Buried in one of McCallum’s many zoned areas is a little taqueria called Nixta. Right off of East 12th street, Nixta is well attended by the surrounding neighborhood and community. They offer a variety of appetizers, tacos, drinks and even specialty desserts. After watching them grow over the past six years, from a small little taco spot with only a few tables to a restaurant with a busy line every night, I decided it was time to try it myself.
Walking up to get in line to order I could already tell the uniqueness of this spot. You order outside on a covered patio decorated by a mural and vibrant lighting and they make your drinks in front of you. While the wait to order was a little long, it was definitely worth it. I ordered their seasonal agua fresca, a pear and orange blossom flavor which was perfectly refreshing. They also offer a variety of other drinks with different flavors and names including an ube horchata and cactus fruit margarita, so there’s a little something for everyone.
After ordering I moved to their outdoor seating area. There is some limited indoor seating available but I highly recommend sitting outdoors because of the cozy and familial atmosphere. I watched the staff taking food out from the kitchen and chatting with other customers and still getting everything done. Sitting down I could see families enjoying meals together, young kids, couples. I had a view of their homegrown garden, growing the food I was going to eat. The tables even had mini bottles of bug spray and hand sanitizer, a small little detail that added that much more charm.
My food came out about five minutes after I ordered, very fast for the busy time of day. I had their enchilada potosina tacos, potato and chorizo with refried beans and a variety of toppings, in addition to their chips n’ dips. The cool thing about Nixta’s tacos is that they make their own masa and tortillas with heirloom maize, also known as corn. Heirloom maize can be many different colors, so their chips are purple, yellow and orange which makes the dish visually appealing.
The presentation of the food was beautiful and the taste was even better. Each individual flavor stood out to me and I could tell it was homemade with effort. The chips were crunchy and salty. They came with a salsa and refried beans to dip. I chose to add the avocado crema as a dip as well. The salsa was light and not too spicy, but definitely had a little kick. The avocado was delicious, creamy and a little limey. The beans were equally as good. My tacos were filled to the brim and a little difficult to eat, so I would definitely prepare yourself for things to fall out, but that made it so every bite had a little bit of everything.
Every item on the menu has its way of standing out, from cauliflower tacos to a simple bean and cheese. However, I would say their speciality is the duck carnitas tacos.
After I enjoyed my tacos I was lucky enough to try the “Sholeh zard” for dessert. This dessert is unique to Nixta. It is a Persian pistachio rice pudding with turmeric and cinnamon. It melts in your mouth. It is rich and sweet and a combination of flavors that I wouldn’t consider. If you don’t enjoy rice pudding, although I still recommend trying it, they also offer different flavor paletas for dessert. Overall, a very enjoyable meal.
However, I would say the food wasn’t my favorite part, but the culture. Nixta is family owned- and it shows. Each member of the staff was welcoming and kind. Even though they were busy, I still was regularly checked up on. I even got to talk to one of the owners, Sarah Mardanbigi, who started and owns the restaurant with her husband, Edgar Rico, who is the head chef. Sarah was positive and brought her passion for the restaurant into the space, working alongside her staff. The hospitality here was what made my experience a 10/10.
So, I highly recommend visiting this local spot for a relaxing evening filled with family and tacos. Honestly, what more could you ask for!
