Taqueria Kukulkan - Gloucester

Whenever I have a craving for tacos, I am glad that Taqueria Kukulkan is nearby for a quick taco fix.

This restaurant is a hidden gem with amazing beef and chicken tacos, as well as delicious desserts.

My partner and I went to the restaurant for lunch today.

They were out of guacamole when we went for lunch on Friday (too few avocados), they were out fish tacos and they were out of the other dish that we wanted to order. The restaurant was freezing (AC too cold) and all three dishes we ordered were ok, but not worth talking about. Particularly disappointing twas the ceviche- too salty, not enough zing and the fish didn't seem fresh at all.

We didn't expect too much because of the location but hoped "authentic" would be genuine. In any case, it was a disappointment, start to finish. The service was friendly enough until our server asked how we liked the soup (tortilla soup - a replacement for the crab soup listed on the menu). When I told her it was okay, but not as good as my own, she got a bit surly and walked away. Having enjoyed tortilla soup that was superior and more authentic not only in my own home but in various other restaurants, I have to say this was the worst. It was much too salty, and aside from the abundance of fried tortilla strips in it, there was almost nothing but the broth. The miniscule bits of avocado, perhaps a teaspoon in all, were hard because the avocado wasn't ripe and the sour cream was a mere drizzle. It could have been left off and no one would notice. But salty was the overwhelming flavour and it defined this soup. The tacos were better but again, too salty. The tortillas the tacos were made with were very good - in fairness, I must say this. They were made fresh and the flavour was very good. As far as ambiance, our table was sticky and the restaurant seemed kind of dirty in general. The two televisions (with a choice between tacky Mexican videos and soccer) add to the dingy atmosphere. The prices are not outrageous ($5.95 for the soup, $4 each for the tiny tacos) but a bit steep for the quality. We paid by debit and because the service was a bit rude, would have preferred to tip a bit less than the 15% minimum on the pin pad. In fact, even if the food and service is wonderful, I resent the premise that the establishment determines a "minimum" for tips. Yes, I am aware there was probably a way around this but after her chilly attitude in response to my giving my true opinion of the soup, I wasn't inclined to ask our server for her help. We won't go back and we won't be recommending the place.