Zapata Mexican Taco Shop ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025 (Voyager)

First visit: Dec 2019 (Rockrimmon)

---4/15/25

A little bit later than usual for a our first visit of the year but all went well. We had the same order as last year and it was delicious. Didn't see the spicy green this time and I think they did raise the prices some. Not sure they had a choice. Can't be cheap renting in this shopping center.

---2/15/24

Out first visit to Zapata for the year was nothing but a success. We ordered to-go seven tacos, a mix of pollo asado and carne asada. Everything was perfect. They've also added a super spicy green sauce to their repertoire. Absolutely delicious, maybe the best one yet! Zapata has even kept their prices in check. They remain the best taco shop in Colorado Springs, at least of the ones the RJG has been to.

---3/5/23

After the mediocre visit to Brakeman's, Mrs. RJG and I decided on a tried and true classic: Zapata. We ordered exactly what we always do when together (three pollo asado tacos and three carne asada tacos), and everything is as excellent as it always is. The medium red, green, and super spicy chile de arbol sauces are still on offer and are delicious. We probably go here about six times a year, though it's been less in recent times. Mostly that just has to do with my work and personal schedule. Zapata maintains its excellent status, and we're super glad it's right across the street!

---1/13/22

Back for the annual review, and happy to say that Zapata passes with flying colors, and it earned itself a badge in the process. Had four tacos, a pair of pollo asado and carne asada. Each loaded to the top with meats, and the carne asada includes the beans as noted below. The salsa bar is up and running after the pandemic eased, and they feature five salsas. A medium green, a medium red, and a super spicy red (these three are what we usually get). There's also a mild avocado and a medium roasted chile, the latter I passed on this time. Our local location has a nice spacious feel, and is comfortable to dine in. However, since we only live about three minutes away, it makes for a perfect to-go meal, especially since they open early at 8:00 am. Zapata remains our favorite taco shop in the Springs. We're going to look for others to challenge it.

---1/30/21 (Voyager)

Some of you might remember the RJG waxing on about how great Taco Fiesta is in Baltimore. Yea, Baltimore. We could never find a place in DFW that matched its greatness, which is insane. I'm sure there were some, we just didn't find it. And please don't throw out hipster joints like R Taco and Torchy's. Yea those places are cool and we dig them yadda yadda, but we're talking something different here. After trying a few places here in the Springs, we came across Zapata. YES! This is what we were looking for. Loaded double soft corn tacos with great flavor and excellent salsas. After trying their Pastor (heavily seasoned, but needs the spit - no, not that kind of spit) and Carnitas, we have settled on a regular diet of Carne Asada and Pollo Asado. The steak tacos come with whole pinto beans and is a very welcome addition. Their charbroiled chicken is also fantastic. Of course they come street taco style with chopped onions and cilantro. They have three salsas, a mild red, a medium tomatillo, and a hot red. The latter can often times be nuclear, but not always. The green and hot red is what we always get. On this front, they do lose the battle with Taco Fiesta, who offered five to seven salsas, and very unique at that. A small gripe.

Zapata was one of the very few places we'd eat at during the pandemic, as most folks took their food to go, but it was too far for us to do that - and eating in the car didn't seem like such a good idea given the powerful smells. However, in what has to be considered the best news all year for the RJG, Zapata moved practically across the street! Well now, there's a game changer. Zapata Taco Shop is now a regular occurrence, and it takes all of three minutes to bring it back home - still sizzling hot. Not much to celebrate these days, but this made us very happy!

Locations: 3, all in the northern part of Colorado Springs.

---

Voyager: 1/30/21; 1/13/22; 3/5/23; 2/15/24; 4/15/25
Rockrimmon: 12/1/19; 2/2/20; 7/25/20;

1/3/21 (new entry)

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