By Nicole June
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville has a new spot for taco fans: West Coast Taco Shop, located at 1725 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
This fast-casual restaurant features California-style Mexican food at affordable prices. The menu offers everything from street tacos to fajitas to nachos. West Coast is the kind of place you can pop into for lunch or dinner when you don’t want to have the full dine-in experience.
I was fortunate enough to try West Coast Taco Shop twice within its first few weeks of opening. I visited with two different lunch partners to get a variety of opinions.
When you first enter, you’re greeted by vibrant colors and cool, but minimal artwork. After you place your order at the counter you’re given a receipt with a number, so pay attention so you can hear when your order is ready.
The menu is large and a bit overwhelming, but you can’t go wrong with the California-style tacos at $2.75 a piece. I ordered a chicken taco and a steak taco with a side of chips and queso and my lunch companion ordered the grilled flounder tacos and a side of guacamole.
My tacos were filling and delicious and I enjoyed pairing them with the three different salsas at the salsa bar (hot, mild, and verde). The queso was pretty standard but the guac was fresh and had an awesome zesty flavor.
Lunch Companion #1: “I wanted to try the grilled and fried flounder fish taco, but with the other appetizers that would have been just too much food. I opted for the grilled flounder topped with guacamole and pico de gallo (Cali style) topped with a light ‘secret sauce,’ that spiced up the fresh bite, which was very tasty. I would have preferred a little more crunch and look forward to a return visit to try the fried fish taco.”
On my second visit, we showed up a little later than the first time, which was definitely a mistake because the restaurant was packed when we got there. We were able to find a table but I’d recommend arriving closer to opening time at 11 a.m.
I ordered the chicken torta, which is a chicken sub on a toasted bread with beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, and lettuce. It was tasty enough but I prefer the California-style tacos. My lunch companion ordered a fajita plate.
Lunch Companion #2 (Bonnie Portillo): “The environment is colorful, fun and inviting. The menu has a variety of options that are, in my opinion, reasonably priced.
I ordered the steak fajita, which came with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and guacamole. The plate was filled with meat, onions, bell peppers, rice, and beans. The portions seemed a little bit off, but the meal was cooked well and fresh. My favorite part of the meal was the guacamole and chips.
The one downside of the dining experience at West Coast Tacos was the wait time. They seemed extremely busy during lunch time on a Wednesday, and it seemed like they could not meet the demand of orders in a timely manner. I would suggest calling in your order ahead of time.”
The overall experience was pleasant and judging by the size of the crowds, West Coast Taco Shop will be a popular Clarksville eatery.
Check out more info and the full menu on the West Coast Taco Shop Facebook page.