Out to Eat in Sioux Falls: Vinyl Taco

My friend and I were craving some delicious Mexican food after a long day of class and work, and Vinyl Taco was just a few short minutes away from campus. The retro environment mixed with steaming hot, mouth-watering tacos immediately made me want to come back for more.

Upon walking into the restaurant, we were met with bright, punk paintings hanging all over the walls and a sitting area with pillows decorated with Día de los Muertos sugar skulls and skeletons surrounded by flowers. With nobody else waiting, we were greeted and seated right away.

We both admired the funky abstract and vibrantly colored sculptures of animals around us that were created by Mexican craftsmen. We were immediately drawn to the fact that the tables were made of the spines of vinyl record covers, and we also loved that the menus were in the shape and style of an actual, circular vinyl record.

The menu had a fair selection of appetizers and entrees, which all piqued my interest. The pricing of each item was inexpensive, as an appetizer of chips and salsa was $4.99 and any type of taco was $5.29.

After only a few minutes of surveying the menu, our waiter brought out glasses of water and gave us a few more moments to figure out what we wanted.

For an appetizer, we ordered the traditional queso and homemade chips. For my entrees, I ordered one chicken fajita taco and one carne asada taco. My friend decided on two cilantro lime chicken tacos.

Right after taking our orders, the server returned with our chips and queso. The chips were crispy and warm with the perfect crunch, and — I must add — unlimited. The traditional queso was made with white cheddar, green chilis and fire-roasted poblano. I thought the chips paired with the queso were heavenly, but my friend would have liked the queso to be a bit spicier.

While we ate our appetizer, our waiter brought our tacos to the table. Their presentation was beautiful, with an artsy drizzle of sauce over the shredded cheese and vegetables. I couldn’t wait for my first bite.

I tried the chicken fajita taco first, which hit me with a punch of flavor. The seasoned chicken was savory and juicy, while the onions and red and yellow peppers added a nice crunch to each bite. The soft and pillowy tortilla brought the whole taco together. I couldn’t help but finish the first taco before I moved on to the next.

The carne asada taco’s marinated steak was cooked to perfection and just as flavorful as the chicken. There were a few too many radishes and onions for my taste, and I thought they overwhelmed the taco. I still strongly enjoyed the flavor profile but would lower the number of vegetables.

I also took a few bites of my friend’s cilantro lime chicken tacos and was immediately filled with jealousy. The lime-marinated chicken mixed with pico de gallo, creamy queso fresco and jalapeño ranch was immaculate. 

At the end of our entrees, we decided to treat ourselves to some funnel fries, and they did not disappoint. Crisp, hot, sugary fries sprinkled with sweet powdered sugar were a delectable way to end the meal. The vanilla icing paired with the fries was not our favorite, as we agreed it had a strange tang. Nonetheless, we enjoyed them without the icing.

Full and satisfied with the food and the service, we bid farewell to our waiter and continued to appreciate the atmosphere on the way out.

Vinyl Taco should become a staple Mexican food restaurant for anyone living in or visiting Sioux Falls. The exquisite food and the cool, funky vibe create a perfect place for all to enjoy.