Tula Taqueria – AMAZING Mexican Street Food Near Polaris Mall

Inside: Join me as I explore the new kid on the block –  Tula Taqueria (near Polaris Mall)  for their authentic Mexican street food.

Yesterday, I noticed a new sign as I was driving home. Right next to the gas station on the corner of Lazelle Rd and Sancus Blvd, in a small, nondescript strip mall, there it was.

A white sign with the words “Tula Taqueria” written on it.

Interesting.

VERY interesting.

Truth be told, I was tempted to stop right away and check it out, but I thought it would be kinder to wait and try it with my family.

And you guys! It was SO FREAKING GOOD. And in my super humble opinion – this currently hidden gem isn’t going to stay hidden for long. Go check it out – TODAY – before everyone else finds out about it and it gets packed.

As soon as I walked in, I glanced at my husband and we both smiled. We could tell right away. This wasn’t some “Don Pablos-esque” tex-mex.

This was the real deal.

So a bit of a backstory; my husband and I were restaurant managers for almost a decade. And as we worked side-by-side with some of our favorite cooks, they would often treat us to homemade Mexican dishes unlike any we could ever find in the Mexican restaurants we’d frequent. Homemade salsas, deliciously marinated and seasoned pork and chorizo, all put together with love.

We even recognized the music, just like what we’d listen to as we’d close down the restaurant, dancing around with the cooks, being silly as we mopped the floor together.

Related: Dim Sum at Sunflower Chinese Restaurant

Tula Taqueria – The Experience

Tula Taqueria has super casual counter service. This means you walk directly over to the counter, place your order, and then find a seat.

There’s a large menu hanging above the counter with all the options.

We received a warm welcome when we walked in from Mike who, along with his family, owns the Tula Taqueria. Good food seems to run in his blood. His father used to own a taco truck, and his uncle owns nearby Señor Antonio’s.

You could totally feel the passion he had for the food that they serve.

And, I couldn’t wait to try it!

I asked him what his favorite dish was, and he responded with “the torta with adobada” so, of course, we ordered it.

Tortas are Mexican sandwiches: a giant, soft roll stuffed with your choice of filling, and topped with beans, onions, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

Adobada is tender, seasoned pork.

We also got a few street tacos to sample.

Costing between $2.25-$3.00 – they are are super affordable!

Each street taco comes on 2 small corn tortillas, topped with onion, cilantro, and your choice of protein, and garnished with lime wedges.

While they don’t have a dedicated kid’s menu, they do have plenty of kid friendly options at affordable prices. Our little one opted for a cheese quesadilla, and we were impressed with the size she received for only $6.

It came with a side of lettuce, tomato, and sour cream for dipping.

While I was chatting with Mike, my husband discovered the salsa bar.

OH MY GOD.

So many different options!

They have little sample spoons so you can taste the choices, and they are labeled with their level of spicy.

I LOVE spicy food but, just in case you don’t, be careful as they are authentic salsas and even the “medium” salsas have quite a bit of heat.

I asked my husband to pick a couple of his favorite salsas to bring back to the table and, of course, he couldn’t just pick two because they were all so good.

The little one discovered the fresh radishes they had on the salsa bar (along with jalapeños) and snacked on them like they were potato chips. She totally loved the radishes. Mommy’s lil’ weirdo.

Tula Taqueria – The Menu

They have quite an assortment of items on their menu.

For the protein/fillings,  you could choose from the following: carne asada, barbacoa, chicken, chicken tinga, adobada (marinated pork), chorizo, carnitas, veggies, shrimp, or lengua (beef tongue). For those of you unfamiliar with beef tongue, it’s a flavorful, tender piece of meat. Mike explained it was almost like pork belly.

You also have your pick from burritos (burrito bowls also available), torta (Mexican sandwiches), street tacos, flour/hard shell tacos, quesadillas, sope (fried corn disc filled with toppings), tostada, chimichangas, rolled chicken taquitos, nachos, platters, and even queso fries!

You can round out your meal with a side. Choose from chips, rice, pinto or black beans, and don’t forget that killer salsa bar.

For dessert, they have churros – with your choice of chocolate sauce or cajeta (Mexican caramel sauce).

FOR SURE – get the cajeta!

Everything I tasted was fantastic, but the churros were hands down the star of the show. Served warm and fresh, crunchy on the outside, and almost creamy on the inside, topped with delicious Mexican caramel?

You’re probably going to need two orders.

This is one happy girl.

My family and I really enjoyed Tula Taqueria. The food was awesome, and so was the service. This area needed a solid Mexican street food option, and I’m so happy to welcome them to my ‘hood.

Tula Taqueria
525 Lazelle Rd, Westerville, OH 43081
Open 11am – 9pm (10pm on Fri/Sat)

Are you as obsessed with authentic Mexican food as I am? Check out this list of 15 traditional Mexican dishes to eat!

Do you have a favorite spot for Mexican food? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

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