The short story:
Tacolicious is by no means a traditional San Francisco taqueria—you won’t find burritos here. That doesn’t mean, however, that Tacolicious isn’t a San Francisco restaurant. In fact, it’s an SF restaurant as much as it’s a Mexican one. We’re proud to live in a city that likes things seasonal, vibrant, and bright, a place where the words local, sustainable and organic have become so redundant that they need not be said. (But just in case you were wondering about our menu: The answer is yes, yes and yes.)
Like many native Californians, Mexican food is in us. Though we grew up traveling to Mexico regularly—and still do—it took a trip to Mexico City, where the food is served in settings as sophisticated and urban as you’ll find anywhere in the world (see: Califa and Contramar, a couple of our favorites), for us to realize that tacos don’t have to be relegated to street food or a corner mom-’n'-pop.
This was truly the inspiration for Tacolicious, an idea that started out as a fun, little taco stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market with a fittingly frivolous name. From there it became a full sit-down, cocktail-driven restaurant, 100-tequilas strong, where a selection of tacos—mostly tacos de guisado (tacos filled with juicy, braised meats) such as shot-and-a-beer chicken and guajillo-braised short rib—anchor a menu that now extends to dishes such as beet salad with grapefruit and pumpkin seeds, tuna tostadas, grilled squid served Veracruz-style, albondigas, shrimp a la diabla, and toasted coconut flan.
For the really, really long story:
Contact Joe at joe@tacolicioussf.com
Joe, Mike, Telmo and Kory
Joe Hargrave, owner
Since 1996, Joe has headed operations for restaurants such as Restaurant Lulu, Rose Pistola, Azie and Frisson. In 2007, he happily tossed all his suits to open his first restaurant, Laïola, a casual Spanish concept, which he closed in 2009 to make way for Tacolicious. When Joe’s not overseeing pretty much everything at Tacolicious, he’s eating tacos somewhere else or obsessing over the Dodgers. Contact joe@tacolicioussf.com
Antelmo Faria, chef
The son of Portuguese immigrants, Telmo spent the early part of his childhood on the island of Faial in the Azores, Portgual, where his father operated two restaurants. He then moved to San Jose, CA, where he grew up in a Latino neighborhood eating well. Telmo has been the executive chef at La Salette in Sonoma, as well as Tropisueño in San Francisco. Contact Telmo at telmo@tacolicioussf.com
Mike Barrow, general manager
A huge fan of the Giants (much to Joe’s dismay), Mike was in Portland managing a tapas bar called Lolo before landing at Laïola, Tacolicious’s predecessor. A surfer, a runner and a vegetarian to top it all off, Mike, a Chico native, might be the healthiest restaurant industry person we know. Mike also oversees our bar program. Thankfully, his interest in keeping up our tequila list keeps him balanced. Contact Mike at mike@tacolicioussf.com.
Kory Cogdill, sales and marketing manager
Kory studied theater in Chicago and while working as an actor, supported himself by working his way up in the restaurant world, ultimately moving to LA where he produced star-studded events for Bourgeois Productions. This is the guy you call you want to party. Or throw a party, rather. He’s also the guy that you’ll see at the farmers market stand, rain or shine. Contact Kory at kory@tacolicioussf.com
Our creative team:
Sara Deseran is the writer of this blog, a food writer and the senior editor at 7×7 magazine. (And happens to be married to Joe.) Paul Madonna is the amazing artist responsible for Tacolicious’s paintings. Photographer Erin Kunkel is responsible for our food photography.
