babalu tapas & tacos

good latin, but don’t come hungry without your wallet. went for the first time for lunch on cinco de mayo. theplacewas 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.

if you’re looking for a greatplaceto 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.

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 goodplacefor 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.

date at babalu!

being vegetarians (periodic pescatarians) it’s kind of tough to find out an eatingplacethat 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 perfectplaceto 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!

food was wonderful but commitment to covid-19 prevention was awful. we are a family of 5 that chose thisplacebecause they offer outdoor dining. they neglected to say “forget it if you are a party larger than 4”. i even heard them refuse a small group that wanted to sit out front at the tables by the street.
as we were traveling & meeting a family member we were left with no other option but join the sardines packed inside. if you care about your health i’d suggest eating elsewhere as long as we have a pandemic.

babalu is a greatplacefor a large group of people. the drinks are delicious and the atmosphere is very enjoyable. the only reason i gave it four stars is because i wish there was a tad more variety on the bigger plates. overall, super fun and tasty restaurant!

ok listen, we go enough to understand that bad nights do happen. what i love about thisplaceis the food and drinks. always on point. service is typically a+ as well. 

what i have not figured out is the absolute lack of a better flow for diners and waiting patrons. to bump that up just a notch, i always get a speech about how the kitchen is backed up but the bar is flowing. like, every time. in a world of technology and process efficiencies, why not figure something out to help this? or, maybe comp an app or something. 

overall, its a greatplaceto eat... and drink. we like it... a lot. just wish the would figure out the kitchen and flow a little better. -.5 for backed kitchen on the regular. otherwise, 5 all day.

thisplaceis really really good. very interesting menu of "small shareable dishes" and unique taco plates. the guac is killer and the mexican street corn is probably the hidden item on the menu that is simply mouth watering. my personal favorite dish however is the baba burger; it's hard to explain due to its many melded flavors. this eatery is one of our all-time favorite places for sure.

was only in town briefly but i had to go to babalu's. and just like the location at home in jackson, ms, the cocktails/food here are great and the atmosphere is fun. wonderfulplaceto enjoy a few libations and a 'baba burger' while catching a snippet of "i love lucy." always fabulous.

i met several former coworkers for dinner, and babulu was the chosenplaceto meet and dine. this was my first time to eat at babalu, and i had been wanting to try it out, because i had heard so many good things about it. i ordered the shrimp and grits, and it was delicious. i told hubby when i got home that i really liked it and wanted to go back. i definitely recommend babalu for tourists and locals, you will not be disappointed.

i went here and got take out but it seems like a very trendy, coolplaceon the inside.  it's in one of the upscale dining areas of jackson.  there is plenty of parking and plenty of seating both inside and outside.  i got 3 tacos (redfish, shrimp, and carnitas) and the blackened fish was by far the best.  the shrimp were good too.  they give you chips with the tacos (but no salsa).  you might need more than three tacos to fill up though as i was a little hungry afterwards.  i would go here again.

great overall experience! like other reviewers mentioned, it is a bit more expensive than the likes of this restaurant. i have had the best tex-mex in austin, tx at trudy's and even their guacamole wasn't $10, however babalu has added their own touch to the guac by replacing regular tomatoes with the sun dried tomatoes which add a world of a difference. happy hour drinks were good but nothing worth boasting about. what i really like about theplaceis the experience, it's lively, crowded, located at the famous overton square and the staff is excellent. if you don't care about spending money, i would definitely recommend thisplacefor the great experience it offers.

theplaceis adorable and the food is amazing! such a niceplaceto to hang out and the tapas are huge. i will be returning every time i'm in jackson. can't get enough of the black bean burger 😝

delicious guacamole! first guacamole i ever ate that i enjoyed! they make it fresh there at the table for you, which makes it more fun. also awesome margaritas and good drink specials through the week. got the assorted tacos on the taco special, and it's fun to pick the different varieties! greatplacefor a big group of people, can't wait to go back

if i could put zero, i would do it. theplaceclaims to be fresh and natural, yet their tapas (main item on the menu) taste soggy as if they were sitting out. everything tastes rather sugary as if they were adding high-fructose corn syrup to every dish. the only decent thing is freshly-made in front of you guacamole, but you can mesh some avocados at home for less money. theplaceis rather contradictory in its nature, black-and-white retro movies projected on the wall and loud pop music just don't go well together. overall babalu is questionable place. it ends up to be some cheap american version of mexican cuisine with the natural label on it, whatever natural means these days. if you looking for good food that will make you feel good after eating it, i wouldn't go to babalu. their food is only good if you top it with few shots of strong alcohol.