Dish & Drink KC: Tamales at Taco Naco and hot chocolate at HiTides
HiTides Coffee // Photo By Tiffany Watts
The fall feeling has hit Kansas City. The mornings have a little bite in the air, leaves are starting to crunch underfoot, and sweater weather is creeping in. Naturally, my order at HiTides Coffee had to match the season. I went with a hot chocolate—sugar-free, made with oat milk—and it hit just right. Cozy, rich, and exactly what a cool morning calls for.
HiTides isn’t just about what’s in the mug, though. The space itself is an escape. Sunlight floods through wide windows, bouncing off walls lined with greenery, and the layout makes it easy to find a spot whether you’re meeting a friend, setting up your laptop for work, or just soaking in the calm.
No matter the season, HiTides keeps its signature energy intact. The atmosphere is breezy, colorful, and laid-back. It’s giving Hawaii in the heart of KC. That’s part of the magic here: you walk in for the coffee (or, in my case, hot chocolate), but you leave feeling like you just caught a little warmth from somewhere far more tropical.
HiTides Coffee is located at 519 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Taco Naco // Photo By Tiffany Watts
Lunch at Taco Naco in Westport always feels like a little adventure. Sometimes you walk in and it’s packed- people laughing loudly over margaritas, tacos flying out of the kitchen. Other times, like when I showed up toward the end of the lunch rush, it’s calmer, easier to settle in. That’s when I knew it was the perfect moment to order big: two chicken tamales, plus two chicken tacos and two steak tacos with nothing but onion and cilantro on top.
The tacos were good. Fresh, simple, and satisfying. But the tamales? That’s where it’s at. Warm and soft, the masa was tender without being heavy, hugging chicken that was juicy and seasoned just right. They tasted comforting, like something homemade, but still big enough in flavor to stand out on their own.
The space itself matches the energy of the food. Bright and colorful, sunlight pouring through the windows, it feels playful in a way that makes you want to stick around longer than you planned. And while I didn’t grab one this time, the margaritas are a whole vibe on their own. They’ve got a lineup of tasty-looking pre-batched flavors, but they can also whip up a regular marg if that’s what you’re into.
Taco Naco has multiple locations; this one is located at 4141 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111.
