Editor’s Note: Fork & Dagger is 828newsNOW’s anonymous restaurant review series, written by our independent Grub Scout—no freebies, no press perks, no agenda. Grub Scout pays full price, visits unannounced, and takes notes on food, service, atmosphere, and value. Each review reflects a recent, honest experience rated on our 1‑to‑5 fork scale. We aim to help you discover standout dining spots—from casual diners to white‑tablecloth affairs—one bite at a time.
Since 2016, Taco Temple has been a neighborhood gem on Charlotte Street, in North Asheville, born when the owner of Mamacita’s snagged the beautiful brick building that housed a former local favorite — Two Guys Hoagies. Branching out was a great idea for them, especially since they got a little more creative.
Just as the crust for pizza, quality tortillas matter for tacos. So, they began grinding their own Oaxacan-sourced family-farmed corn. To this day, I have no doubt you can tell the difference in the taste. Some other spins are rotisserie chicken, spit-roasted pork, and tortas, all of which I’ve enjoyed.
This evening, we chose several different tacos. My first order of business is always to try the Baja fish taco, and this was a perfect one. The sauce was spectacular, and the cod was fried just crispy enough. Next, the fish of the day was flounder, so I couldn’t say no to that, and it worked well with the green chile lime sauce.
Another true test for me is the chorizo, which was on the menu as the Toluca, a chorizo verde served with fresh herbs and spices. This was a powerful combo of flavors that I really enjoyed.
Al Pastor, the vertical spit-roasted pork, was nice, but the Loreto, a tangerine-pasilla chile shrimp, was exceptional, as the shrimp was not overcooked and rubbery, which is often an unfortunate taco experience. I should note that all of these are served with cheese, salsa, and greens.
The order of tortilla chips was warm and quite salty, which I prefer, and we ordered sides of chipotle and green salsas, as well as queso, which really stood out.
Another element to this place that makes it a neighborhood staple is delicious margaritas on the patio. The classic was solid, and the Paloma was delicious, and on Monday Margarita Night, they’re only $5!
The vibe is so nice here, with a warm and friendly staff, and a minimal wait. If you’re looking for a mostly locals hangout, a casual dinner, a place to meet a friend for drinks, somewhere to bring the kids, or even a breakfast taco on your way to work, Taco Temple is for you.
