Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace

The best tacos I’ve ever had. The best one was the brussel sprouts taco (I know, hard to believe). Will go again and highly recommend.

We had a coupon for Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace so we decided to check it out. We’d never been to the Atwater area. It was quirky with lots of unique stores, interesting architecture, and a fun young vibe. Tex Tubb’s fit in perfectly.
It was pretty crowded, but with only two of use, we are able to get right in. Our coupon got us chips and a small bowl of queso and a small bowl of guacamole. The guacamole has a lot of pico de gallo mixed in. Both were tasty. The chips however were primarily broken little pieces which were hard to dip. There is also a small salsa bar which you can help yourself to which includes four salsas: a mild red, a green, more of a ranchero, and a spicy one.
I ordered the tamale platter. One chicken and one beef tamale. They were both huge. There was a decent amount of meat in both but there was a huge amount of masa. I had a green sauce on the chicken and a red sauce on the beef. They both needed more sauce to help get down the masa. Luckily that have the salsa bar. I had the refried beans and rice for sides. The beans were pretty standard. But the rice. The rice really stood out for me. It was light and fluffy. Like a basmati rice but with intense Mexican seasonings. I really liked this rice and I wanted more of it. The portion size was huge. I had to get a box for leftovers which is very unusual.
I would not order the tamales again but I would definitely go back and try other dishes.

This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Madison. I’ve been there a couple times and enjoyed the food and atmosphere very much.
My first time there, I had the Frito Burrito. Fun to say and delicious to eat! The second time, I had smoked brisket taco platter. Both dishes were plentiful and yummy.
I also had the Frozen Flight of Margarita’s. If you can’t make a decision on which flavor to pick, this is a great way of getting mini Margarita’s to try. They come in 6oz glasses and you get three flavors.
If you love Mexican food, get out to Tex Tubb’s!

I finally had a chance to re-​visit Tex Tubb’s and I will say the service was outstanding as compared to my previous visit. And in full disclosure, I was contacted by a manager from Tex’s with an apology for the poor service, which I did appreciate.
I went with a friend who got a beef burrito; we both thought the flavor was great, with a little kick to it. I will definitely try the burrito next visit. I went with a couple of tacos, which were okay. The sweet potato fries were outstanding.
Overall, very nice visit and I will definitely be back!

Fresh, wholesome, delicious, made with loving care & friendly wait staff.

I love Tex Tubb’s and it is a good thing it is on the other side of town from me or I would eat there every day.

My experience at Tex Tubb’s left something to be desired. The visit was frustrating, and I question a key decision made by the upper management of this establishment. Tex Tubb’s has potential to be great but falls flat on its face in some areas.
A friend called ahead several days before Wednesday, December 30^th to make a group reservation for a birthday dinner with some coworkers and friends. He was told Tex Tubb’s doesn’t take reservations so we should send someone early to put our name down. Okay, fine, that’s fairly typical for many establishments in downtown Madison (but Tex Tubb’s is not located there). As a business owner you don’t want to turn away customers because a reservation isn’t showing up. I understand that.
We sent a small group of our party early to put our name in around 6pm. The hostess told the small group that a table would be ready before or at 7pm. The rest of the group showed up just after 6:30pm. The waiting space in Tex Tubb’s is minimal to non-​existent so our group was unfortunately crowding the main doorway and some of the interior tables. We felt awful about doing so, but it was quite cold outside. There’s not really any place (e.g. bars) to go wait nearby at in Atwood, especially when Tex Tubb’s doesn’t have a waitlist app.
Eventually 7pm rolled around, and we still weren’t seated. We were still crowding the door and the interior tables. I spotted several potential customers walk in and immediately turn around when they saw so many people waiting on a table.
When 7:15 rolled around the hostess told us one group was refusing to leave the restaurant, which is why our wait was extended. They sat there for 30 more minutes doing nothing. We were finally seated around 7:45. That’s a 1 hour and 45 minute wait for a table.
I understand that we had a large group BUT Tex Tubb’s made the decision to not allow reservations, even for large groups. If they took reservations for large groups the section could have been prepared ahead of time for us, and all of the random people who walked in wouldn’t have been lost customers. The staff and restaurant would be running much more smoothly! Reservations benefit both the establishment and customer in this case.
We didn’t fault our hostess, bus people, or server for this at all frustration because none of them were at fault. We smiled and tipped well after the experience, but I encourage management to reconsider this reservation policy.
I ordered the two taco platter with Chipotle braised beef and the pineapple pork tacos. Both were pretty good and well seasoned but nothing exceptional. For what I received on the plate the prices were a little high.
The tap and bottle list were quite limited, but I was able to find 1 bottle to my liking. Where is the Negra Modelo? That’s a classic taco beer!
Overall, the food was good but over priced. The food was absolutely not worth a 1.75 hour wait. I would go back, but I would only return with a group of 1 – 4. I would NEVER return with a group of 5+ after this experience.

Why doesn’t this place come up as a vegan option on Unilocal?Vegan vegan vegan vegan vegan vegan. I hope that helped! VEGANS! EAT HERE!!!
My husband and I went on a road trip to Madison this weekend. Honestly, to eat. Vegnews magazine featured Madison to be super vegan friendly, and it did NOT disappoint.
Thanks to vegnews, Tubbs was at the top of my list. SO many vegan options! I ended up with three different lovely vegan tacos for dinner, with rice and black beans as a side. SO MUCH FOOD! Especially when you have the margarita flight with it. YES my friends, you read that right. Margarita flight. They have lots of wonderful, quality margaritas on the menu. Then there’s the fruity section. They are definitely made in big batches and spun in a slushy machine. BUT you get three flavors for eight bucks.
There is also a chips and salsa bar and the salsas are wonderful!
The next morning, we were back for brunch. I had the vegan french toast with grilled peaches. Super sweet and yummy. The only disappointment was that the menu said it came with ghost pepper maple syrup, and it was definitely zero spice, no real maple, plastic bottle ‘breakfast syrup.‘
Thank you, Tubb’s, for existing! And for having gobs of vegan options for me!

Thoroughly unremarkable but serviceable. I’ve eaten here a couple times when I was in a hurry. The food is filling but completely forgettable. I usually expect a little more out of a Food Fight restaurant.
What it boils down to is that there are cheaper Mexican or Tex Mex alternatives that are at least as good and in some cases far better.
Go here if you have a hankering for some Tex-​Mex if you are nearby and can’t think of anything better.

Tubbs is a great spot for Tex-​Mex (not authentic Mexican food), and has a great salsa bar. I would recommend getting a margarita from the menu, but not their traditional one because they have so much more to offer. The Frito burrito never disappoints, and the service is always excellent. Be prepared to wait for a table on the weekends, but you can head to One Barrel for a beer while you wait!

My pal and I were looking for a nice dinner to catch up. It was Dias de Muertos so we thought… Mexican. This was a great choice. All the staff was in make up and costumes. Our server had a great face on!
As we look over the menu, our server was helpful and personable. He was quick with my margarita and chips. The salsa bar is a fun way to try new flavors a little at a time. We both picked the Two Taco Platter. I tried the Southern Comfort and Traditional Carnitas. Both were excellent. The beans and rice that came with the platter were some of the best I have ever had. My friend had the Classic Carne Asada and one of the chicken ones. She was in heaven.
We both look forward to trying this restaurant again.

Never ending chips and salsa bar: one of the many reasons Tex Tubb’s is always at the top of my list when I’m hungry or looking for a happy hour place to go. Great chips and a bar with 4 salsas that range in spiciness and flavor. As a salsa enthusiast, their spiciest option packs a respectable punch. Paired with a range of well-​made cocktails – especially the Moscow Mule – it’s a great place to come during the week for happy hours.
For more substantial fooding, it has great taco options, even for vegetarians (which is sometimes a hard find). Tons of variation ranging from squash to backyard BBQ, with all meats and lots of non-​meats represented. My favorite are the fried avocado tacos and pork and pineapple and blackened tilapia are phenomenal. Because the tacos are so good, some other options get short shrift, but the Tortas are also top-​notch.
On weekend nights the wait for tables tends to be a little long and the small bar gets packed pretty quickly, so don’t come starving. But most other nights the place is full, but not crowded. Most things can also be made gluten free and vegan.

Our group of 9 called ahead and a table in the back of the restaurant was ready for us when we arrived.
Unilocalers, be sure to use your check-​ins to redeem free baskets of bottomless chips & salsa! They had four salsas to choose from, one verde, and three red salsas. The chips arrived warm, crispy, and hearty.
Everyone ordered mostly tacos, you choose between, two or three-​platters, or a la cart tacos. You are able to mix and match. I chose the el pastor & pineapple and crispy tilapia. I’m not sure if my tilapia tacos came out incorrectly, it was not crispy as in fried but grilled. Either way it was cooked perfectly, moist lump fish with guacamole and cabbage slaw. The el pastor didn’t have a hint of pineapple or much memorable flavor, it helps to have the salsa bar to our avail.
Where they do swoon me is their side options of rice and black beans, rice and refried beans, jicama slaw, house-​pickled vegetables, or ancho-​dusted sweet potato fries. Everyone in our group got all of the variations of the sides. The clear winner were the sweet potato fries. Typical sweet potato fries have inconsistent mushy/​crispy exterior, however these were cooked to perfection and crispy throughout. The house-​pickled vegetables were interesting mix of cauliflower, jalapenos, white onions, and carrots.
Everyone seemed happy with their order, the service was friendly for a large group, until then end when we had to wait extra long for our checks. There’s definitely better tasting tacos for the price tag, but in the Atwood neighborhood, this place will do.

I’ve been passing by Tubbs for awhile and i finally bad a journey to go in. It was an amazing experience for me. From the drinks like the paradise margaritas to the endless chips and salsa. The entrée omg there so good I’ve been try a new one everytime I go.
In the theme of atmosphere it definitely feels like walking into a piece of Texas style dining. They also have the food to back it you. When you sit down your give a great greeting and a basket of chips to snack on, make sure you stop by the salsa bar. I always get one of each.
This restaurant brings Atwood street alive. It’s a must stop spot on the eastside of madison.

We’ve been here a few times and it’s consistently enjoyable! Nice salsa bar, but it’s not terribly surprising that none of the offerings are particularly spicy. They make a nice guacamole to go with the chips and salsa, so I’d recommend that as an appetizer.
I like the tacos quite a bit, and the variety on offer means pretty much anyone will be able to find something they’ll like. The taco salads are also really good if you’re looking for a marginally healthier option. I have not tried the burritos or rellanos, but the tamales are quite nice! I like the black beans more so than the refried, but the rice is probably the most disappointing item served.
I don’t think the iced tea is fresh brewed, so I’d avoid that option. The beer selection is usually quite good, both in bottles and on draft. Tonight they had MobCraft Batshit Crazy on draft, and that’s a HUGE win!
I’d certainly put this more in the Tex-​Mex camp thank authentic. traditional Mexican, but it’s solid for what it is. Worth a look, especially if you’re already over on the East side.

I deviated from my usual choices at my most recent visit around noon on a Saturday, since I was wowed by the breakfast offerings on the menu, all of which sound freaking amazing. I’ve never stopped in so early before, so I was unaware. I recommend checking them out asap!
I had the blue corn pancakes served with chipotle butter and ghost pepper maple syrup, and I can’t even tell you how g– d– great it was. I think I was levitating off my chair for time, it was so good. I don’t even know how to describe the magical way those ingredients interacted.
For a side, I had the $ 2.99 slab of ham, and I do mean a slab. It’s as big and thick as a steak, and super flavorful and tender. My g-​d. What a deal, what a breakfast, and to even have a great margarita with it just seems like a crazy amount of happy for a gray Saturday.
I was bummed by the rude hostess when we arrived, and I did let the staff know, and they more than made up for it with the rest of the service during our visit, not to (again) mention off-​the-​charts-​good food. So, yeah. Go visit Mr. Tubbs at your earliest convenience.

I’ve never met a taco I didn’t like, especially a fish taco, so this has been a staple place for us since they opened.
I’m watching my waistline right now, so after devouring a basket of chips I decided to order a salad. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the honey chicken spinach salad was. A bed of spinach, topped with strips of real chicken with a thick honey glaze sauce, about ¼ cup of black beans, ¼ cup of corn, 3 slices of avocado and a sprinkling of queso fresco. There were also a few tortilla strips included. I had the ranch dressing on the side and didn’t need to use much. The salad was very fresh and the perfect size to complement my palace margarita and my chip indulgence. For someone truly trying to eat healthy, this salad is an excellent choice.
The one thing that keeps this from being a 5 star review is the salsas are all pretty much the same. I’d love for them to make a salsa that is truly hot. The «hot» salsa here has no kick to it at all. The salsa bar would be so much better if there were more distinction between them.
I’ve had some hits and misses with service over the years, but overall good. One recent waitress was way off her game, but we all have bad days, right? And, clearly, she had something outside work distracting her. I hope she’s better now. Tonight’s guy accidentally rang up my husband’s meal twice, but was very apologetic and quickly corrected it when we told him.
Overall, a fun place for a quick bite or an affordable date night.

This place is good for dining at if you’re with a group, but it sucks to wait for a table if you’re with a group. There is no good waiting area, so I always feel like I’m in the way (because I am) if I don’t get seated immediately. I stood directly outside the door once while waiting for a table. I was told it would be 15 – 20 minutes, so at the 15 minute mark, I went back inside to find that the waitress had JUST given away my table away to a couple who JUST walked in. She said she called my name :-t Many places will call your name outside, especially if their waiting area is small or nonexistent, and I was standing within view of the hostess stand.
Regardless, Taco Tub holds a special place in my heart. I lovingly call this place Taco Tub because when I first moved here, I couldn’t remember the full name of this restaurant. My friends and I come here for dinner regularly, and we ALWAYS get queso and Palace Margaritas (happy hour specials all day on T/​Th! $ 5 for the Palace Margarita and $ 20 for a pitcher, among other things).
I’m not done talking about the queso. It’s the first thing you should order when you get here. It might make it harder (or impossible) for you to finish your dinner, but that’s okay because THEY HAVE THE BEST QUESO. They have a salsa bar, too, but the queso is where it’s at.
I urge you to try their black bean and corn flautas and their chile rellenos. These are my two favorite dishes. Their refried beans are excellent. I do not recommend the Frito burrito, and I can’t say I loved their enchiladas. However, they have a wide variety of tacos! Favorites include blackened tilapia and backyard BBQ. I’ve been eyeing their nachos for a while, too, so I think I need to try these soon.
PLEASE GET QUESO AND MARGARITAS AT TACO TUB. You won’t regret it :)

Considering this would have to be one of if not the busiest nights of the year with the street festival happening literally right in front of the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to get a table right away this Saturday night.
Surprise #2! After several attempts at checking in on the Unilocal app, I made it in! Not sure if this joint has wifi but honestly, it’s not that kind of joint. So stay off your phone after redeeming the Unilocal free food offer! (And thanks Tex Tubbs for the grub!)
Our server took the chips and drink order about 5 minutes after we sat. And the taco platters (with tasty black beans and rice sides) arrived 5 minutes later! I appreciate the kitchen was working fast because I can only imagine they were slammed all weekend.
While the basic chicken taco could have used more flavor, and the pineapple and chicken with coconut was seriously devoid of pineapple, these are correctable issues by diner or kitchen. One comes to Tex Tubbs to make choices from an entire page of meat, seafood, and vegetarian tacos, fully customizable platters. Add plenty of gluten sensitive options, salads, and other entrées and it’s just a place you need to try!
We were thanked for our business by our server and the hostess so keep that up TT!
–Shouting to be heard by my table mate.
Weird restroom placement.
Not really any privacy.
Tables right on top of each other.
If those don’t bug you then this might be your 5 star next stop!
P. S. Tex Tubbs, please bring back a west side location! Including breakfast!

The neon sign at this place lured me in and the good food and atmosphere kept me there! I recommend the «El Pastor and Pineapple» taco on the taco platter– great flavor, especially for people who like things like Hawaiian pizza. Chips were good and you get to choose your own salsa at the salsa bar! Beans and rice seemed better than most places to me. I’m impressed! The place is fun; go with a date or a big group! Tacos for all!!!