Eat This Now: Chicken quesadilla at Tiki Taco
Chicken quesadilla // Courtesy of Tiki Taco
Over at University Academy on Holmes Rd., Mr. Ryan Hall’s 8th-grade English class has a long-running practice of learning about food writing through the “Eat This Now” column from The Pitch. Given the chance to put words to any restaurant in town using our format, the students have a rare opportunity to tackle the twisty skillset of blending persuasive and descriptive language with culinary concoctions. As part of a very special project and contest this year, The Pitch has decided to publish the three top submissions from these 8th-graders—getting their first byline in a major publication, as a reward for going above and beyond in Hall’s class. The following is one of three stories selected for this series, composed by Lilyanne Harris. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
“Get yourself a dang quesadilla!”
That line from Napoleon Dynamite might sound random, but it actually makes a lot of sense when you’re taking yourself to Tiki Taco.
The restaurant started as a small walk-up taco spot on 39th Street back in 2017, and has grown over time into multiple locations, including my personal favorite: the one on Troost Avenue.
When you walk into Tiki Taco, it has a chill but busy atmosphere where you can sit either inside or outside the restaurant, which makes you feel like a unique and artsy kid with a niche spot to eat. The workers are friendly and straightforward, and even when it’s packed in there, the food comes out quick and fresh.
Tiki Taco is known for mixing different flavors like Mexican and California-style tacos, which is what makes it stand out.
Tiki Taco Troost location // Courtesy of Tiki Taco
A simple but not basic choice on the menu would be the chicken quesadilla.
I’ll be honest: it’s basically just chicken and cheese in a tortilla, but it tastes way better than you’d expect. The chicken quesadilla stands out because of how fresh it is and how well everything comes together.
When the quesadilla comes out, it looks golden and slightly crispy, and inside it’s filled with melted cheese and seasoned chicken. When you take a bite, the cheese is gooey, the chicken is juicy, and there’s an equal balance between chicken and cheese. It has a savory and slightly salty flavor that makes you just want to inhale the whole thing.
Another reason the quesadilla stands out is that it doesn’t taste fake and overly processed like typical fast food. The ingredients taste fresh, and you can tell it’s made with care. The crispy outside and the soft, cheesy inside create a good balance of textures. I seriously recommend you get the sour cream on the side; it adds a cool and creamy flavor that makes it even better.
Although it’s a simple meal, it’s still filling and satisfying without being too heavy on the stomach. Overall, the chicken quesadilla at Tiki Taco is definitely worth trying, especially if you want something quick that still tastes really good. As the quote says, sometimes you really just need to get yourself a dang quesadilla.
Tiki Taco has multiple locations across the Kansas City metro.
