The Mad Taco

Robin Earle

The food has been great every time I've been there, the option to buy the meat by the pound is great, and the people who work there have always been fantastic. BUT Maybe at some point, the owners will realize that if they pay people enough to live, they won't have staffing shortages that prevent them from being open consistently. Every day is a mystery. Will they be open? Will online ordering work? Will there be anyone to answer the phones? Who knows. Of all of the restaurants in the Essex Experience, Mad Taco is the only one that isn't open consistently, and it seems as if it's just a matter of time before they finally decide that paying their workers is less important than staying open at all, and they'll close up shop. It's a shame, because the food is actually good. EDIT: I'm keeping the review because $15 an hour isn't even close to enough for someone to live within driving distance from Essex, VT. Tips don't make up for it. They just shift responsibility for a livable wage from the owners to customers. Don't make excuses, do better.

Cousin Dave

When my parents came to VT and I thought “where do I take them to show off Essex cuisine” it was A) tacos at mad taco B) sandwiches at Martones. In my experience they take the Tiny Thai approach - simple, fresh, reliable.

Heather Smith

Um, wow! Best real tacos ever! The meat is tender and juicy..... the flavor, perfection! Finally found a taco joint that has real food and flavor and friendly staff!

Nikki Coast

We’ve given this place two tries and both times have been not great. Homemade salsas are blended to a watery consistency and all the same. Nothing fresh added to the tacos other than some onion that seems to be cut three days in advance. All of the flavors are just bland and everything muddled together. Our recent order was three orders of tacos and chips and salsa. The sides are extra so we didn’t get anything. Filled a small bag the size of a lunch sack but we paid $65 for it. The tacos are basic with zero brightness from anything fresh and the meat tastes so over cooked like it’s been sitting in a warming tray for days. Biggest turn off was the lack of gloves. Watched the person take our order and touch his face, money, the phone, pens, and then stick the same hand into a bin of chips to fill a bag for us. Peeked back in the kitchen to see the guy assembling our tacos also not wearing gloves. Which is a bit alarming but even more alarming when you are in a global pandemic. I really want to like this place but it’s a hard pass for me.