“Everything is made fresh. Everything. I mean the chips are made fresh, our guacamole, our salsa, everything. We brine the meat and burn it. A lot of love is put into this food. In order to get the flavor that we get out of our food you have to prep,” the owner of Kito’s Taco Shop, Tommy Guerrero, said.
Kito’s Taco Shop was recently brought to Corte Madera by an experienced owner, Tommy Guerrero, with a mission to bring an authentic taco restaurant to the town by connecting to his Mexican-American heritage. “Gramma Kito,” Guerrero’s grandmother, is where the restaurant got its name. Kito’s Taco Shop drew from cherished sentimental memories of Gramma’s authentic Mexican cooking. Gramma had a kitchen like no one else, with recipes that could put a smile on the saddest face. Located in the Old Corte Madera Town Square, this authentic taco shop puts a traditional spin on high-quality dining.
*Available as vegan
What is a better place to start than a classic grilled chicken burrito? This burrito is delicious, juicy, tender meat paired with cheesy rice, comforting chilled sour cream, refreshing,house-made guacamole and pico de gallo. The X-factor in this particular burrito is the well-balanced bean-to-meat ratio. The best part about this burrito is how filling it was, as one may hope for its price. It came with additional red and green dipping salsas which added a great flavor boost.
AGUA FRESCA/ 8OZ $6.95/ Hibiscus, Horchata, Watermelon
Agua Fresca, or “fresh water” in English, is a fitting name for this refreshing type of beverage. Specifically, horchata is a soaked, ground and blended rice milk drink which gives it a smooth but at times grainy texture. What made this particular one extra refreshing was the appropriate amount of ice, which was satisfying paired with the hot-fresh food items. It had a pleasant mildly sweet taste that was matched in intensity with the fragrant cinnamon and other spices, giving it a warm complex flavor that juxtaposed its icy temperature.
These chips are home-fried fresh, with a hearty and thick texture. The warm platter comes with chips coated in a special seasoning. It was well paired with freshly made guacamole and pico de gallo, which made this an enjoyable appetizer.
*Available vegan
Taco Tuesday is essential to any taco shop, and Kito’s did not disappoint. Out of the many meat and vegetarian options, I chose carne asada, chicken and al pastor. The carne asada taco was tangy due to the splash of lime that I added but it worked well with the grilled smokey flavor of the tender carne. Despite portion levels being on the smaller side, it was still filling due to the high density of meat topped with fresh onion and cilantro. Dryness was not a problem because the tacos were served with red and green salsa that gave it extra relish. Similar to carne, the chicken taco came with the same sides and topping and stole the show with the meat quality. I thought the meat in this one was more tender and didn't need the salsa, although it gave it even more flavor when added. Lastly, and probably my favorite, the al pastor was succulent. With juicy pineapple and deliciously seasoned pork which had a unique taste compared to the others, it felt like summer in my mouth.
*Available vegan
Due to Kito’s being a taco shop, I wanted to try as many variations as I could. So, I got one baja fish taco and a vegetarian option, which was made with portobello mushroom. The baja taco was delicious, coated in a crispy beer battered deep fried crust that provided a shell for the tender inside. The flavor of the seafood was apparent, but not overpowering with a fishy taste. The touch of lime paired with the other acidic toppings made it very well-balanced, and definitely my favorite item from the menu. Though, of course, I had to include a vegetarian option. The mix of flavor from the hearty portobello mushroom along with a fair amount of diverse toppings, gave the flavor multiple dimensions. The mushroom had a meat-like texture that emulated the heartiness a good taco gives you. The corn in the salsa added a fun crunch while adding sweetness. This gave the taco a unique taste with the grilled mushroom's smoky flavor.
To finish off this review, it would be hard to leave out the decor. Kito’s gives off an authentic feel. Tommy shared a sweet story of his time growing up and visiting Mexico with his family, and how the frequent visits gave him a flair for authenticity.
“[Me and my family] would go to Mexico since I could crawl, and I’ve been eating tacos for as long as I can remember. Maybe [the inspiration for the decor] was subconscious in my head,” Tommy said.