yourself, "How can something made so simply be so incredibly good?!" I have the secret, which is surprisingly simple, too, lol. I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you cook with quality ingredients, you will have a end product of quality. Whatever you put in is what you will get out. If you cook with pre-made, canned, processed ingredients, not only are you cheating yourself of necessary vitamins and minerals that fresh ingredients provide for you, but you're cheating yourself of flavor! There is nothing like biting into a fresh pineapple from a farmer, for example, versus one diced and packaged in a can. Coyo brings nothing but fresh ingredients and simplicity to a simple dish, like the taco. The best part is that you can convert your taco into a burrito, a rice bowl, etc.
To the folks at Coyo Taco in Wynwood, thank you for keeping it simple and making it scrumptious. You have become my new favorite taco place in the area for your freshness of ingredients, flavor packed tacos, and your friendly faces. Thank you for your hospitality, and you'll definitely be seeing more of me.
Exquisitely yours,
Nicky
P.S. They have a room in the back that serves as a small dance club, complete with a wall-to-wall bar, couches, and room to dance your ass off! It was open this Saturday that just passed, so be sure to check them out, and when you're done eating, make your way to the back room to get your groove on!
Yes! Tacos again, lol! Working in Homestead, FL for the past two years, I've been exposed to what traditional Mexican food really is. Like I said in my Taco Tuesday post, if you think that traditional tacos are served with the works (i.e., Taco Bell), the word Wrong would be a huge understatement. Not saying that tacos can't be delicious with all the trimmings, because they can, but traditionally, the meat is what shines through usually. My friends, this taco place is far from the ordinary.
Saturday night, I was wandering aimlessly with some friends looking for a place to eat. As usual, we went to Wynwood to get our weekly fix of booze (and art, of course). Walking down 2nd Avenue, I heard bass coming from what ended up being a restaurant. Its vibrant blue name caught my attention immediately since it was the only source of light down the street. It read COYO. It's a small little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, there is an industrial feel with concrete block walls and exposed pipes. Outside, there is a long picnic table making it easy to share meals with old and new friends alike. The atmosphere is inviting, the staff has friendly faces, and the overall vibe is relaxed. You walk in and you immediately get in line. You grab a menu and hope to make your decision quick because, even though the food is made fresh to order, the line runs swiftly. I ordered the Carne Asada tacos. They come two to an order, and these tacos in particular came with Pico de Gallo and Cotija Cheese, finished with a little bit of Cilantro.
I was in taco heaven! First, let me say how authentic the tortillas were. They were soft and chewy, but sturdy enough to hold all the meat and toppings in (just like at Taco Tuesday's at Wood, shouts out to them). The Pico de Gallo was so fresh and delicious. The tomatoes were juicy and diced evenly along with the onions and cilantro. The Cotija cheese was such a perfect touch. It was the little bit of saltiness the taco needed to bring it to that new level. But, what really stood out to me was how tender the meat was! It was perfectly cooked to a medium well (fully cooked with just a teeny, tiny hint of pink inside). It had a great crust on the outside from being seared on a flat top, which added texture and flavor to the meat. There was a good ratio of meat to fat on the strips and it was cut against the grain, which provided for maximum succulence. Now, I know you see the big bow of Guacamole in the picture. Coyo Taco makes their own, in house Guacamole recipe that is so simple, it's too good to be true, because when you scoop the fresh made tortilla chips with the Guacamole, you think to yourself, "How can something made so simply be so incredibly good?!" I have the secret, which is surprisingly simple, too, lol. I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you cook with quality ingredients, you will have a end product of quality. Whatever you put in is what you will get out. If you cook with pre-made, canned, processed ingredients, not only are you cheating yourself of necessary vitamins and minerals that fresh ingredients provide for you, but you're cheating yourself of flavor! There is nothing like biting into a fresh pineapple from a farmer, for example, versus one diced and packaged in a can. Coyo brings nothing but fresh ingredients and simplicity to a simple dish, like the taco. The best part is that you can convert your taco into a burrito, a rice bowl, etc. To the folks at Coyo Taco in Wynwood, thank you for keeping it simple and making it scrumptious. You have become my new favorite taco place in the area for your freshness of ingredients, flavor packed tacos, and your friendly faces. Thank you for your hospitality, and you'll definitely be seeing more of me.
Exquisitely yours,
Nicky
P.S. They have a room in the back that serves as a small dance club, complete with a wall-to-wall bar, couches, and room to dance your ass off! It was open this Saturday that just passed, so be sure to check them out, and when you're done eating, make your way to the back room to get your groove on!
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