Tacos and More

New restaurants, both very casual and a bit upscale, have been popping up around the greater Knoxville area.  For our anniversary we dined at “Bella” in Maryville Tennessee.  More recently, we tried the wings and pizza at “Ya Rona” in Vonore Tennessee.  Then there was CM (Korean) Chicken in Farragut as well as Blue Moose Burgers and the Black Horse Pub and Brewery, both in the Alcoa/Maryville area.

So this time, we were back in Farragut Tennessee to try yet another new restaurant…

This is Condado Tacos in the Turkey Creek Shopping area located in Farragut/Knoxville Tennessee.  This casual restaurant looks a bit formal on the outside but, as shown below, it is anything but formal on the inside!  FYI, Condado translates from Spanish to English meaning “county”. 

Condado Tacos (Tequila and Margaritas) was founded in Columbus Ohio in 2014.  Currently this fast growing chain has over 40 restaurants in 7 states.  The company plans to have 100 restaurants by 2026

In contrast to the rather staid exterior, the dining area in the Turkey Creek Condado is beyond colorful!  Every Condado restaurant is unique with hand-painted murals by local artists.  Definitely a party atmosphere!

Each of the 12 Zodiac signs is represented on the walls and all of them are tied into local Knoxville area references as well as tacos and tequila.  The bar top (no up close photo) is decorated with more than 2 dozen famous people connected to Tennessee and they are lined up according to their horoscope.

Laurie and I did imbibe a little but we stuck to beer…a Miller Life for me ($3.50) and Modelo Especial for her. ($5.25) The reality is that Condado is all about tequila and margaritas although they do offer beer and wine.

  Condado features 22 ‘standard’ tequilas, 22 ‘premium’ tequilas and 13 ‘ultra-premium” tequilas.  A shot/neat of the standard brands is $8.00/pitcher $38.00, premium pricing is $10.00 and $46.00, and the ultra-premium is $12.00 and $54.00.  Even more ‘special’ tequilas are offered, shots/neat only.  Prices range from $15.00 to $65.00.

So, what about the menu to accompany all that tequila?  They do offer 6 different quesos, 3 guacamoles, 2 salsas, Mexican street corn and Nachos.  But the reality is, Tacos are truly the only food focus.  It’s just a matter of which pre-set taco you order (14 versions) or if you order build you own tacos.  Choose your taco shell (or go ‘shell-less’); choose from 11 proteins, ranging from chicken to steak and plant based; 13 toppings ranging from lettuce to pickled red onions; 4 salsas and then, finally 7 sauces.

Laurie and I both ordered flour soft shell tacos, working from both the build your own and the pre-set versions.  Laurie ordered the “Sweet Heat” with brisket, smoked cheddar, honey and more. ($5.60) She also had the “Dutch Dragon” with guacamole, roasted Portobello mushrooms, pickled jalapenos and more. ($4.25) Since I’m meat focused I built my 3 tacos around Tex/Mex ground beef, braised beef brisket and tequila lime steak.  My tacos ranged from $4.10 to $5.20.   

Our waitress Tera was very helpful and patient.  If you want to relax with dinner, this isn’t the place for you… I doubt that we represent the restaurant's target patrons.  Laurie did love her “Dutch Dragon” taco but we felt that the other tacos were nothing particularly special.  For us at least, Condado was just OK.  Still, it is an innovative concept.

Condado Tacos, Tequila and Margaritas is located at 11383 Parkside Drive in Knoxville Tennessee.  To learn more about this restaurant and its menu, just go to Tacos & Mexican Food in Knoxville - Turkey Creek | Condado Tacos.

Nature can be quite eye-catching, even when decay sets in.  Laurie took this photo of some bracket or shelf fungi that is slowly wearing down a stump at the edge of our yard and the remaining wooded lot next door.  Bracket fungi are a polypore…and there are over 1,000 varieties of them that have been identified.   Some are edible, others are used in ‘traditional’ medicine and others have been used since pre-history as tinder to start fires.

Progress continues on the new home being built across the street from our house… The concrete base was finished and the foundation that the house will be built on is going up quickly.  At least that disruptive jackhammer is gone…now replaced by a ‘quieter’ mixer for the cement needed to put up the concrete blocks.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave