Toledo Talk praise for San Marcos Mexican Grocery store

So I (along with co-workers) have been going there for two-days now. I will extremely cosign to the fact that the San Marcos food is the real deal. There are Mexican restaurants (well, Taco Bell with liquor licenses, in Toledo) and then there's the food from this place. The true Mexican taco does not have lettuce, cheese and tomatoes, although this option is there at San Marcos. I'm a barbacoa/machaca freak, so I had the barbacoa tacos. The simplicity of the ingredients is what makes their food special. The taco only had meat, a good amount of cilantro and onions, and one lime per taco. The blend of cilantro somewhat cancelled the power of the onions, but I still could taste the onion. I can honestly see myself going there at least once a week.

Hands down the most authentic mexican food in Toledo. i just went yesterday and was blown away by the quilty of the food. They must be doing well since they are adding an entire restaurant inside the market. i cant wait to go back and try something else.

Had lunch today at the "new" and VERY much expanded San Marcos. O-M-G! If you haven't been, go.

Nuff said.

Amen. Having married into a Mexican family, I know the real deal. If you can handle menudo, try theirs. As good as my father-in-law used to make.

I'm dying to try their Menudo and will likely do so this week. Had the best chicken tostada I ever ate yesterday. And, BTW everyone, they also have a full bar.
Margarita was a bit too sweet for my taste but, hey, I went for the amazing food.

I tried to go there for lunch yesterday. Unfortunately for me, a whole parade of cars pulled in before I could. Decided to try again another time. Hopefully I will get there this week. I'm glad to see they're doing good business!

Yeah, the word for sure is out about this place...by far the best Mexican food in town.

Newbie, my friends had the same experience as you yesterday. They showed up for lunch, and were told it might be better to come back a few hours later. Crazy!

Crazy good! What establishment wouldn't dream of that situation?

Love the food there.Found it about four years ago. I wish the word hadn't gotten out. I miss the days I could stop by for lunch, sit at the counter in front of the grill, and not wait to have my craving for the lengua tacos satisfied. Happy for San Marcos though.

Alimento bueno, ningunos mapaches, muy recomendados.

ningunos mapaches ??

Great food.

Are they serving margaritas yet?

absolutely!

check out my wife's newest post on the new san marcos! we loved it!

http://enjoyingtoledo.com/2011/05/san-marcos/

Stopped in today for lunch. They really need to step up the service. We were seated right away, but it took about 30 minutes to get waited on. Food was great though. I had tongue taco, beef taco and rice and beans. Not a rice fan, but they do theirs well. Beans could be a little thicker for my preference, but had great taste. And the meat was super. Tender and flavorful, also very generous with the onion and cilantro. LOVED the red sauce, the green not so much HOT!!! But I am a wekling when it comes to that. They just need to get used to the crowd and maybe fix a thing or two. I am all for relaxed and casual and all, but I don't really need to see the cashier eating. But maybe thats just me. Definitely going back to try everything else on the menu.

service was slow with us too. i think they just need one more person on the floor to fix that problem.

With the expansion coupled with a very significant increase in diners I would expect they are going to be going through a hectic period of adjustment. A friend and I were both worried that with the changes the food and or value would suffer but so far we've still been relatively happy. My wife and I went on Friday night and had about the same experience Ryan did concerning waiting which was a first.

In the meantime I try to go during the slowest hours. I have heard rumors they are scouting for a West Toledo location.

I've been meaning to get down there and try it based on all of the rave reviews... a West Toledo location would be awesome. Any additional details on this would be great if/when they become available!

I've been meaning to get down there and try it based on all of the rave reviews... a West Toledo location would be awesome. Any additional details on this would be great if/when they become available!

Made my first trip there the other day. Damn was it good! Although the waiters not being able to understand simple english seemed to be a show. Either way it was great.

Depends on the server you get. On both of our trips down there, they spoke English quite well.

From a purely selfish standpoint, I'd just as soon they not expand into other locations. I fear they would learn bad habits from the multiple locations types such as Cinco de Mayo, El Vaquero and El Camino.

San Marcos is the real deal. The last thing I would want to see them do is to "Americanize" their menu like the above mentioned chains have done.

As for the green sauce on the table - I LOVE it! Can't get enough of it. They will sell it (and the red sauce) to you to go - $5 for a large styrofoam cup of it. Worth every penny to me.

Anyone looking for a recommendation: try the chicken tostada. Amazing.

I wouldn't expect them to open a second location in west toledo any time soon. Part of their success is their grocery store that caters to the latino population in the neighborhood.

I agree about the hot sauces. It's like crack. I can't get enough!

The Blade's recent review alluded to a tiny second location at 719 Galena. Has anyone investigated???

I saw the logo in the window when I was in the neighborhood a month or so ago. I couldn't tell if it was open.

I believe it's open now. Just drove past the other day, saw what appeared to be workers moving around inside.

Drove by there this weekend and it looks like they did a good job, at least from the outside, driving by in a car, fast. lol

I've heard so much about this place, and finally got over there this weekend. The tongue tacos (cilantro and onions) did taste great, but mine were extremely greasy. Is that typical, in TTr's experience, or did I just show up on off day for the kitchen?

You ate a tongue taco? I thought that was on the menu as a joke!

Seriously, the taco are kind of greasy. If you sit at the back bar you can see the taco cooker guy dips them in some liquid.

I didnt find my fillings greasy, but the tortilla shells were pretty greasy. Probably dipped in hot oil right before being filled with deliciousness.

holy mother of god
4 tacos is too much (i had 2 tongue and 2 pork) when you also order chips and quac
ouch

WAS THERE TODAY - NOT LOVING THE GUAC
SERVICE WAS FASTER ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND US AND WE ALMOST HAD WAY TOO
MUCH FOOD DELIVERED
WAITED 10 MINUTES AT THE REGISTER
I BET THEY HAVE TONS OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT
I WILL GO BACK THOUGH - TOO YUMMY

OMG WTF BBQ

what time did you go ryan? there was a crazy line at the registers while i was there. the quac was great! totally mild and subtle.

Oh, and Ryan, ask your server to take the check. They have when I've been there.

I DONT KNOW IF HE WOULD EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT. HE HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE COME OVER TO EXPLAIN THE SPECIAL IN ENGLISH. I DONT CARE THOUGH, STILL YUM.

they took my check, no problem. never had to hit the registers. :)

Just wanted to say a great, big, Muchas Gracias to all TT posters. Went there tonight and it was packed. Food was awesome! Now I do not have to go to Detroit's Mexican Town to get authentic Mexican food.... The guacamole was to die for. Had one each: chicken, tongue and barbacoa tacos and boyfriend had 2 barbacoa and 2 steak tacos. Great beer! Still full! Bought chicharones on the way out for the boys! Thanks again!!!!!!!!!

is that traditional guac? mine was the texture of mayo and it kinda threw me. i like chunky better i guess.

OK... now that several TT folks are going to San's I'm wondering if anyone else is getting any tummy issues? On my last two visits, with friends, and then next day everyone was a little "uneasy."

Is it just our weak constitutions or do feel my pain?

I think its just you. If anything I find them less greasy than typical Mexican around here.

I would agree except it was everyone who joined me for dinner. I just want to take the census because I love their tacos! At least for the first 6 hours...

Ryan, the guac was kinda between mayo and chunky- very fresh and garlicky- tasted like roated garlic- somewhat sweet, nutty with good garlic undertones. Very green in color, a little tomato in it- did not taste like a ton of acid was in it like some guac.
Bobo- I'll keep you posted about stomach issues. So far, so good (:
BTW: I found the red sauce hotter than the green sauce which was more garlicky as well. The red sauce did have a good kick to it, heat was felt on the tongue and it did have a smokey (chipotle?) taste. The salsa verde on the other hand delivered a good amount of heat at the back of the throat.
All in all, it was a great experience. ALso, if you go this weekend be prepared to wait. There is a Latino Conference in town and they were packed. We saw plates from all over Ohio, Michigan and Texas. Very nice people but I think there were four of us "gringos" there in total. Not to worry though- waited 20 minutes to be seated and did not feel uncomfortable at all! The wait staff was very nice but it did take a while to get served because of the crowd.

Upso: LOVE your wife's blog and I mean that! Plan on going to some of the places mentioned that I have yet to go to or have not heard about. Very interesting blog! Bravo!!!!!!!!

:)

Finally tried this place for lunch today. Wow, very yummy! I'd like to stop by sometime after work for a margee...