A glimpse of the creative culinary offerings from Taco Wizard, a beloved pop-up in Tampa Bay.
Chef Michael Roberts’ Taco Wizard pop-up is making waves in Tampa Bay’s culinary scene, drawing crowds with its innovative menu featuring dishes like ceviche verde and steak Caesar tacos. Operating at various St. Petersburg locations, this taqueria combines heirloom Mexican ingredients with Latin and Asian flavors. With plans for expansion into a brick-and-mortar restaurant, excitement continues to build as the pop-up showcases a commitment to creativity and community engagement. Upcoming events, including a Cinco de Mayo celebration, keep diners eagerly anticipating the next culinary adventure.
Tampa Bay’s culinary scene is buzzing with excitement as Chef Michael Roberts’ Taco Wizard continues to draw enthusiastic crowds. Since its inception three years ago, this popular pop-up taqueria has built a loyal following among locals and visitors alike. Operating at various locations throughout St. Petersburg, including Bandit Coffee Co., Small Bar, Look Alive Coffee Roasters, CellarMasters, and Golden Isles Brewing Co., Taco Wizard showcases its innovative and mouth-watering menu while creating a unique dining experience.
The latest offerings from Taco Wizard include an impressive ceviche verde featuring Spanish octopus, yellowtail snapper, lump crab, Gulf shrimp, mango, avocado, and cucumber. Another highlight is the steak Caesar tacos, which showcase smoked koji beef paired with confit shallot Caesar salad and a Tajin crunch. Taco Wizard is also renowned for its smoky al pastor tacos, topped with pineapple and served on traditional corn tortillas. In addition, the recent fried chicken pop-up featured crispy chicken paired with caviar, oysters, and sparkling wine, showing Taco Wizard’s versatility and willingness to experiment with diverse culinary influences.
Roberts, who has achieved sold-out events since launching Taco Wizard, combines heirloom Mexican corn tortillas—processed through a traditional nixtamalization method—with Latin and Asian-inspired flavors, a hallmark of his culinary creations. Signature dishes like crab tostadas with mango and special hot sauce, smoky al pastor tacos roasted on a trompo, and the unique “pho birria” dish, which blends Vietnamese and Mexican cuisines, underline Taco Wizard’s commitment to innovative food experiences.
Chef Michael Roberts’ culinary journey began in Los Angeles, where he drew inspiration from local street food vendors. This background has influenced his approach to creating dishes that resonate with a diverse audience in the Tampa Bay area. To further amplify the experience, Roberts’ wife, Danielle, plays a crucial role in front-of-house operations and catering, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for diners.
With the overwhelming success of Taco Wizard, plans for expansion into a brick-and-mortar restaurant are underway. Roberts envisions a small establishment that blends the concepts of omakase and botanero dining, allowing diners to explore diverse flavors in a more permanent setting. Though details about this upcoming endeavor are yet to be released, excitement among fans continues to grow as they await the next chapter in Roberts’ culinary career.
Taco Wizard capitalizes on a strong social media presence to keep patrons informed about upcoming events, menu changes, and pop-up locations. The popularity of Taco Wizard can also be attributed to its creative branding style, which reflects Roberts’ passion for metal music and often features edgy and imaginative names for its events.
The next Taco Wizard pop-up is scheduled for May 5, coinciding with the celebration of Cinco de Mayo at Water Street’s Alter Ego. This event promises to bring even greater excitement to Tampa Bay diners looking to sample Taco Wizard’s unique offerings. In addition to their regular menu items, Taco Wizard has successfully collaborated with other local chefs, such as a recent creation of quesabirria pizza with the popular pop-up Franca’s.
As Taco Wizard continues to flourish, it stands as a testament to the vibrant culinary landscape of Tampa Bay, showcasing how innovative ideas in food can attract and retain a dedicated customer base while pushing the boundaries of traditional cuisine.
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