Westmere just got even more colourful. Taco Loco has opened a second outpost at number 85 Garnet Road, bringing its particular brand of vibrant, unapologetically fun Mexican food to Westmere, and the neighbourhood is already better for it.

If you’ve eaten at the Mt Albert restaurant or the original food truck, you already know the deal. If you haven’t, the short version is this: Marcelo and Roger built a fiercely loyal following at markets and festivals across Auckland, turned that energy into a permanent restaurant, and created the kind of place that feels less like dining out and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.

The Westmere location carries the same DNA. The exterior alone, all hand-painted signage and unapologetic colour, is the kind of street presence that makes you slow down on Garnet Road whether you’re hungry or not. Inside, the palette is loud in the best possible way. Vivid murals, traditional Mexican crafts, and the sort of atmosphere that makes Taco Tuesdays feel like a small, delicious celebration.

But you’re here for the food, and the food delivers. The tacos are built with the kind of care that comes from operators who clearly treat a tortilla as a serious undertaking. The beef birria tacos arrive with a richness and depth that rewards every bite, the chicken quesadillas have a golden, satisfying crunch that holds up to generous fillings, and the enchiladas are the sort of thing you order once and then quietly rearrange your weekly schedule around. And then there are the homemade churros. Warm, crisp, coated in cinnamon sugar and entirely non-negotiable.

What makes Taco Loco work, and what makes this second location feel like a genuine win for Westmere, is the energy. This is a restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously but takes its food very seriously indeed.

Opening hours:
Monday – Tuesday: 5 pm – 9 pm
Friday: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5 pm – 9.30 pm
Saturday: 11.30 am – 9.30 pm
Sunday: 11.30 am – 8.30 pm

tacoloconz.co.nz