babalu tapas & tacos

atjoyedmymeal, very busy at tunch.

banality was awesome. the tacos and quest dip are absolutely delicious, and the drinks are great. the wait staff, especially joseph, was very friendly and informative. i would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for tasty bites and great drinks.

ok, i'll admit i'm a picky eater, but babalu's food isn't the issue here. drinks, apps, and food are all over priced. service was horrid. just an over all bad experience.

good latin, but don’t come hungry without your wallet. went for the first time for lunch on cinco de mayo. the place was packed. appearance is far classier outside than inside, which looks like renovation stopped when half complete. tables and chairs were adequate, nothing fancy. plus there is a couple of bar areas for seating. the wait staff was busy but attentive, knowledgeable and friendly.

i suspected the portions were small, and i was right. we ordered 3 lamb tacos and 3 chicken tacos, plus an order of empanadas to share. the tacos are on 4 inch soft tortillas which are easy to eat with one hand. it was enough food for lunch, and maybe dinner for a women. the chicken tacos were tasty, much better than the lamb. the empanadas were outstanding; i just wish there were more than 2 per order.

the food is pricy, with what i’ll call the fondrin tax. it’s a tax on items where pretty people hang out. babalu is a hip place, worth going to once.

one of the best restaurants in town!. okay, i just wanted to inform other reviewer that babalu's isn't mexican!!!!! it is cuban food. everyone is so accustomed to the typical american mexican food: greasy, a type of meat in a soft or fried shell, tomato sauce, and cheese in huge portions. if you are looking for that, don't go to babalu's. but, if you are looking for different, non- greasy, latin- style food go and try it out. when i went, it was quite loud inside, but it was also a saturday. fortunately,we were able to get a table outside.i am a huge i love lucy fan and loved the show being projected on the wall.first, we ordered the queso blanco and it was amazing! i would definitely add the tomatoes though. it wasn't your typical white cheese dip. then, we got the table side guacamole. it was the best guac i have ever had! for my main meal, i ordered the hongas taco. it's the mushroom one. it was very good and much better than the typical taco! the service was nice and i would go back again in a heartbeat.

if you’re looking for a great place to celebrate cinco de mayo in jackson, ms, head over to babalu tapas & tacos!  brunch, lunch or dinner, babalu’s is a fun atmosphere.  bottomless mimosas, made at the table guacamole,  and nostalgic movies playing on the wall are sure to get your celebration started.

by far the greatest burger you will ever eat! everything i've ever gotten here is perfect. if i could eat here everyday i would.

perfect evening. i've reviewed babalu's food in the past and tonight ,as in the past, the food was wonderful. local ingredients, innovative preparation and some of the best drinks in the area. i wanted to comment tonight on our exceptional server. servers can often make or break the experience of your meal no matter how great the food. chelsea was our server tonight and her excitement and respect for her restaurant was infectious. she wanted to be there and wanted to make our experience joyful and thats exactly what she did. this is my first review on a server but she was that good.


-----04 feb, 2011-----

went here for lunch with a girlfriend and we were immediately impressed with the atmosphere but that was just the beginning. between us we ordered the pork-belly tacos, empanadas, queso blanco and chips, and a side of the roasted peanut slaw. all excellent, fresh, interesting. we each had a cocktail as well and spent $20 each and were stuffed to the gills. so unless your used to eating fast-food i can't imagine how some posters could think this is overpriced. and as for small portions - what??? the idea is to order two , three or four small plates and share. of course the servings are small their tapas! and the price of each plate is small as well. i agree the menu could be expanded but they've only been open for a couple of months, what they do they do well.

i like the food at babalu but i don't like the price for the small portions they give. if you are going to charge $15 for something, you really need to give a good portion of food for what you pay. why pay so much for a small portion? this is such a shame because i thought the food was good but it just wasn't enough for what they charge.

went with one pollo taco, which is an herb roasted chicken taco with bell pepper salsa, roasted poblano vinaigrette and an avocado slice, and two carnitas tacos. the carnitas tacos have braised pulled pork, roasted peanut slaw, salsa roja, and pickled red onions. the corn tortillas these tacos are served upon are some of the best around—much better than any flour tortilla!

not very business saavy. they have a group with 32 (big fans of the babarita) that want to return to their favorite restaurant for their 'once a year' jackson trip and they no longer take reservations. why would you turn down 32 people? last year we pre-ordered, so the kitchen and staff had no delays - and would know exactly what we wanted and when - all broken down by family. we were in and out. guaranteed big money. willing to do all the work and come early, but that's not valuable. very poor thinking. we'll find a new favorite place.

ps - my bill for 3 in my family was $144 last year. could they really turn out 11 'parties' of +-$144 in under and hour for more money?


-----14 may, 2013-----

very welcoming!. made a reservation for 40. they were ready and so happy to have us. the baba-rita is a great drink. all food, by all 40 of us, was liked very much! they had a potato dish that was to die for. the waitress said they might franchise, so i'm going to push for one in my town!

it's about being more social with your food. something you need to realize - babalu's is more for social calls than dining. this doesn't mean the food is good, but it does mean that if you want to go to sit at a nice, filling meal and head home, you're in the wrong place. babalu is about sitting outside, with a cocktail, and a variety of appetizers/tapas to share with the people you're spending time with. the food is pretty good and definitely fresh. there are several specials throughout the day. cocktails are also on point and the atmosphere is top notch. it's a fun and very social restaurant, a good place for taking a date!

recently ordered the pico, guacamole, short rib, enchilada of the day, and crab cakes. there's practically no cake in that crab cake. i also ordered a few of their pepe' cocktails. great presentation, great taste.

excellent concept, great service. big, bold, clean flavors.

date at babalu!

being vegetarians (periodic pescatarians) it’s kind of tough to find out an eating place that caters to our ways in memphis specially since it is known as “the barbecued pork capital of the world!” and hence, we are always coursing around, looking for a joint that suits our taste.

overall, it was an amazing experience with everything from the “made at table side” guacamole to tacos and tapas – tasting awesome! appetizing, delightful and delish – the food undeniably was scrumptious! located on madison avenue in the very scenic overton square – it is a perfect place to relish good food and have a great time. our server, devin was courteous and pretty knowledgeable about the menu options and attended us adequately. also, we were lucky enough to be seated within 5 minutes of our arrival time! (imagine, on mother’s day!) the music too was upbeat and the ambiance was appealingly amiable and lively!

at a price of $100 (including tip), we were a well-fed couple, appeased with the service, the quality of food and of course the environs! only wish – if the mojitos could be a little more potent!

awesome service! adam!! had a great meal!