Taco Rico!

Taco Rico is a ghost kitchen turning out legit tacos from a Downtown Augusta prep space. They're moving soon to a brick-and-mortar spot on Mount Vernon Avenue, but for now you order online and pick up. The team knows how to build a taco, and prices won't break you. This isn't sit-down dining, but it's the kind of food that makes you forget about the drive home.

• Tacos actually taste like they should taste.
• Small menu keeps quality high and prep fast.
• Fully customizable, works for dietary preferences.
• Prices are reasonable for the care shown.

Get the tacos. The carnitas are popular and come with solid seasoning. Chorizo works if you ask them to dial up the spice (a few guests noted it could use heat). The chicken mole is worth trying, though it reads more as a seasoned sauce than a traditional mole. Sweet potato is on offer, though one visitor had trouble with it. Ask for cotija cheese if you want it, and say it explicitly in the order. The salsa lands on the gentler side, so if you run hot, speak up.

There's no dining room. You order ahead by phone or online, show up, and carry your tacos out. Think taqueria speed, zero ambiance.

They're not trying to reinvent tacos. They're trying to do them right. Flavors are balanced, meat is seasoned, and if you ask for tweaks (less salt, extra spice, specific cheese), they listen. A California transplant called them "legit," which in Maine food circles is high praise. One recent visitor said the food "really surprised us" given low expectations.

Guests consistently praise the flavor and quality, especially those accustomed to good Mexican food elsewhere. One California native said Taco Rico solved a real problem, bringing "yummy tacos" to Downtown. Some feedback points to inconsistency in execution (spice levels, cheese delivery) and a menu that skews minimal, but most people return.