Reyna’s Taqueria - Sarasota, FL
When looking for another spot in Sarasota to add to our recent Tampa focus, we came upon our next stop, located in a center called Sarasota Commons.
Hidden in the back of the shopping center lies Reyna’s Taqueria. I have to note, the shopping center this spot is in was quite intriguing. Rather than prominently displaying the business names on the building, most places were generically described on the building, with door signage really providing the real description of what lies within. Signs like DENTIST, EYEBROWS, LAW OFFICE, and PACK & SHIP were an odd sight.
Our favorite of the bunch was the prominent TAQUERIA at the back, and that’s how we found Reyna’s.
Somehow both bigger and smaller than we expected, Reyna’s is a cozy quick-service restaurant with a cool atmosphere and the vibe you usually hope to find. The Corona papel picado and taco piñatas gave us a hint that we were in for a treat. A colorful menu board shares the options, ranging from tacos to full entrees, and smaller signage displays the specials. One of my favorite dishes, cochinita pibil was a special while we visited, but unfortunately it was unavailable in a taco, only the entree. It did look spot on though!
Crunching the Numbers:
The Tacothority Scorecard
Our taco rating system runs from 0 to 10, where 5 is perfectly average, and 10 is pure taco nirvana. A 0 is the dreaded "Sad Taco"—so bad you’d prefer last week's leftovers. A 5 is a neutral, forgettable taco, while anything above that ranges from decent (6-7) to almost perfect (8-9). A 10 is the ultimate taco experience—flawless in every way.
Reyna's Taqueria Three Amigos - Steak, Pastor, Chicken Tinga
The Three Amigos
Steak - 7.6
Just what you look for in a traditional steak taco, Reyna’s was filled with only the basics - steak, diced onion, and cilantro ( I could’ve enjoyed a bit more cilantro personally). The chunks of steak were large and had great texture overall with a nice char and great flavor. Adding their fresh tomatillo salsa really helped set it off in my opinion. If we’re being nitpicky, the tortillas were good, but a little on the gritty side, but still better than many I’ve had before.
Chicken - 8.0
Reyna’s chicken was a tinga, filled with flavorful pieces of chicken, somewhere between shredded and chunked. Sweeter than some tingas we’ve had, this one was a bit strong in the tomato flavor (which we actually enjoyed), but it added a nice element. We really enjoyed the balance of charred and creamy textures. A mixture of sweet and smoky, like the others it was simple. A little diced onion and even less cilantro, the protein was the star, as it should be.
Pastor 8.2
The Pastor also had large chunks of pork that had a nice char on some of the pieces. There was a strong flavor from their marinade, and the pork was nice and juicy. Rather than smaller chunks of pineapple, this was a large singular chunk. The sweetness of the pineapple helped balance the savory, smoky flavor of the pastor without overwhelming it, allowing the meat to shine. This was a solid taco and it didn’t need anything the tomatillo salsa could add, so we enjoyed it as served.
Reyna's Taqueria - Baja Fish
The Wildcard
Going beyond the usual lineup, The Wildcard is the taco that stands out—whether it’s the restaurant’s go-to recommendation or just one that caught my eye. It’s the bonus option that brings something different to the plate.
Baja Fish - 8.6
The first fish taco to be reviewed since our (re)launch, this taco was visually striking, and we were excited to try it. We were happy to see that it featured a large chunk of golden fried cod covered with a mix of fresh and pickled vegetables.. Fish tacos can be done wrong in so many ways but this one looked promising. Bit of pico, pickled vegetables, avocado, and even some jalapenos, this one had a blitz of flavors. The fish was crisp and crunchy, but tender and juicy all the same. Balance that with the refreshing citrus flavor of the vegetables, and we had a winner. We wanted to order another just to enjoy it again.
Reyna's Taqueria - Chips & Queso
Notable Mention
The Chips & Queso
Thick, crispy, crunchy chips, served with a white queso, we enjoyed this appetizer at Reyna’s. We were intrigued by a singular blue corn chip amongst the others, but they were all delicious. Just the right amount of salt, we enjoyed the chips even on their own.
The queso at Reyna’s surprised us, with a sweeter flavor we couldn’t place initially, which later turned out to be yellow corn which was an interesting, but welcome addition (we later found out you can order with/without corn). The queso itself was a mix of queso fresco and oaxaca cheese and it had an insane cheese pull it was so thick.
We enjoyed the queso overall, and if we were to suggest any changes, we’d add a little spice and top it with pickled onions to add a little complexity and balance.
