We only had drinks and their queso but HOLY MOLY WAS THAT QUESO INCREDIBLE!!! They add so many delicious veggies and meat to it it's the best queso that I've ever had!!!!!!!!
(5)
Scarlett L.
I have eaten here I would say about 5 times. Only once has the food been good, and that was when I just ordered nachos. However their drinks are awesome. They have the best margaritas. It is a little small and cramped & the service isn't all that great the drinks are the only thing that make this place really worth going. I had a waiter wait right by our table waiting for us to finish eating so he could bring the check. We felt rushed, and if I ever did come again it would be for a margarita and nothing else... maybe nachos.
(2)
Matt N.
Go for friday happy hour $7 for a 16oz Tecate and a shot of El Jimador. Also have good queso fundido. Great service as well.
(4)
Anthony A.
This is a TexMex joint. Leaning further towards the Mex side. They have tong, tripe etc but most is chicken pork or beef. I thought the food was decent. I was not expecting Mexico so was not disappointed. Lots of people and a waiting list for outside seating. Service was good and fast. Prices were right for what you got. The only down side was football not soccer was on the TVs. All in all not a bad place for a light meal.
(3)
John S.
Excellent Mexican cuisine. The service here is great. The market square location is better than the Kingston pike store in my opinion. My favorite thing on the menu is the beef cheek huarache. It's extremely tender, fatty, and oh so flavorful. You can't go wrong with the beef tongue either. I'll never go back to regular ground beef tacos again. If you aren't a wuss who's too afraid to try new things you have to try it. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
William M.
Good food and good service. I have been eating at this location since it opened and it has always been a good value. I've always been impressed by the staff who are quick in their table service and pleasant with customers.
(4)
Jonathan L.
The only thing this place has going for it is the Market Square location. Just okay Mexican food, nothing special, and awful drink prices. The margarita pitcher might as well be called a water pitcher and was quite expensive. Go down Kingston a bit and find something better.
(2)
Jakub B.
I came here as my hotel was downtown Knoxville and this was just a hop and a skip away, so I figured "why not mexican?". Ended up sitting in the basement, so less TV screens (not an issue), and it felt more cramped, but overall good atmosphere. I found the pricing to be a lot higher than most mexian joints, and yes I know this is more of a pub than a 'true' mexican restaurant. But mexican food is generally cheap and not priced ~15 bucks each. The drinks were also a bit on the pricy side. Overall food was good, not great, and had a wholesome experience dining here. Probly would try something else in the area, as I wasn't "wowwed"
(3)
James W.
We went in with a very large group - 6 young children and 8 adults. The service was timely and friendly, and everything came out as ordered. The food was excellent, I had the carnitas which was very good. The margaritas were different that most, but very good. It was also great to see a diverse selection of draft beers - having a Lagunitas IPA was a treat. Great restaurant - thank you!
(5)
Audria M.
What respectable Mexican restaurant serves burnt beanie weenies from a can?! So gross... Not only that, but the "margaritas" are pure sweet and sour mix with a thimble (maybe) of some low-grade tequila. I don't understand how this place is still in business. Must be the cheap prices, but in this case you really get what you pay for!
(1)
Zack G.
Terrible compared to their other location. Had the carnitas tacos--extremely dry and lacking flavor. The beans were equally dry--I guess they'd been sitting on the burner for a few hours. If you're going to Soccer Taco, don't go to the downtown location. The Bearden location is a 5-star location every time. Perhaps they should bring their Bearden manager over to the downtown location for a few days to teach them how to run things.
(1)
Clark R.
The salsa was tomato sauce. The habanero salsa was vile. The cheese steak burrito was edible. Just.
(2)
Mason C.
This place is not as good as I thought! The food fajitas I ordered was cold, and beef was hard to chew. I will not come back for this quality of food even it is cheap.
(1)
Micah H.
No free chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant!?! Perhaps our waiter just forgot. I ordered a burrito (goal burrito I believe). The sauce on top tasted like spaghetti sauce and had no flavor. I was able to request some hot sauce that helped a bit. I'm new to Knoxville, but I am sure you can get better Mexican for less money.
(3)
Michael S.
I really want to give this place more stars, but the food has been inconsistent. We have been four times since moving to town. Our first night we ordered off the 'authentic Mexican' menu and loved the pastor de verdad and cachete. Subsequent visits and with the same order ended up with much more bland tasting food. The service has always been good, but a more consistent product would make Soccer Taco a must visit.
(3)
Sara W.
I came here on a Friday night for a quick meal and a margarita before bar hopping around the area. The vibe was cool and I liked being able to watch the basketball game while I ate. I had a fajita platter and the food was really good but there weren't enough tortillas and the server didn't come around often enough for me to request more. I'd say prices are pretty moderate, but the margarita pitcher was kind of pricey considering how weak it was. I'm serious about margarita quality so this always gets me tight! The salsa they give each table is really good and tastes more interesting than other table salsas at typical Mexican spots.
(4)
Coral E.
Great location in Market Square amidst other great shops and restaurants. Service was adequate, food was great, prices were reasonable, a bit noisy with all of the tv's.
(4)
A. Lane S.
Make no bones about it. This isn't authentic Mexican food and it doesn't compete with some of the awesome taco stands and taquerias I've eaten at. But, my meal here was very good. I had the Real Madrid and the meat was tender and flavorful. The sauces were good, not as spicy as I prefer but I like things hotter than most. The charro beans were delicious. So good in fact I could've made a meal out of those alone. The margaritas are much better than most mex joints and you get quite a bit for the money. The only downside to the meal was the guacamole. It tasted awful and had an unappealing color. For that I docked a star. Our server Lupe was fantastic. He always kept our drinks fresh, brought our food out in a timely manner, and handled any special requests we had. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this restaurant considering I didn't have very high hopes going in.
(3)
Shaun O.
As a native Californian, I want to believe that I can be a bit snobby about Mexican food (see my LA reviews). I should have known better to order Mexican food in Knoxville, but we decided to give it a shot for lunch. My main complaint was that the chiles rellanos/taco/rice combo that I ordered was prett bland and required me to douse it with lots of hot sauce to give it any sort of taste. $6/meal was great....but not having any taste was certainly a drawback. We did at least enjoy a pitcher of margaritas to help wash down our so-so meal.
(2)
D. S.
You've got to try the tacos. Fresh, real and reasonably priced in a fun casual atmosphere.
(4)
Jeff C.
Good food, good atmosphere. I'll be back
(4)
Ryan T.
I'm visiting with family from Cincinnati. We decided to stop in when we saw they had a good crowd for lunch. The portions are huge for a good price! The torta was giant as was the carne asada. Service was quick and attentive. I'll definitely come here again next time I visit!
(5)
Jennifer R.
This is a great place to grab a hearty lunch at a very reasonable price. I'm constantly on the road for work, so I'm not a Knoxville native. However, authentic Mexican food can be hard to come by. I'm not going to say this place is the mom and pop shop in a shack with michelin star quality tacos, but it's fine. I went for lunch and was not disappointed. Free chips and salsa? check. The chips were not greasy and the salsa was average. Hell, free is free and I'll take it. My meal was good. Delicious? I've had better Mexican but it wasn't bad...and after tax and tip I was only out a mere $7.48, so I'm not complaining. I won't recommend it if you're a foodie looking for complex soups out of the region of Oaxaca, but if you're just in the mood for some basic TexMex at a decent price, this'll do.
(4)
Kristin B.
Food was fantastic! I really liked the Enchilada sauce and was excited to see Dos Equis Lager on draft. Plenty of flat screens with plenty of sports on, comfy booths, and overall festive atmosphere. Service was a bit slow & I was surprised to see tons of kids swarming around.
(3)
Danny T.
I have heard so much good things about this Mexican Restaurant. that I just had to try it. I have to say that I was not that thrilled with it. When I get fajitas, I don't expect then to be 75% vegetables. This is what I came across today. Also, the guacamole was less than par and for me, that is a bad sign. With that said, I would go again if it were where the crowd chose to go.
(2)
Erin B.
I can't vouch for the authenticity of the food, having never traveled to Mexico, but I will say that the offerings are unique & tasty. I had settled on the cachete (cheek) taco when the waitress asked if I had tried the lengua (tongue.) I decided to go ahead and make a proper pig of myself & ordered both (mind you, BETWEEN lunch and dinner--a mere facemeat snack.) My spouse ordered the carnitas & the offspring shared a quesadilla & a fried ice cream (admittedly, any Mexican place that offers fried ice cream brings a flood of childhood Chi-Chi's memories--mostly unpleasant.) First off--the meats are expertly cooked, but they are not spiced, which I found surprising. Methinks they are trying to appeal to American tastes in this way, but they do serve their offerings with lime wedges, minced onion & cilantro and some nice, spicy sauce--all on the side. The cheek? Beefy, tender--possibly the BEEFIEST beef I have had in recent memory. The tongue? Tender and mild--just super. The carnitas were tender, buttery, & very obviously cooked in lard--as any self-respecting Mexican establishment should. The complimentary chips & salsa...meh. Not worth the calories. The service was fine, fast & friendly. They do variety meats right. Eat them, they will put hair on your chest.
(4)
Naili A.
You can't make tacos without any taste, and I mean it. Food was tasteless. My wife and I wanted to check this place out on a not-so-busy Friday night. First of all, their staff was not very friendly which I don't really care much about. Second of all, the food they brought to my table smelled bad. Chicken in the chicken tortilla soup smelled so bad that I needed to clog my nose when I tried eating it. (At least I tried!) Then came the tacos!.. I mean taco shell with boiled ground beef in it, and that was it. They apparently dumped some ground beef in water, boiled it and put it in the taco shell. No spices, no taste, nothing. Those were the grossest tacos I ever had in my life along with the grossest chicken tortilla soup. I left without finishing my food of course.
(1)
Samuel B.
"Fast, consistent, and inexpensive Mexican food in Market Square." This is your standard Mexican restaurant with LOTS of TV's playing all the sports stations. Food is usually always flying out of the kitchen quickly. The service has improved dramatically as you'll actual see your waiter again after you food comes (wasn't always like that). I like this spot for a quick drop in during lunch: You can get in and out for under $10 including tip in under an hour. The patio is great place to drink a Margarita and watch the crowds in market square. This is a wonderful addition to the area. Must try meals "Home Run Fajitas" and "Super bowl Nachos"
(4)
Stephanie D.
WHY DO THE MARGARITAS TASTE LIKE LEMON LIME CLEANER?! Stop with the poison and use real lime. Goodness gracious. A friend I trust likes this place so I want to like it too, but what is the point even without a good margarita? I've never had anything I enjoyed food wise, but maybe I've just been ordering wrong since so many love it.
(2)
Bruce K.
A little devious, but you know it happens. Maybe the reason why they don't have prices on the drink menus is because over time, when you get drunk and you keep drinking you forget the price of it all. Come to find out, there are no prices! Anyways, I came here to get something to eat, after eating a ton of popcorn from watching American Sniper, and I just ordered a margarita and a taco salad. (The popcorn was filling!) The taco salad wasn't anything amazing, just your normal salad in a taco shell pretty simple. It wasn't amazingly fresh, but it wasn't bad either. I didn't have any complaints about anything on that. The margarita was..."meh". Was it worth what I paid? Not really, but who knows how much it is cause you won't know until you get the check! Will I come back? Probably not, I think there's better places to get Mexican food but if I really had no choice, I wouldn't mind.
(3)
Kelly G.
Food tasted great, but now my husband and I are lying in bed the next morning in agony! Good food, gone bad. Hopefully, nobody else is sick this morning. This didn't happen with the Kingston Pike location.
(2)
Cam D.
If you've ever had real Mexican food, this place is terrible. Since moving to Knoxville, I still have not figured out why people enjoy eating here. If you want a huge margarita, they have them- that may be the only highlight.
(2)
Shawn J.
First and foremost, 32oz Dos Equis Amber for $5.95 WOW!! This place was great, we had the best Mexican lunch ever! We had Shrimp Tacos, Beef Chimichangas, and steak quesadillas. Everything was absolutely delicious, my wife said her quesadillas were the best she has ever had. Clean place, and the service was great. When we get back to the great city of Knoxville, this will be our first stop!
(5)
Rachelle S.
After eating at their other location, some girl friends and I stopped here for lunch today. No wait was a plus! The food here was pretty good, but different than the other location. For instance, I ordered the same thing, veggie fajitas and this location only provided the normal veggies. The other had included cauliflower, broccoli and more. That was disappointing. One of the girls ordered a chicken dish and it had a random piece of steak on it. Not good. But, the food was all very tasty. One complaint was service. The girls working acted like we were a burden on them. We had two pups with us so when we arrived I asked if we could put two tables outside together. The girl ignored me, opened the door and said something to the hostess, and the hostess made a nasty comment. They weren't busy so I wasn't sure what was wrong. The waitress never came back to check on us, either. That was disappointing.
(3)
Christina D.
While I do love soccer taco, Its basically because I only get the FISH TACOS. That is where it's at, the cheesy spice sauce is one to nothing. Everything besides that is mediocre at best. The guacamole tastes like it came from a frozen bag which is saddening, and their beer selection is average at best. While this is mediocre Mexican (fish tacos rule though!), it is in market square and has a patio; and that is why I can't rule it out!
(3)
Joey D.
I might get ostracized by the community for this, but Soccer Taco is NOT THAT GOOD. I know. I said it. When Mexican food is mentioned, someone always brings up soccer taco, myself included, but it's sadly mediocre at best. What it is though is CONVENIENT! I live downtown, so when I want things drizzled in cheese sauce and a margarita to go with it, this is the go to place. Mainly because it's the only place downtown. However, I patronize it just the same because I love Mexican food. Even dirty awful Mexican food. Trust me on this though: keep to the appetizer menu, and if you do stray, stick with fish tacos. Anything else is a disappointment.
(3)
Erika S.
I have been increasingly disappointed in this location of Soccer Taco for some time. The quality of food has just taken a nosedive. The food feels mass produced and never fresh. Enchiladas cowboys will always be my favorite on the menu, but anymore I avoid the Market Square location at all costs. The downstairs bar is nice to get away from the square and the food is always delivered in record speed. Sadly, its so fast that the last enchilada I ordered was delivered without the cheese melting inside. At least there's always chips and salsa.
(3)
Jennifer L.
Went with my father and he liked his meal. Our waitress was very friendly. However, I got a "vegetarian" meal and I believe that they used non-vegetarian oil in the beans. I got sick after eating this.
(3)
Adam L.
I had heard many rave reviews about this place, and I had time to kill one day so we went out of our way to have lunch here... The food was fine, the service was decent, but the prices were high for the type of food. I can name at least two other Mexican restaurants with as good or better food for a more reasonable price. (La Palma De Oro & Three Amigo's)
(3)
Laura M.
Ill start with the poor wine selection. I really wish they would add to the wine list because that's the only downfall to this place.try the steak tacos. Patio is great and staff are very nice.
(4)
Marc T.
Ordered off the "authentic" portion of the menu where the tacos were reasonably priced. $2.50 for a decent sized taco, with a generous serving of meat. Onions and cilantro come on the side together with a fiery salsa, which was good but which I needed to supplement with extra hot sauce. The selection of meat ranged from the safe to the somewhat adventurous. I got carne asada, chipotle (I think) steak, tongue and beef cheek. The carne asada was nothing spectacular and the chipotle had a little spicy kick that got me a little sweaty. The tongue was simply delightful; soft, chewy and tender. The cheek I suspect wasn't cheek but chicken. I know a lot of things really do taste like chicken but this probably was chicken. I think it might have been a lost in translation moment when I tried to order using the Spanish word off the menu, which, now that I think about it, sounded very similar to chicken. As I have no doubt I'll be back here soon, I will definitely give it another shot.
(4)
Brian E.
Looks very cheezy from the outside but they really have incredible authentic food. I had a huarache and two tacos, both very good. Staff courteous and a nice atmosphere.
(4)
Jesse G.
Big fan of Soccer Taco, this location and Kingston Pike. Food quality is the same but I prefer the Market Square atmosphere and outdoor setting.
(3)
Janet S.
No even going to describe this, lamentable. an afront to Mexicans everywhere
(1)
Ian R.
Average to slightly above average tex-mex fare priced reasonably. Had the 'Real Madrid.' Although the carnitas were tasty they were overcooked beyond caramelization to the point of being outright chewy and stringy. Chips and salsa are plentiful but I find the chips are greasy and the salsa by and large tasteless. Fairly priced beer specials; $4 for a 16-ounce Negro Modello.
(3)
Ryan B.
This place is not good. We visited on 7/7/12 for lunch. I ordered beef tacos, and ceviche. My wife ordered fish tacos. None of our food was good. Beef in my tacos tasted burnt. Rice and beans simple tasteless. My wife's fish tacos were just embarrassing. The fish was smashed up and served with some mayo Tabasco sauce. It was the worse Mexican meal we have had in Knoxville. Please avoid this place.
(2)
Josh S.
Seriously the best cheap mexican food in the area other than Don Jose's in Corryton. Food is always good and service is always quick and friendly. Always a good time!
(5)
Aaron J.
Some of the best mexican I've had. Food is great and service is always fast and friendly. I like the sports bar vibe and this is probably the greatest place in Knoxville to watch the World Cup. The place is like Mardi Gras when the Cup is on. Try the Eagle Cheese Steak Burrito. It won't let you down.
(4)
Greg M.
Lunch fajitas were really good, and a big helping. Lively atmosphere inside with loud Latin music. No wonder this place is popular. I will be back.
(5)
Steve G.
I had lunch there during the week, busy place but sat down pretty quickly. Chips and salsa were very good, service fast & correct, prices cheap on lunch menu, and food was tasty. Great experience.
(4)
Ben M.
Not a good experience here. Was en route to Nashville on a Sunday and stopped in to watch the Carolina Panthers football game. Upon arriving, they said that we could sit wherever we wanted and they'd gladly change the channel to show whatever game we'd like to watch. Was then lied to 3 times about the game being on one of the tv's when I could clearly see that it wasnt. Then i was told that the game started at 1:45 pm. Anyone who has ever lived in the United States for more than a week knows that NFL games ALWAYS start at 1 and 4:30 eastern time. Any establishment that advertises itself as a "sports bar" (which is clearly printed on their logo) would be expected to know this. Took a long time to actually get someone to change the channel. Then, apparently because she was angry that we asked about the game, the waitress ignored us for literally 15 minutes and then sent another waitress over, who finally took our order. The food was very average. Any old mexican resturant would serve you the same greasy stuff. If youre looking for a sports bar, do yourself a favor and go across the street to Latitude 35.
(1)
Rai R.
While walking downtown during my amazing trip to Knoxville, the restaurant caught my eye. I liked the fact that it had an outdoor seating area, where the majority of the diners ate. My server was pleasant, and made sure my dining experience was wonderful. The food was nice. I normally don't go for Mexican(unless I make it myself), but I enjoyed my meal. The rice was very good! And the dessert........YUMMY! Overall, my experience at Soccer Taco was great. I would definitely go there again next time I'm in Knoxville.
(4)
Rich D.
I am a huge fan of Mexican food and when I am trying out a place for the first time, I usually have a vegetarian chimichanga; this is what I had a Soccer Taco. It tasted fine though at most restaurants there is generally a wider assortment of veggies in the chimi. This one only had red bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The cheese was was acceptable. The sides were rice and refried beans, both were good. The salsa tasted good. I did like the fresh cilantro. There was a decent selection of beer. My three lunchtime companions all felt the same way about their various entrees as well. If you're on Market Square, this is a decent fallback option, though there are so many different dining options, why settle?
(3)
Steven M.
Great food and service! I had the Soccer Burrito! A lot of food! Fast service even after a TN game!
(5)
Gerold S.
Extremely rude staff - Dirty tables - Tasteless greasy food - Wrong order taken. Should I write more? No, I think Im done. That was my first and last visit here.
(1)
Chris S.
Only had beers, so I can't comment on the food. I think that it is weird that this type of place is in Knoxville being that it so soccer oriented. UCL games on the screens. Nice staff. Beers were cheap. This place is my new retreat for games when visiting my parents and I need a break.
(4)
Jenny T.
Food is good (but beware the health score!). Nowhere near as good as the Kingston Pike location. Also, extremely disappointing margaritas. There's like zero alcohol in them, especially when compared to the Kingston Pike Soccer Taco's margaritas.
(3)
Dee O.
I was slightly disappointed since I had great expectations before I ate at Soccer Taco. It wasn't horrible but didn't stand out from any other Mexican restaurant. Other than the salsa was really good. They were very busy and service left a little to be desired. Not sure if I would go back there by choice, unless I'm eating there with other folks.
(3)
Kris K.
Food was decent, nothing tasted bad but I've had a lot of Mexican food and this wasn't as tasty as Atlanta's Mexican restaurants. We all ordered off the combo meal part and agreed it wasn't the best but was definitely acceptable. We went when it was slow, so we had no problem with service, our waiter was great. Roughly 3:30pm, on Wednesday.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Caroline K.
We only had drinks and their queso but HOLY MOLY WAS THAT QUESO INCREDIBLE!!! They add so many delicious veggies and meat to it it's the best queso that I've ever had!!!!!!!!
(5)Scarlett L.
I have eaten here I would say about 5 times. Only once has the food been good, and that was when I just ordered nachos. However their drinks are awesome. They have the best margaritas. It is a little small and cramped & the service isn't all that great the drinks are the only thing that make this place really worth going. I had a waiter wait right by our table waiting for us to finish eating so he could bring the check. We felt rushed, and if I ever did come again it would be for a margarita and nothing else... maybe nachos.
(2)Matt N.
Go for friday happy hour $7 for a 16oz Tecate and a shot of El Jimador. Also have good queso fundido. Great service as well.
(4)Anthony A.
This is a TexMex joint. Leaning further towards the Mex side. They have tong, tripe etc but most is chicken pork or beef. I thought the food was decent. I was not expecting Mexico so was not disappointed. Lots of people and a waiting list for outside seating. Service was good and fast. Prices were right for what you got. The only down side was football not soccer was on the TVs. All in all not a bad place for a light meal.
(3)John S.
Excellent Mexican cuisine. The service here is great. The market square location is better than the Kingston pike store in my opinion. My favorite thing on the menu is the beef cheek huarache. It's extremely tender, fatty, and oh so flavorful. You can't go wrong with the beef tongue either. I'll never go back to regular ground beef tacos again. If you aren't a wuss who's too afraid to try new things you have to try it. You won't be disappointed.
(5)William M.
Good food and good service. I have been eating at this location since it opened and it has always been a good value. I've always been impressed by the staff who are quick in their table service and pleasant with customers.
(4)Jonathan L.
The only thing this place has going for it is the Market Square location. Just okay Mexican food, nothing special, and awful drink prices. The margarita pitcher might as well be called a water pitcher and was quite expensive. Go down Kingston a bit and find something better.
(2)Jakub B.
I came here as my hotel was downtown Knoxville and this was just a hop and a skip away, so I figured "why not mexican?". Ended up sitting in the basement, so less TV screens (not an issue), and it felt more cramped, but overall good atmosphere. I found the pricing to be a lot higher than most mexian joints, and yes I know this is more of a pub than a 'true' mexican restaurant. But mexican food is generally cheap and not priced ~15 bucks each. The drinks were also a bit on the pricy side. Overall food was good, not great, and had a wholesome experience dining here. Probly would try something else in the area, as I wasn't "wowwed"
(3)James W.
We went in with a very large group - 6 young children and 8 adults. The service was timely and friendly, and everything came out as ordered. The food was excellent, I had the carnitas which was very good. The margaritas were different that most, but very good. It was also great to see a diverse selection of draft beers - having a Lagunitas IPA was a treat. Great restaurant - thank you!
(5)Audria M.
What respectable Mexican restaurant serves burnt beanie weenies from a can?! So gross... Not only that, but the "margaritas" are pure sweet and sour mix with a thimble (maybe) of some low-grade tequila. I don't understand how this place is still in business. Must be the cheap prices, but in this case you really get what you pay for!
(1)Zack G.
Terrible compared to their other location. Had the carnitas tacos--extremely dry and lacking flavor. The beans were equally dry--I guess they'd been sitting on the burner for a few hours. If you're going to Soccer Taco, don't go to the downtown location. The Bearden location is a 5-star location every time. Perhaps they should bring their Bearden manager over to the downtown location for a few days to teach them how to run things.
(1)Clark R.
The salsa was tomato sauce. The habanero salsa was vile. The cheese steak burrito was edible. Just.
(2)Mason C.
This place is not as good as I thought! The food fajitas I ordered was cold, and beef was hard to chew. I will not come back for this quality of food even it is cheap.
(1)Micah H.
No free chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant!?! Perhaps our waiter just forgot. I ordered a burrito (goal burrito I believe). The sauce on top tasted like spaghetti sauce and had no flavor. I was able to request some hot sauce that helped a bit. I'm new to Knoxville, but I am sure you can get better Mexican for less money.
(3)Michael S.
I really want to give this place more stars, but the food has been inconsistent. We have been four times since moving to town. Our first night we ordered off the 'authentic Mexican' menu and loved the pastor de verdad and cachete. Subsequent visits and with the same order ended up with much more bland tasting food. The service has always been good, but a more consistent product would make Soccer Taco a must visit.
(3)Sara W.
I came here on a Friday night for a quick meal and a margarita before bar hopping around the area. The vibe was cool and I liked being able to watch the basketball game while I ate. I had a fajita platter and the food was really good but there weren't enough tortillas and the server didn't come around often enough for me to request more. I'd say prices are pretty moderate, but the margarita pitcher was kind of pricey considering how weak it was. I'm serious about margarita quality so this always gets me tight! The salsa they give each table is really good and tastes more interesting than other table salsas at typical Mexican spots.
(4)Coral E.
Great location in Market Square amidst other great shops and restaurants. Service was adequate, food was great, prices were reasonable, a bit noisy with all of the tv's.
(4)A. Lane S.
Make no bones about it. This isn't authentic Mexican food and it doesn't compete with some of the awesome taco stands and taquerias I've eaten at. But, my meal here was very good. I had the Real Madrid and the meat was tender and flavorful. The sauces were good, not as spicy as I prefer but I like things hotter than most. The charro beans were delicious. So good in fact I could've made a meal out of those alone. The margaritas are much better than most mex joints and you get quite a bit for the money. The only downside to the meal was the guacamole. It tasted awful and had an unappealing color. For that I docked a star. Our server Lupe was fantastic. He always kept our drinks fresh, brought our food out in a timely manner, and handled any special requests we had. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this restaurant considering I didn't have very high hopes going in.
(3)Shaun O.
As a native Californian, I want to believe that I can be a bit snobby about Mexican food (see my LA reviews). I should have known better to order Mexican food in Knoxville, but we decided to give it a shot for lunch. My main complaint was that the chiles rellanos/taco/rice combo that I ordered was prett bland and required me to douse it with lots of hot sauce to give it any sort of taste. $6/meal was great....but not having any taste was certainly a drawback. We did at least enjoy a pitcher of margaritas to help wash down our so-so meal.
(2)D. S.
You've got to try the tacos. Fresh, real and reasonably priced in a fun casual atmosphere.
(4)Jeff C.
Good food, good atmosphere. I'll be back
(4)Ryan T.
I'm visiting with family from Cincinnati. We decided to stop in when we saw they had a good crowd for lunch. The portions are huge for a good price! The torta was giant as was the carne asada. Service was quick and attentive. I'll definitely come here again next time I visit!
(5)Jennifer R.
This is a great place to grab a hearty lunch at a very reasonable price. I'm constantly on the road for work, so I'm not a Knoxville native. However, authentic Mexican food can be hard to come by. I'm not going to say this place is the mom and pop shop in a shack with michelin star quality tacos, but it's fine. I went for lunch and was not disappointed. Free chips and salsa? check. The chips were not greasy and the salsa was average. Hell, free is free and I'll take it. My meal was good. Delicious? I've had better Mexican but it wasn't bad...and after tax and tip I was only out a mere $7.48, so I'm not complaining. I won't recommend it if you're a foodie looking for complex soups out of the region of Oaxaca, but if you're just in the mood for some basic TexMex at a decent price, this'll do.
(4)Kristin B.
Food was fantastic! I really liked the Enchilada sauce and was excited to see Dos Equis Lager on draft. Plenty of flat screens with plenty of sports on, comfy booths, and overall festive atmosphere. Service was a bit slow & I was surprised to see tons of kids swarming around.
(3)Danny T.
I have heard so much good things about this Mexican Restaurant. that I just had to try it. I have to say that I was not that thrilled with it. When I get fajitas, I don't expect then to be 75% vegetables. This is what I came across today. Also, the guacamole was less than par and for me, that is a bad sign. With that said, I would go again if it were where the crowd chose to go.
(2)Erin B.
I can't vouch for the authenticity of the food, having never traveled to Mexico, but I will say that the offerings are unique & tasty. I had settled on the cachete (cheek) taco when the waitress asked if I had tried the lengua (tongue.) I decided to go ahead and make a proper pig of myself & ordered both (mind you, BETWEEN lunch and dinner--a mere facemeat snack.) My spouse ordered the carnitas & the offspring shared a quesadilla & a fried ice cream (admittedly, any Mexican place that offers fried ice cream brings a flood of childhood Chi-Chi's memories--mostly unpleasant.) First off--the meats are expertly cooked, but they are not spiced, which I found surprising. Methinks they are trying to appeal to American tastes in this way, but they do serve their offerings with lime wedges, minced onion & cilantro and some nice, spicy sauce--all on the side. The cheek? Beefy, tender--possibly the BEEFIEST beef I have had in recent memory. The tongue? Tender and mild--just super. The carnitas were tender, buttery, & very obviously cooked in lard--as any self-respecting Mexican establishment should. The complimentary chips & salsa...meh. Not worth the calories. The service was fine, fast & friendly. They do variety meats right. Eat them, they will put hair on your chest.
(4)Naili A.
You can't make tacos without any taste, and I mean it. Food was tasteless. My wife and I wanted to check this place out on a not-so-busy Friday night. First of all, their staff was not very friendly which I don't really care much about. Second of all, the food they brought to my table smelled bad. Chicken in the chicken tortilla soup smelled so bad that I needed to clog my nose when I tried eating it. (At least I tried!) Then came the tacos!.. I mean taco shell with boiled ground beef in it, and that was it. They apparently dumped some ground beef in water, boiled it and put it in the taco shell. No spices, no taste, nothing. Those were the grossest tacos I ever had in my life along with the grossest chicken tortilla soup. I left without finishing my food of course.
(1)Samuel B.
"Fast, consistent, and inexpensive Mexican food in Market Square." This is your standard Mexican restaurant with LOTS of TV's playing all the sports stations. Food is usually always flying out of the kitchen quickly. The service has improved dramatically as you'll actual see your waiter again after you food comes (wasn't always like that). I like this spot for a quick drop in during lunch: You can get in and out for under $10 including tip in under an hour. The patio is great place to drink a Margarita and watch the crowds in market square. This is a wonderful addition to the area. Must try meals "Home Run Fajitas" and "Super bowl Nachos"
(4)Stephanie D.
WHY DO THE MARGARITAS TASTE LIKE LEMON LIME CLEANER?! Stop with the poison and use real lime. Goodness gracious. A friend I trust likes this place so I want to like it too, but what is the point even without a good margarita? I've never had anything I enjoyed food wise, but maybe I've just been ordering wrong since so many love it.
(2)Bruce K.
A little devious, but you know it happens. Maybe the reason why they don't have prices on the drink menus is because over time, when you get drunk and you keep drinking you forget the price of it all. Come to find out, there are no prices! Anyways, I came here to get something to eat, after eating a ton of popcorn from watching American Sniper, and I just ordered a margarita and a taco salad. (The popcorn was filling!) The taco salad wasn't anything amazing, just your normal salad in a taco shell pretty simple. It wasn't amazingly fresh, but it wasn't bad either. I didn't have any complaints about anything on that. The margarita was..."meh". Was it worth what I paid? Not really, but who knows how much it is cause you won't know until you get the check! Will I come back? Probably not, I think there's better places to get Mexican food but if I really had no choice, I wouldn't mind.
(3)Kelly G.
Food tasted great, but now my husband and I are lying in bed the next morning in agony! Good food, gone bad. Hopefully, nobody else is sick this morning. This didn't happen with the Kingston Pike location.
(2)Cam D.
If you've ever had real Mexican food, this place is terrible. Since moving to Knoxville, I still have not figured out why people enjoy eating here. If you want a huge margarita, they have them- that may be the only highlight.
(2)Shawn J.
First and foremost, 32oz Dos Equis Amber for $5.95 WOW!! This place was great, we had the best Mexican lunch ever! We had Shrimp Tacos, Beef Chimichangas, and steak quesadillas. Everything was absolutely delicious, my wife said her quesadillas were the best she has ever had. Clean place, and the service was great. When we get back to the great city of Knoxville, this will be our first stop!
(5)Rachelle S.
After eating at their other location, some girl friends and I stopped here for lunch today. No wait was a plus! The food here was pretty good, but different than the other location. For instance, I ordered the same thing, veggie fajitas and this location only provided the normal veggies. The other had included cauliflower, broccoli and more. That was disappointing. One of the girls ordered a chicken dish and it had a random piece of steak on it. Not good. But, the food was all very tasty. One complaint was service. The girls working acted like we were a burden on them. We had two pups with us so when we arrived I asked if we could put two tables outside together. The girl ignored me, opened the door and said something to the hostess, and the hostess made a nasty comment. They weren't busy so I wasn't sure what was wrong. The waitress never came back to check on us, either. That was disappointing.
(3)Christina D.
While I do love soccer taco, Its basically because I only get the FISH TACOS. That is where it's at, the cheesy spice sauce is one to nothing. Everything besides that is mediocre at best. The guacamole tastes like it came from a frozen bag which is saddening, and their beer selection is average at best. While this is mediocre Mexican (fish tacos rule though!), it is in market square and has a patio; and that is why I can't rule it out!
(3)Joey D.
I might get ostracized by the community for this, but Soccer Taco is NOT THAT GOOD. I know. I said it. When Mexican food is mentioned, someone always brings up soccer taco, myself included, but it's sadly mediocre at best. What it is though is CONVENIENT! I live downtown, so when I want things drizzled in cheese sauce and a margarita to go with it, this is the go to place. Mainly because it's the only place downtown. However, I patronize it just the same because I love Mexican food. Even dirty awful Mexican food. Trust me on this though: keep to the appetizer menu, and if you do stray, stick with fish tacos. Anything else is a disappointment.
(3)Erika S.
I have been increasingly disappointed in this location of Soccer Taco for some time. The quality of food has just taken a nosedive. The food feels mass produced and never fresh. Enchiladas cowboys will always be my favorite on the menu, but anymore I avoid the Market Square location at all costs. The downstairs bar is nice to get away from the square and the food is always delivered in record speed. Sadly, its so fast that the last enchilada I ordered was delivered without the cheese melting inside. At least there's always chips and salsa.
(3)Jennifer L.
Went with my father and he liked his meal. Our waitress was very friendly. However, I got a "vegetarian" meal and I believe that they used non-vegetarian oil in the beans. I got sick after eating this.
(3)Adam L.
I had heard many rave reviews about this place, and I had time to kill one day so we went out of our way to have lunch here... The food was fine, the service was decent, but the prices were high for the type of food. I can name at least two other Mexican restaurants with as good or better food for a more reasonable price. (La Palma De Oro & Three Amigo's)
(3)Laura M.
Ill start with the poor wine selection. I really wish they would add to the wine list because that's the only downfall to this place.try the steak tacos. Patio is great and staff are very nice.
(4)Marc T.
Ordered off the "authentic" portion of the menu where the tacos were reasonably priced. $2.50 for a decent sized taco, with a generous serving of meat. Onions and cilantro come on the side together with a fiery salsa, which was good but which I needed to supplement with extra hot sauce. The selection of meat ranged from the safe to the somewhat adventurous. I got carne asada, chipotle (I think) steak, tongue and beef cheek. The carne asada was nothing spectacular and the chipotle had a little spicy kick that got me a little sweaty. The tongue was simply delightful; soft, chewy and tender. The cheek I suspect wasn't cheek but chicken. I know a lot of things really do taste like chicken but this probably was chicken. I think it might have been a lost in translation moment when I tried to order using the Spanish word off the menu, which, now that I think about it, sounded very similar to chicken. As I have no doubt I'll be back here soon, I will definitely give it another shot.
(4)Brian E.
Looks very cheezy from the outside but they really have incredible authentic food. I had a huarache and two tacos, both very good. Staff courteous and a nice atmosphere.
(4)Jesse G.
Big fan of Soccer Taco, this location and Kingston Pike. Food quality is the same but I prefer the Market Square atmosphere and outdoor setting.
(3)Janet S.
No even going to describe this, lamentable. an afront to Mexicans everywhere
(1)Ian R.
Average to slightly above average tex-mex fare priced reasonably. Had the 'Real Madrid.' Although the carnitas were tasty they were overcooked beyond caramelization to the point of being outright chewy and stringy. Chips and salsa are plentiful but I find the chips are greasy and the salsa by and large tasteless. Fairly priced beer specials; $4 for a 16-ounce Negro Modello.
(3)Ryan B.
This place is not good. We visited on 7/7/12 for lunch. I ordered beef tacos, and ceviche. My wife ordered fish tacos. None of our food was good. Beef in my tacos tasted burnt. Rice and beans simple tasteless. My wife's fish tacos were just embarrassing. The fish was smashed up and served with some mayo Tabasco sauce. It was the worse Mexican meal we have had in Knoxville. Please avoid this place.
(2)Josh S.
Seriously the best cheap mexican food in the area other than Don Jose's in Corryton. Food is always good and service is always quick and friendly. Always a good time!
(5)Aaron J.
Some of the best mexican I've had. Food is great and service is always fast and friendly. I like the sports bar vibe and this is probably the greatest place in Knoxville to watch the World Cup. The place is like Mardi Gras when the Cup is on. Try the Eagle Cheese Steak Burrito. It won't let you down.
(4)Greg M.
Lunch fajitas were really good, and a big helping. Lively atmosphere inside with loud Latin music. No wonder this place is popular. I will be back.
(5)Steve G.
I had lunch there during the week, busy place but sat down pretty quickly. Chips and salsa were very good, service fast & correct, prices cheap on lunch menu, and food was tasty. Great experience.
(4)Ben M.
Not a good experience here. Was en route to Nashville on a Sunday and stopped in to watch the Carolina Panthers football game. Upon arriving, they said that we could sit wherever we wanted and they'd gladly change the channel to show whatever game we'd like to watch. Was then lied to 3 times about the game being on one of the tv's when I could clearly see that it wasnt. Then i was told that the game started at 1:45 pm. Anyone who has ever lived in the United States for more than a week knows that NFL games ALWAYS start at 1 and 4:30 eastern time. Any establishment that advertises itself as a "sports bar" (which is clearly printed on their logo) would be expected to know this. Took a long time to actually get someone to change the channel. Then, apparently because she was angry that we asked about the game, the waitress ignored us for literally 15 minutes and then sent another waitress over, who finally took our order. The food was very average. Any old mexican resturant would serve you the same greasy stuff. If youre looking for a sports bar, do yourself a favor and go across the street to Latitude 35.
(1)Rai R.
While walking downtown during my amazing trip to Knoxville, the restaurant caught my eye. I liked the fact that it had an outdoor seating area, where the majority of the diners ate. My server was pleasant, and made sure my dining experience was wonderful. The food was nice. I normally don't go for Mexican(unless I make it myself), but I enjoyed my meal. The rice was very good! And the dessert........YUMMY! Overall, my experience at Soccer Taco was great. I would definitely go there again next time I'm in Knoxville.
(4)Rich D.
I am a huge fan of Mexican food and when I am trying out a place for the first time, I usually have a vegetarian chimichanga; this is what I had a Soccer Taco. It tasted fine though at most restaurants there is generally a wider assortment of veggies in the chimi. This one only had red bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The cheese was was acceptable. The sides were rice and refried beans, both were good. The salsa tasted good. I did like the fresh cilantro. There was a decent selection of beer. My three lunchtime companions all felt the same way about their various entrees as well. If you're on Market Square, this is a decent fallback option, though there are so many different dining options, why settle?
(3)Steven M.
Great food and service! I had the Soccer Burrito! A lot of food! Fast service even after a TN game!
(5)Gerold S.
Extremely rude staff - Dirty tables - Tasteless greasy food - Wrong order taken. Should I write more? No, I think Im done. That was my first and last visit here.
(1)Chris S.
Only had beers, so I can't comment on the food. I think that it is weird that this type of place is in Knoxville being that it so soccer oriented. UCL games on the screens. Nice staff. Beers were cheap. This place is my new retreat for games when visiting my parents and I need a break.
(4)Jenny T.
Food is good (but beware the health score!). Nowhere near as good as the Kingston Pike location. Also, extremely disappointing margaritas. There's like zero alcohol in them, especially when compared to the Kingston Pike Soccer Taco's margaritas.
(3)Dee O.
I was slightly disappointed since I had great expectations before I ate at Soccer Taco. It wasn't horrible but didn't stand out from any other Mexican restaurant. Other than the salsa was really good. They were very busy and service left a little to be desired. Not sure if I would go back there by choice, unless I'm eating there with other folks.
(3)Kris K.
Food was decent, nothing tasted bad but I've had a lot of Mexican food and this wasn't as tasty as Atlanta's Mexican restaurants. We all ordered off the combo meal part and agreed it wasn't the best but was definitely acceptable. We went when it was slow, so we had no problem with service, our waiter was great. Roughly 3:30pm, on Wednesday.
(3)