Mexican, Taco and Bartender: Taco Love Grill
McHenry Row, 1724 Whetstone Way, 443-548-5032. tacolovegrill.com
Cross Street Market,1065 S. Charles St. Suite 128. 443-869-3400
11550 Philadelphia Road Suite 109-110, White Marsh. 410-256-0406
At Taco Love Grill, husband-and-wife duo Gelmin and Jimena Portillo have been slinging tacos dressed with red-hot salsa, tortas stacked on telera bread and quesadillas stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat — first, out of a location in White Marsh before adding two more in Baltimore City.
“We started out small, and we kept growing, but our way of preparing the food hasn’t changed,” Gelmin Portillo said. “We prepare everything in-house, and I think that makes us different.”
Taco Love was established in 2011, he said, to pay homage to his wife’s native Mexico City.
“She longed for that flavor and that taste of food from her hometown,” he said. “We wanted a place to showcase her recipes and her family’s recipes.”
While the Portillos are ever proud of their product, Gelmin Portillo attributed the business’s success to his team’s ability to “provide an ambience that customers feel comfortable in.”
Taco Love Grill’s McHenry Row location has a long bar. This location is one of two in Baltimore. The other is in Cross Street Market and there is a White Marsh restaurant, too. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
“We have created a relationship with our customers when it comes to the hospitality,” he added. “I think that has translated into their acceptance and their love towards our food [and] our place.”
Taco Love Grill won the Best Latin Restaurant and Best Taco last year, too.
In the past two years, one particular taco order has become “all the rage” at the local chain: the birria, a 28-ingredient stewed-beef recipe that the Portillos traveled to Jalisco to learn how to prepare.
“Birria tacos [are] a perfect dish for someone that comes to visit us for the first time,” Gelmin Portillo said.
The couple’s nephew, Jimmy Portillo, works for them and was voted Baltimore’s Best Bartender this year.
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Asian: Azumi
Honorable mentions:
Luk Fu
Nine Tailed Fox
Spice and Dice
Bakery: Woodlea Bakery
Honorable mentions:
Towson Hot Bagel
Cafe Dear Leon (tie)
The Newberry Cafe and Bakery (tie)
Cake by Jason Hinsley
Barbecue: Mission Barbecue
Honorable mentions:
Andy Nelson’s
Jake’s Grill
Boog’s BBQ
Bartender: Jimmy Portillo, Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:
Zach Miller, Marta Fine Food & Spirits
Dawn Green, Walt’s Inn
Marty Schuler, Ryleigh’s Oyster
Breakfast/Brunch: Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Honorable mentions:
First Watch
Easy Like Sunday
Blue Moon Cafe
Brewery: State Farm Brewery
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewery Co.
Union Craft Brewing
Diamondback Brewing Co.
Burger: Kooper’s Tavern
Honorable mentions:
Abbey Burger Bistro
Looney’s Pub
Fuzzie’s Burgers
Caribbean: Chef BobbyD Restaurant
Honorable mention:
Althea’s Almost Famous
Caterers: The Classic Catering People (tie)
Libertore’s Bel Air (tie)
Honorable mentions:
Chef BobbyD Restaurant & Catering
Eddie’s of Roland Park
Beefalo Bob’s Catering
Nick’s Fish House
Antonios “Tony” Minadakis of Jimmy’s Famous Seafood was selected as Baltimore’s Best Chef. Minadakis is the co-owner and executive chef of the restaurant, an institution on Holabird Avenue in Baltimore for more than five decades. (Staff file)
Chef: Tony Minadakis, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Honorable mentions:
Matt Audette, Cece’s Roland Park
Andy Thomas, Schola Cooking Classes (tie)
Bobby Davis, Chef BobbyD Restaurant (tie)
Zuri Coles, Miss Shirley’s Cafe (tie)
Julian Marucci, Tagliata
Chicken Box: Royal Farms
Honorable mentions:
Tito’s Fried Chicken by Taco Love
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Park’s Fried Chicken
Chinese: Joey Chiu’s Greenspring Inn
Honorable mentions:
Nine Tailed Fox
Luk Fu Maryland
Bamboo Garden Chinese & Sushi (tie)
Sonny Lee’s Hunan Taste (tie)
Cocktails: Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:
Marta Fine Food & Spirits
Bluebird Cocktail Room
Cece’s Roland Park (tie)
WC Harlan (tie)
Coffee: Dunkin
Honorable mentions:
Zeke’s Coffee
Baltimore Tea and Coffee
Rise Up (tie)
Wawa (tie)
Crabcake: Pappas Seafood
Honorable mentions:
Box Hill
Koco’s Pub
G & M Restaurant
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun
Attman’s has been in business for over 100 years. The Lombard Street deli in Baltimore is still going strong.
Deli: Attman’s Delicatessen
Honorable mentions:
Pastore’s Italian Deli
Cannella’s Italian Deli
Mastellone Deli & Wine Shop
Dessert: Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry
Honorable mentions:
Yai Yai Bakery
Chef BobbyD Restaurant
Bethany’s Bakery
Diner: Double T Diner
Honorable mentions:
EC Diner
Nautilus
Pete’s Grill
Ethiopian: Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
Honorable mention:
Tabor Ethiopian Restaurant
Farmer’s Market: Pennsylvania Dutch Market
Honorable mentions:
Bel Air Farmers Market
Baltimore Farmers’ Market
32nd Street Farmers’ Market (Baltimore City)
Farmer’s Market Stands: Misty Valley Farms
Honorable mentions:
George’s Farm Market
Zook’s Family Pretzels
Food Hall: Amish Market, Cockeysville
Honorable mentions:
R House
Cross Street Market
Belvedere Square
Food Truck: La Migueleña
Honorable mentions:
Mr. Souvlaki Food Truck
Kooper’s Chowhound
Lyfe Acai
Gluten-Free: Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Bethany’s Bakery
Sweet 27
Alexander’s Tavern
Happy Hour: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Cece’s Roland Park
Das Beirhalle Bel Air
Luna Oaxaca (tie)
Tagliata (tie)
Ice Dream: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Taharka Brothers
Always Ice Cream
The Charmery
Indian: Peerce’s
Honorable mentions:
Mount Everest Restaurant
Ananda
Namaste
Italian: Liberatore’s
Honorable mentions:
DiPasquale’s Italian Market
Basta Pasta
Amicci’s of Little Italy
Japanese: Azumi
Honorable mentions:
Sushi Hana
Sushi King
Arigato Hibachi & Sushi
Korean: Honey Pig
Honorable mention:
Motte Restaurant
Latin: Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:
La Tolteca
Birria Love (tie)
El Gran Pollo (tie)
Luna Oaxaca
Lunch: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Honorable mentions:
Fisherman’s Catch Restaurant & Lounge
Chef BobbyD Restaurant
Looney’s Pub
Mediterranean: Samos
Honorable mentions:
Cava
Ouzo Bay
Yasou Greek Bistro
Middle Eastern: Nora’s Kabob
Honorable mention:
Yesh Hummus & Grill
Outdoor Dining: Nick’s Fish House
Honorable mentions:
Cece’s Roland Park
The Valley Inn
Chef BobbyD Restaurant
Pizza: Frank’s Pizza and Pasta
Honorable mentions:
Pizzeria 101
Ledo Pizza
Desantis Pizza Grill & Bar
Ramen: Birria Love
Honorable mention:
Toki Underground
Raw Bar: Thames Street Oyster House
Honorable mentions:
Ryleigh’s Oyster
Lib’s Grill Perry Hall
Nick’s Fish House
Snowball: SnoOasis
Honorable mentions:
Emmorton Snowball
Ice Queens
Kona, Parkville
Soul food: Granny’s Restaurant
Honorable mentions:
Collision Course
The Reserve Restaurant
Soup: Soup’s On
Honorable mentions:
Dutch Corner Restaurant
Monarque
Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Seafood
Honorable mentions:
Costas Inn
Nick’s Fish House (tie)
Ocean Pride (tie)
Mr. Bill’s Terrace Inn Crab House
Taco: Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:
Clavel
La Tolteca
Papi’s Tacos
Tea House: Baltimore Tea and Coffee
Honorable mentions:
Emma’s Tea Spot
Cuples Tea House
Thai: Spice and Dice
Honorable mention:
Thai Heaven
Vegan: Land of Kush
Honorable mention:
Oleum
Wedding cake: Graul’s Market
Honorable mentions:
Sugar Bakers
Bethany’s Bakery
Pariser’s Bakery
Wine list: Cece’s Roland Park
Honorable mentions:
The Prime Rib
Pairings Bistro
Tagliata
Winery: Boordy Vineyards
Honorable mention:
Westminster Winery
Wings: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Chef BobbyD Restaurant (tie)
Kislings Tavern (tie)
iBar
State Fare (tie)
The Local Fry (tie)
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to May. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
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