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Reviews

The Mother Of All Taco Spots In The Classic City: Taco Mama

Updated Published
Nicolas Wiles

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at UGA chapter.

The search for the best tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas in Athens has ended. The only thing we ever needed to do was run home to our mama, our Taco Mama. Insane proportions of carefully prepared, high-quality food served by enthusiastic fellow dawgs are guaranteed when you walk through the doors of Georgia’s first and only Taco Mama! Located directly next to the Georgia Theatre on the corner of Lumpkin and Washington, Taco Mama can fulfill all your dining needs. The Taco Mama franchise started in 2011 in Alabama and expanded to the Peach State only one year ago after opening 20 locations throughout the South over the past 13 years. Don’t let its Crimson Tide-adjacent roots scare you; there is no warmer and friendlier environment than that Taco Mama provides. 

Taco Mama, Athens location ,exterior
Caroline @ UGA

I could go on and on about all the smiling faces greeting you from before you enter the establishment to your satisfied wobble out the doors after devouring a Fat Boy, making you feel like one yourself, but the food is too delicious to wait longer to discuss. What stood out the most was the variety. No matter what you’re looking for, Taco Mama has a creative and delicious rendition. Of course, their grilled steak tenderloin is cooked to perfection, the barbacoa and pulled pork are slow-cooked for hours on end, and the tofu is marinated overnight. However, who even thinks about throwing flounder on their menu? More importantly, who can make something that outlandish work? Taco Mama can, that’s who. If you’re not brave enough for that but still want to explore your nautical side, Mama’s got you covered with grilled gulf shrimp or fresh AAA sushi-grade Ahi Tuna that has a habit of selling out before the day ends. With this many unique options, it can be hard to choose just one. I’ve been there plenty of times, trust me. Taco Mama understands your struggle and ensures that your FOMO can rest easy by allowing you to mix & match as many proteins as you like. A comprehensive Build Your Own section enables you to create personalized adaptations as wild as you wish. Although, a Mama often knows best; so team members are always available and eager to help you construct the perfect flavor combination. 

Taco Mama realizes that when it comes to serving hungry college kids on a budget, size matters. Not once have I encountered a plate of nachos with as much magnitude as the slow-cooked braised beef ones presented before me this day. Despite its ability to comfortably feed a family of four and their two dogs, destroying the beautiful masterpiece in front of me felt wrong. After biting that first crunchy tortilla chip loaded with juicy barbacoa, fresh cheese, and veggies, I couldn’t care less about how it looked; it needed to be devoured. Choosing between The Fat Boy and The Big Client was more challenging than choosing a major. I contemplated getting both, but burritos the size of a boxer’s forearm made it an intelligent business decision to stick with just the Fat Boy. Even the tacos’ portion sizes were astonishing, each filled practically to the brim. And with a hearty side included in most entrees and guaranteed chips and salsa, you would have to try walking out of Taco Mama still hungry. 

If you’re looking for a tasty and abundant bite to eat or really just miss your Mama, Taco Mama is the place to be.

Nicolas Wiles

UGA '27

Hi! I'm Nic Wiles, an Honors Advertising and Marketing student at the University of Georgia. I am originally from Los Angeles but moved to Roswell, Georgia 4 years ago prior to attending UGA. I am a man of many hats. Besides being a Dawg, I am a wedding DJ, product assistant, casting associate, alcohol vendor at sporting events, Doordash driver, and out-of-work background actor. My interests are sports, especially basketball, soccer, and disc golf; music, ranging from hip-hop to disco to Japanese city pop; sitcoms; fitness; travel; and, of course, eating.

My taste in food is as varied as my professions and interests. My favorite aspect of traveling is learning about the culture I am visiting, and I believe the best way to do that is through their cuisine. I have been to 12 countries, ranging from Central America to Oceania. With limited storage in my brain, sometimes the beautiful sights and relaxing beaches take a backseat to ensure every meal I eat remains as clear as if it's still digesting in my seemingly never-ending stomach.

If I had to choose one cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, I would select Mediterranean nine times out of ten. In my eyes, there is nothing more balanced and consistent. Some count sheep to fall asleep. In my case, lamb appears in dreams after I've fallen asleep. Al pastor tacos from a stand on a street corner, a yellowtail handroll served by a sushi chef who knows your name, and Philly cheesesteaks with provolone oozing out the sides round out my Mount Rushmore of favorite dishes.