$1 tacos are back at Loco & Taco

Loco & Taco has been in business since 2002 and located along Beach Road and Garapan. (Bea Cabrera)

Scrumptious, colorful, and always inviting dollar tacos are back at Loco & Taco located across Paseo De Marianas in Garapan. Since they reopened last week, different fillings for different days awaits you—carnitas, chicken, fish, and, for vegetarians, soy chorizo that goes with sour cream, fresh guacamole, spices, lemon, and cilantro.

Owner Sungnam Lee trained and studied how to prepare and cook authentic Mexican food in Mexico and brought it to Saipan. “Aside from the tacos, we also serve our regular menu that includes beef and chicken quesadilla, taco salad, nachos, mochiko chicken, garlic steak and shrimp, ahi tuna steak, oxtail soup, guacamole burger, and many more,” he said.

Lee continued that his experience in Mexico allowed him to bring the authentic taste of the country back to Saipan.

Carnitas tacos is one of Loco & Tacos’ bestselling $1 tacos. (Bea Cabrera)

“The flavor in Mexican dishes is just a product of a long and careful process. The process includes ‘love’ and this produces patience because Mexican food takes time. This is the same process we have here at Loco & Taco.”

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Loco & Taco was one of the many restaurants that ceased operations. “We closed last March 18 and re-opened last May 9 and the reason for closing was that we did not know how to manage operating a business in this pandemic. It was all new and everyone was trying to be careful for everyone’s safety,” Lee said.

“After two months, I noticed that supermarkets, groceries, and restaurants have managed to put up their own safety procedures and modifications and we learned so many things. Now that we reopened, we put up our own safety and health procedures for employees and customers… we also got inspiration that on the first week of May, we did not have new COVID-19 cases and thought the government had everything under control,” Lee added.

Loco & Taco owner Sungnam Lee said that their restaurant is practicing health and safety standards and enforces social distancing when customers pick-up orders. (Bea Cabrera)

Lee said that when the reopened, the response from his customers were encouraging “Some said ‘amen!’ and others said ‘congratulations.’ These are truly great because my employees and I believe we have to move toward a positive direction during this pandemic.”

Loco & Taco is open for take-out only everyday, 11am-6pm. For more information, call (670) 233-5233 or go to their Facebook page: Loco & Taco or website: http://locoandtaco.favy.jp.