Bay View has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to quality restaurants. Among the array of outstanding eateries is a menagerie of magnificent Mexican joints. There are timeless neighborhood classics like Guanajuato and Las 7 Estrellas, tasty and trendy local chains like Cafe Corazón and the newly opened Paloma Taco & Tequila, and solid standbys like La Salsa and Little Cancun Sports. Amid Bay View’s abundance of delectable dining options (many of which land in the realm of Mexican cuisine), one place seems to get lost in the shuffle.
Ventura’s Taco (2899 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 414-763-6689) opened in the former site of East Side Ovens in May 2021. Long before that, nearby residents knew Ventura’s from its perpetual presence near the post office on Oklahoma Ave., where its truck continues to park to this day. Locals might also find the truck set up outside Morgan Park and stationed at a variety of area festivals.
Despite Ventura’s brick-free and mortar-less start (and its continued success in the mobile vendor format), the business is much more than just a taco truck churning out Mexican specialties outside of public spaces and at local events.
Don’t get us wrong…we’ll happily grab some steak tacos to enjoy whilst sitting on a curb or hunched over a trash can at a block party (just as we did twice last weekend at Puddler’s Hall’s “Rock Party Block Party”). Soft corn tortillas brimming with a generous scoop of juicy spiced asada that’s topped with diced onions, cilantro, and both of Ventura’s trademark salsas hit the spot anywhere and any time. Same goes for their other taco, burrito, torta, and quesadilla options.
However, more than three years after opening, it still seems like Ventura’s actual restaurant location is a bit overlooked compared to the popularity of its truck. During our countless visits either to dine in or to carryout since it opened, we’ve found it strangely empty at times.
Sure, with five small interior tables, six bar stools, and a cluster of tables set out on the KK-facing patio during warmer months, it’s smaller than, well, all of its Mexican restaurant contemporaries. However, its menu is sizable and full of stunners to suit almost any taste. Beyond the transcendent tacos (including the must-have fish tacos that are available on Fridays), we’ve enjoyed the massive and meaty Burrito Suizo more than a few times, and the enchiladas—including this week’s order with tender pieces of shredded chicken, melted cheese, and tangy green sauce accompanied by fluffy rice and a delectable deluge of refried beans—have earned repeat orders as well.
You’ll also find birria dishes, breakfast and lunch offerings, fajitas, tortas, ceviche and other seafood specialties, tamales, and much more on the small restaurant’s mighty menu. When washed down with a cocktail, beer (a mix of local and Mexican mainstays), or soft drink (including Mexican Coke, horchata, a few Jarritos options, and Sangría Señorial) from Ventura’s surprisingly well-stocked bar for an establishment its size, you’re sitting pretty.
Milwaukee has no shortage of excellent taco trucks. Ventura’s Taco is one of them. Milwaukee also has an abundance of great Mexican restaurants. Ventura’s Taco is one of them. Whether you’re looking for something quick to fuel your trip to the USPS, you’re in search of festival fare at an area block party, or you’re wanting a satisfying Mexican meal in a sit-down setting while you’re in or around Bay View, Ventura’s Taco is a quietly commendable contributor to the neighborhood’s dining scene, and a place that absolutely deserves a spot in your personal rotation.
