Taco House

I have been going to the Taco House since I was born in 1973! Seriously! We moved away to Des Moines and thought we would NEVER find food like here. Come to find out there is Taco Casa. Same owners. OMG! I now live in eastern Iowa and will drive to Des Moines just for the tacos. When I go back to the Lakes area, my trip is NOT complete without stopping at the Taco House. For those of you that do not like it, then don‘t go! It must be a "home" thing, cuz I almost cry every time I taste the food.

Taco House is open again! I had lunch there yesterday 3/19/2013. This was a Tuesday around 12:30 a.m. PACKED what does this say? The food is very good. But the Salsa is to die for. And I know salsa well. The only better salsa might be OJ‘s in Omaha. This is a must stop if you are at the Lake. And you can get a huge cup of salsa to go! Does anybody have any idea how they make this salsa?

Wonderful food but the hot sauce is the best!!! Worth the drive. The person who complained abt it not being ‘real food‘ aug 25 guy can shut it! People love it from locals to tourists. We‘ve all been out in the world give it a rest. It‘s a local hot spot for a reason. Packed no matter what time of day or even bad weather. Always worth the wait. Consistently good simple food done right. Can‘t wait for it to open again!

I grew up in the AP and LOVED Taco House. After Ahigh School I moved away but always had the memory of the taste of Taco House Food, yum. The first couple of years I‘d go back and the food memory was replenished, yum, Marta was still running the joint. The past 10 years visits were just .....ok. My family that still lives there raves about it so they make me go everytime, ugh! I would be disowned if they knew I was writing this. Taco House today is nothing more than a Taco Johns or less. So I‘ve become a food snob and went out into the REAL world and have experienced great food across the country. If Taco House is all you know, then it is wonderful, but for those of us who have ventured out of the area and tasted real Mexican food it just won‘t do. I‘ll tell my family next trip that I just ate and then go sneak a peanut butter sandwich or something instead. :)

Best place in the area as evidenced by the number of people there at any given time! Excellent food and great service. You do have to wait, sometimes for quite a while but the food is well worth the wait. The prices are very reasonable for this being a tourist area. They are only open for a few months out of the year which isn‘t good for the locals who would like to go there year round but it does give us something to look forward to come spring.

I‘ve been coming here since the 70‘s and love this place and now my son and wife do as well. The food here is so good we bring beef burritos home on ice and freeze them to eat during the winter. Make sure to try both the brown and green salsas. This is not the place to go for ambience but after a day on the lake. in fact, we are going right now!

Great food and plenty of seating. Choice of inside or outside. Best taco meat in the world!

I have been coming here since I was little. My father grew up in the area. It isn‘t authentic and the wait is a long while......but there is something about the food that I love. the meat inst spicy at all and so that is a plus in my eye :) also the shells are thin and more authentic than your normal shell..... it is defiantly a locals thing :)

Our favorite place! The wait can be long because that is how busy it is! We live an hour away and we start calling in March to find out when it will open...an hours drive...it‘s just that good! Our favorite is the beef fajita dinner & cheese nachos! If you truly want to know what‘s good, you ask the locals, and the locals go to taco house!

The Taco House is one of the best in the area. The original owner is a Mexican lady who was born and raised in Mexico City. Her recipes are authentic. I think the current owners still use these recipes. If you don‘t like it, go eat Mexican food at Mrs. Lady‘s...have a Polish Taco!

Greasy food and horribly long wait time. The interior always looks like it is in need of a very intense cleaning.

I have traveled to Mexico (and not cancun). I love Mexican food and cannot stand this stuff. The only thing that is good on the entire menu is the hot sauce but I can make that at home. Not worth the price or the hype.

Horrible. Greasy, horrible food that you will physically pay for later. They actually fry their tortilla chips in beef fat instead of vegetable oil. The only thing on the menu that is mabey edible is the nachos and the hot sauce.

I have been going there since I was at least 2 now I am 13 and I love it. I get the nochos with sauce and then extra sauce on the side. Every summer we go I ask my grandma can we go. Yes there is always a wait, but for the best food it is worth it!

Does anyone know their hours? Love there food!

Been coming up since 1979. I always eat here at least once, even if I have to extend my visit by a few hours.

This is the worst mexican food ever. I am a local and don‘t understand the hype. Is it because its been around for so long or what? I don‘t know why people eat at this place.

Just got home with my 23.00 order for my family and there is NO BEEF in my Rancherito! Also,their phone number is unlisted! Doubt they will believe me next time I‘m there,if I go back! NOT HAPPY!

TACO HOUSE IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON!!!! I and my son are headed over from Estherville today, Royal Nachos and softshells coming up! My son gets the red sauce, as he says it‘s not as hot as the green,which I love. You must have A sauce or it just is‘nt the joy it is without it! Mmmmm, yes, it opened again yesterday, so head on over!

We have come to the taco house for 37 years !!!! Yes you heard me right ! ... Back when it was a small white shack, you walked upto and ordered then ate in your car ... Own by Marta Campbell !!! One sweet Mexican Lady who worked very hard to make the food it is today ... She no longer is the owner, but Kim and Jim are doing a fine job with her receipes, and add their own warm personalities to the Wonderful Taco House ! Thank you so very much, the memories of this place is forever with the Dulaney family ! ...

In response to the guy who got a refund after waiting an hour and a half...I‘m sure they did not lose the order, or mess it up< They are just always that slow!! Unless you wait and go this time of year, after all the tourists are gone, it is much better. I refuse to go there during the summer.

Tonight was our family‘s last visit to the Taco House. After waiting almost an hour and a half to get our food, we finally asked for our money back. We went up to the counter several times and were told our meal was being made right then, which it obviously was not. Seems simple enough to just admit that you lost our order and make it right with us with a discount or something. But, it was easier for the staff to be rude, even going as far as to literally throw our refund on the counter instead of handing it to me. Combine below average food with very bad customer service, and it‘s the final straw. Our family will not be back to the Taco House again.

Really good American style Mexican food. What makes it is the sauce and the cheese. Always busy and not cheap, but i disagree with the moderately expensive rating. It is all around a great place that should have extended its receiving counter during renovations and could work on efficiency sometimes. But the food makes up for it

i love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) you have to go to this place when you go to boji

I don‘t get it. bottom of burrito soaked wet with what I guess was from the soggy chicken. I really just don‘t get it. I have had much better as well as a heck of a lot better authenticity at other locations. Come on its a brick hut serving mass quantities. They do have good sauces. But really, really my fellow foodies - what gives - I enjoy seeing people and bumping into neighbors but this is a little Wal-martish and we refuse to do that with our food - it‘s not like Bob‘s Bar deals in Ponca Nebraska for pete‘s sake!

Been there three times, cuz everyone raves about the food. It is awful. If you know what GOOD Mexican food is you will avoid this place. Don Jose in Estherville is authentic great mexican food!

THE BEST taco place ever. I grew up on Taco House and I will drive 2 hours just to eat here, it‘s well worth it. I‘ve always got Taco House on the brain!

I have been going to Taco House since I was a teenager in 1975!! My kids have been born and raise on the wonderful food!! Every year we make bets on what day they will open in the spring, we have gotten very good at it! If you have never been there you are truly missing out!! This is probably the only GREAT addition that you can have!!

I AM AN EMPLOYEE AT THE TACO HOUSE AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I CAN ONLY SAY GOOD THINGS WE TRY VERY HARD TO PLEASE EVERYONE EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN WAIT FROM TIME TO TIME WE SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND FOOD IN THAT TIME. EVERYTHING IS MADE FRESH KEEP IN MIND YOUR FOOD IS NOT COMING FROM A BAG LIKE OTHER RESTRAUNTS. iF YOUVE HAD A BAD EXPIERENCE IN THE PAST YOU SHOULD TRY IT AGAIN. I THINK IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ONLY GOOD CHANGE HAS CAME.

The Taco House is AMAZING!! I go there when I visit my Grandparents in Spencer. It‘s always been great! I live in Des Moines and Taco Casa is here so they are almost exaclty alike but the atmosphere in Okoboji is much better as the Taco Casa in Des Moines is a little run-down. So tasty though! Love it!

Taco House is the best! We live an hour away and can‘t wait for it to open every year. We make many day trips just to eat there and enjoy the day at the lakes. We love it so much that my husband even proposed there...it is our favorite restaurant afterall! The beef fajita dinner and cheese nachos are our favorite. Our 4 year old can‘t even get enough of it! She shares fajitas with us. But then again she‘s been going there since I was pregnant with her! There‘s nothing better in the lakes! It‘s our favorite tradition!

i like taco house alot. ............................

Bean Burritos are smaller and higher in price.
Beans were not very warm and tasted burnt.
Not as good as last year
May give them another chance though

Its awesome food. They raised the prices on a few items this year... But still the food tastes the exact same.

The soft shell tacos are the best I have ever had in my life, something about the way they cook the meat. I have ordered the all meat burrito before and not quite the same although you would think so.. Also the meat and chees nachos are great, love the way they melt that chees :)

I love this place. Please someone, anyone, find the recipe for the hot sauce. I know it wouldn‘t turn out the same but anything to get me by all winter while the taco house is closed. I would love to just try and make it once. I‘m so sad it‘s closing Sunday!!!!

Great food and low cost did I tell you how good the food is

Great food low prices.. very clean. along with out door dining! Did I mention GREAT food?

Great food and cheap. We ate there last night, and it wa less than $15 bucks for 2 adults - You can hardly eat at Taco Johns for that! There‘s a reason its so busy.

I used to HATE this place. I went there 2 times and just couldn‘t find anything that I liked. A few years later my wife to be was absolutely in love with the place and made me go. She made me sit down while she ordered meat and cheese nachos and a soft shell taco. One bite was all it took to make me an addict for life!!! Its is so different from any mexican food anywhere. The taste is super unique and like I said, super addicting. And the hot sauce, delicious. For all those people who don‘t like the taco house, try asking for advice about what to order. You may just change your mind. :P

You go there to be a part of a Lakes Area tradition. Appreciate the food for what it is and embrace the experience!

I will try other Mexican places before I go back here. Slower than many actual sit down restaurants. And not really worth the wait.

I agree with the last review, other than the fact that many grew up with taco house, it is not very good and very slow for fast food.

Aside from its longevity, I don‘t get the great reviews for this place -- it must be nostalgia more than anything, maybe the outdoor seating. Among the many places to get Mexican food in the lakes area, this joint is near the bottom for the food itself.
Best new addition is the place in Arnold‘s Park right on 71, across from Blue Water Cabaret: most authentic, best for freshness, etc. Location has seen a lot of turnover recently, so I‘m hoping that doesn‘t beat them.

I am so excited they are opening mid-March!! My husband & I have been going to the Taco House for over 30 years, even stopping in while we lived in several different states... and there is nothing like their soft tacos! We‘ll be there March 21 & can‘t wait to enjoy a taco! :)

They are opening this spring on March 12, 2009! So excited I am getting there early to get my meat and cheese nachos!

the taco house has amazing food! i can‘t wait for them to open. are they opening mid march again this year?

It is the Taco House. Where else can you get this great food at this low price? I love going there, just wish they were open year round. But that is what makes it even better!

I grew up in the Okoboji area and still come up from Kansas City 1-2 times a summer to visit my parents, who still live by Haywards Bay. I have been going to the Taco House since high school (graduated 1975) and, even though it may not be quite as good, it is something to look forward to. It is still better than commercial fast food taco places and the long lines in the summer testify that both locals and tourists feel the food is worth waiting for.

Great food even though it takes a while....it‘s not quite the same as it used to be but it‘s a great place to have a lunch

I am a former employee of Taco House. I don‘t live in Okoboji anymore and since I have left a new owner has taken over. I must say, I have been back and have eaten at Taco House and the food does not compare to the way it tasted and looked when Marta owned it. I do know that Marta cared a lot about the appearance of the food and the new owner definitely does not seem to care. I remember working there and a customer telling us that our food was so much better than Taco Casa in Des Moines (which is owned by the new Taco House owner as well) and...obviously she is already running Taco House into the ground. The restaraunt has gotten pretty dirty also, it‘s really disappointing going back to eat there. WE WANT MARTA BACK!

I have gone to the Taco house since 1965 and have only missed one year. I always look forward to it opening and now that our daughters have grown up the still make a 4 hour drive to make sure they go to the taco house at least twice a year. Now our grand children want to go there. Some say the food service is slow but I say that is something you kind of look forward to when you go there because you meet a lot of people in line that you never would meet any other time, and some have come to be good freinds.

Thought I would give it a try again for a quick bite, but I guess I should have planned an hour lunch as it took forever again. At least the other Mexican places are fast. Food was very greasy, which good Mexican does not need to be.

A fun atmosphere. My friends and I all love the food.

I have been going to the Taco House all 29 years I have been alive. The food is always good, and the place never really changes. I find myself driving an hour each way just to take my own kids there for a special summer treat, just like my parents did for me, and my mothers parents did for her.

They are open... they are delicious.. they need to expand. Taking the day off to go for lunch and some green sauce.

http://www.myspace.com/thetacohouse

Our food was completely greasy, not hot and we waited forever, considering there was almost no one there.

The Taco House is amazing! My only complaint is this... for a business that does not want their phone number listed (understandable) you would think that they would do a better job of advertising their hours. Today is openning day and my family and I would like to go but we live 1/2 hour away and would like to know that if we make the drive, they will be open. I have searched the internet, looked through the paper at the big ads saying they were open, and called everyone I can think of. No one is sure about their hours.

I also have grown up eating at Taco House. It was one of those things, if you‘re going to the beach you might as well stop by Taco House. My cousins worked at Taco House when they were in high school so seeing them was a good excuse for the most amazing tacos in northwest Iowa.

The best food in the lakes area!!!! We can‘t wait for it to reopen every year.

I called Taco Casa in Des Moines to see when The Taco House in Arnolds park opens. I was told it would be opening in mid March, but they didn‘t want to give me an exact date, because it may change due to the weather. The lady that owns the Taco House in Arnolds Park also owns Taco Casa in Des Moines. She‘s soo lucky :)

The Taco House has the best nachos and homemade salsa ever! Taco house is one of my favorite places to eat :) I‘ve been waiting for the taco house to open since they‘ve closed for the winter. I need to quit talking about the Taco House b/c my mouth is watering and they aren‘t open until March, so I can‘t eat there right now :( They need to be open year round!
Does anyone know the exact day the Taco House will open in March? My friends and I have plans on taking work off the day Taco House opens. We are going to eat there for lunch and dinner:) YUMMY YUMMY IN MY TUMMY!

What can I say? Simply Amazing!!! It‘s January now and my friends and I are already counting down the days until it opens back up!!!

I grew up eating at the Taco House. My friends and I would drive up in spring after school just to eat dinner. My family is there on opening weekend every year. My 1 year old daughter at there for the first time this summer. She ate her whole taco. There is nothing better than going to the taco house and enjoying the great food, spending time with the family and making new memories!

I grew up across the street in Maywood and ate there frequently in the 70‘s and 80‘s, but then hadn‘t been back for 15 years. However, my parents would often make 2 1/2 hour trips there just to stock the freezer with burritos, and always went the first weekend they were open in the spring. Last summer I went back myself and brought home 50 dollars worth of burritos. I now drive back there from Minneapolis on day trips just to get this food. This place, hands down, has the best burritos I have ever tasted. Hope the place never closes. I wonder, whatever ever happened to Jack (the original owner?) I remember him smoking his cigar! Is the restaurant (and the one in Des Moines) still in the family?

This place has by far the best salsa I have had at a Restaurant. It‘s homemade.

I love the place, just wish it was open year round!!!
I have alwas ate there and alwas will go there and eat over anything else.

I‘ve gone to the Taco House for 35+ years & love it. Usually get a chili dog so can‘t comment on the "Mexicality" of the food. I do miss the bug zappers from the old place. The dead flies on the ground around it look just like the spices in the hot sauce. Mmmm...

I used to live in spencer and hadnt ate at the taco house for about 18 years. I went back up a couple of summers ago and it was still just as good as way back then. I brought home enchiladas and froze them. I still have one in fridgerator and just dont have the heart to eat it since i dont no when i will be back up there again. If anyone is coming from up there to southeast iowa i would love dearly love it if you would let me know and bring some back for me:)

Great food!! We come here at least once a week in the summer. You will never find nachos this good anywhere else.

I think it is overrated, average food that takes forever. Perhaps more of a nostalgia thing than quality. I do usually go once a summer because I have been everywhere else.

Only the best mexican in the midwest. I have found myself making 4 hour trips from Sioux City just to enjoy a soft shell taco, rice, and the most amazing hot sauce on earth (though not really hot...weird). If I ever move farther away I will at least make a yearly trip, or have them mail me a freezer order.

Anyone who thinks the Taco House has wonderful Mexican food has never eaten Mexican food. I‘ve had tacos from a roadside stand that were better....good milkshakes though.

I am from Sprit Lake originally and when I go back home to visit I buy a freezer full of tacos to bring home (without the lettuce on them of course) and as much of their hot sauce as I can carry!
I love the place, I can‘t wait to try out Des Moines.

Although I have to agree that The Taco House is very dirty at times it has amazing food. Again it is staffed by highschoolers but again the food is great. My wife and I have driven 4 hours one way just to eat here. Every time we come to the Taco House we have to bring a cooler. My inlaws send money with us to get them food. I have to say that this is among the best Mexican food I have ever had.

Don‘t listen to that guy from California, this place is the best place around. The soft shell tacos and nachos are the best I have ever eaten. It is dirty, but it‘s the greatest!

Dont listen to those up tight locals. Taco house is the best food in okoboji....im a local high schooler.....and its a great hangout for everyone....prices are cheap and there hot sause is DA bomb..

I wont argue with you, a lot of high school kids work there that don‘t care much about it, and it is pretty dirty, but why is it so popular if it‘s so terrible? I hate mexican food, but i die for their nachos!

Whenever we go to "The Lake" we HAVE to stop at Taco Casa! Thank goodness they have a sister restaurant in Des Moines called Taco House so we can enjoy it all year around!!!

really...I mean really bad mexican food.
Also...seems to be run by high school kids who could give a rip. And dirty, dirty, dirty. I‘m a local, and always hear
about how wonderful this joint is. Am I
in a non-parallel universe?

Wow, those are the first people i have ever seen that don‘t like taco house, that‘s surprising. Either way, the food is awsome in my opinion, i just wish i could have it year round.

Coming from California, and eating alot of authentic mexican food, I can honestly say this is the worst mexican food I have ever had. I even went back a second time to try something else on the menu, and it was still terrible. YUK

omg im a local and i hate this place, worst mexican around, anywhere

October and the Taco House is still incredible!! We will miss you, hurry back!

THe BEST Mexican in the Okoboji area is found at the Taco House. The last reviewer must have had a sun stroke!

If you‘re a local, you have to go to the Taco House at least once/week. It‘s the Best!!!

best taco‘s in the world! (almost as good as taco casa in des moines!)

I HATE the Taco House! I have never been to a filthier restaurant in Okoboji!!

One of the things I miss about living in the Lakes area is the great food at Taco House! Will be traveling back to the area for a visit and will not miss Taco House while we are there!

Seriously love this food. Haven‘t met a single person so far that hasn‘t. You MUST try this if you are visiting the lakes area.

Taco house is incedible. My wife has never had and is in for a real treat when i take my family there for the first time!

i love the taco house i actually am employed there now but will be moving to another job here soon but the food is unbelievable

Love the Taco House. Try and go a couple times a month during the summer! I‘ve been going there since I was a little girl! You gotta love the Taco House! It Rocks! All meat burritos are the best!

Family tradition... my family‘s been going to Boji for 30 years and Taco House is must at least once while we‘re there... its so darn good!!! You can‘t not stop at least once in your life at the Taco House... its fabulous!

Taco house rocks my socks off!!! Great food, Great employees. What more can you ask for? Everyone should check it out!!

I feel like a beer in hibernation through the winter months without the Taco House! Then when spring comes and it opens my long nightmare is finally over!!!!

I LOVE THE TACO HOUSE !!!! Yummy....It‘s only been open for a week and a half and I‘ve eaten there 3 times already....nachos royale and guacamole....Love it...every body, locals and tourists alike, should check this place out...

I heard the Taco House is opening this week...Is it true??? If not, does anybody know when it is opening? I can‘t wait....I think I may drive up there today just to see! I live in Spencer!

Opens TOMORROW!!!

Low prices and great food. It‘s a local hangout and we count the days before it opens! Nachos are out of this world good! A unique flavor that can‘t be made anywhere else! And the salsas are to die-for! I‘m looking forward to the addition.. :) AND THE DAY WHEN IT OPENS BACK UP FOR SUMMER!

I love Taco House! I am an employee and can‘t get enough. The customers are really great, it is true that the wait can be long, but we work hard to get the food out as fast as we can! Taco House has just put on an addition so I encourage everyone to come and check it out! We will be opening soon!

My favorite Mexican restaurant. I even prefer it to the nicer sit-down joints.

There was a fly in my taco !

I dont know what could have given the fellow local that idea...We do as locals go to the Taco house. We love it and eat there often. Highly recommended for very the very good food and beyond casual atmosphere!

I love this place. I‘m in the navy now and I‘ve been all over the country, but this little taco joint is my absolute favorite of all time. The salsas are fantastic and the Burrito con Chili is my must have dish. It‘s nice to be able to eat indoors or out, but occasionally the wait is a little long due to the crowd.

im a local and i ate here twice my whole life and both times it made me puke. once when i was 16 and then when i was 21. gross