Stick to Fried Chicken Tacos at Shifty’s

Shifty’s Tacos opened recently in Brewerytown with a small menu of tacos and a few sides. Order at the counter and you can sit at the tables inside or outside at a sort of wooden bar you can stand at (and bring your pet). Tacos (3 per order) range from $5 to $8 dollars.

While we waited outside for our tacos, I drank an Arnold Palmer and snacked on some chips and salsa ($3). I can’t recommend either. The tea/lemonade combo was really watery  and the chips didn’t taste fresh.

Tacos come in trios, I liked that you can do a combo and sample more than one. I picked the tilapia, the fried chicken nugget, and the brisket.  I liked the brisket the least, it was dry- Shifty’s would be better off using a fattier cut of beef here. The creamy, spicy sauce on the tilapia was nice, the tilapia itself was decent, but I have had better fish tacos. The chicken, however, was a great taco. The little nuggets were crispy and flavorful, and the cheese and pickled red onions on top worked well. It reminded me of tacos I have had in Texas.

So while the chicken taco was the only successful bite of the day for me, the service stood out in a good way. My gluten free friend failed to mention her digestive issues, and her trio was initially presented on flour tortillas. The staff was quick to replace the whole order on corn tortillas for her. (The original order was gifted to me to take home, but I had been drinking a good amount when I dug in to them and can’t offer an accurate account of how they tasted.)

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • Great chicken tacos
  • Good service

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • Stale chips
  • Weak Tea
  • Dry brisket tacos

Shifty’s Tacos, 2730 W Girard Ave, 215 232-1413

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