Jmoney Rambles

It’s not easy finding Mexican food in Hamilton. I used to frequent Mex-I-Can (sorry no web site) until an unfortunate incident with a hair (PEACE OUT!). When inquiring about other spots, Poco Loco inevitably comes up. Some folks love it, others said it’s low tier stuff. It’s a bit out of my way (OK it’s a 10 minute walk + 10 minute bus ride. DON’T JUDGE ME!) but as luck would have it I was in the neighborhood with Vince before burning an afternoon playing video games. We needed something to get the day started so I figured why the hell not.

Photo courtesy of Miss Adventure.

There are two floors. The lower level is essentially just an overflow for upstairs. Poco Loco is definitely not meant to hold a lot of people. I’d say capacity is 15 at best. It struck me as a pick up and go kind of restaurant. We walked upstairs and were greeted by the owner Doug. He came off exceedingly friendly and on the ball. You can tell this is a man who loves his food and wants you to enjoy it to.

Photo courtesy of Poco Loco Facebook Page.

Taco Special – $6.95

There were 3 fully loaded Tacos in the special (it’s essentially just a combo with drink). The ground beef was seasoned well. All the toppings were fresh and crisp. Typically I’m not one for tomatoes but figured why the hell not. Poco Loco does an in house Sauce/Dressing. I asked for hot but I’ll be honest in saying there wasn’t any bite to it. I don’t know if it’s just my palette that’s taken a spice beating over the years but I didn’t get any heat. Lucky for me they offered a very wide assortment of Hot Sauces to choose from. Oh we got Habernero up in here? LET’S GO! I dumped a ton of Habernero Sauce on my latter 2 Tacos and it was AWESOME! They tasted good but the shells themselves needed a bit of heating. They were crisp, just not what you’d expect. It’s a minor gripe but worth noting.

Chicken Quesadilla – $7.99

Vince went this route and I’ll admit I was jealous. That Quesadilla was a TANK! I was watching the stff prep it and was initially in awe at the sheer size. It made a lot more sense when I saw it was served stacked up. I didn’t catch what Vince got in it aside from the usual toppings. He said it was great though.

Burrito – $6.95

First off let me apologize for taking a shot after my initial bite. I went after this first and my hunger beat out thinking to take a photo. I went with chicken (what a shock) and was given the option of 12 additional toppings. I got everything except Rice (BLAH!). This was pretty good. If I had to make a comparison, I’d put it slightly below what you’d expect from Burrito Boyz. That’s not a knock in the least, it’s just what my initial thought was. As with the other items, everything tasted good and all toppings were  fresh. I’m not sure if the Chicken was processed though. In any case, I put a layer of Habernero on at each bite for extra kick. Pretty sure I owe Poco Loco a new bottle of Hot Sauce. If I was in the neighborhood more often, I’d likely eat this a few times per week. It was a perfect pick up and go meal.

Poco Loco made for a quick and enjoyable lunch. I wouldn’t say anything blew my mind but everything was made well and tasted good. Vince and I hit up the generic “Big 3″ but I’d go back to try their Tostadas (God I want them right now) and Fajita Wraps. If you’re along Ottawa Street then pop in and give Poco Loco a try.

Unless noted; all photos were taken with an iPhone4S