Taco Casa Mexican Cafe

This is the most disgusting so called Mexican food I have ever put in my mouth. The tortillas are cold out of a bag, the beans are out of a can, the meat is mystery meat. All together disgusting. Oh and queso is suppose to be white not gas station nacho cheese from a pump. Asked for my money back.

Absolutely one of my FAVORITE places to eat & has been for 25+ years now! I crave the food here all the time!
Taco Casa has been around for at least 30 – 35 years now & I can tell you first hand that the atmosphere is authentic & friendly; always has a very clean & almost «new-​like» appearance; and the food’s AMAZING taste & presentation are always spot on & consistent — EVERY SINGLE TIME!
A «MUST HAVE» when you dine in, is the «CCQ» (the original /​orange color Chili Con Queso aka Cheese Dip), Sanchilada, Chili Burrito & Bean Burrito w/​SC! But everything is GOOD no matter what you order & made fresh daily! I would give more than 5 STARS if I could! ENJOY!!!
— «TACO CASA’S BIGGEST & #1 FAN»

Taco Casa does not deserve a two star rating, which is the current average.
It’s probably a four-​star place for me, normally, by Unilocal!standards, BUT it gets pushed up to five because it’s one of the only MUST VISIT restaurants for me still in existence in Panama City from my youth whose food you just can’t get anywhere else — so the sentimental value as a Panama City native for this local institution merits the top rating.
This is a locally-​owned business with a long history. As far as good, casual local food, Taco Casa, Luigi B.G., Coram’s, Flap Jacks, and dear, sweet, departed Loco’s (my all time favorite) are a few of the standards that make my short list. Other folks might also include Jimmy’s, Tally-​Ho, and various beach institutions, but that’s my «townie» list above.
Taco Casa was long located in the Panama City Mall between Chick-​Fil-​A and Pana Roma Pizza. For a brief while there were two locations once the owner opened up the current iteration in the 23^rd St. Walmart shopping center next to his other joint — Gyro Café. The mall location is sadly no more, but thankfully Taco Caso on 23^rd was very busy during my recent visit.
There are several awesome menu items here. I’ve never cared for the tacos, but the sanchiladas and enchiladas are good.
Really though, I come back again and again for two main things:
Bean burritos and the famous Chili con Queso.
The bean burritos are affordable at less than $ 2 each, and somehow are just magically delicious. Sometimes I even get three and then feel ashamed afterwards, they’re that good. Two is all you really need even if you are a big eater. The owner really ought to consider creating a combo deal offering a discount for two bean burritos, a small chili con queso, and a drink. I’d buy that every time.
The chili con queso is really a mainstay at Taco Casa. They’ve experimented with it at times to no avail (i.e. trying white cheese and unnaturally colored chips) but you can always rely on the liquid gold that is a yellow cheese chili con queso with a good plain tortilla chips. Small and large each come with the same amount of chips, so it’s the size of the cheese cup you are paying for.
For the other stuff — Taco Casa is affordably-​priced, as I’ve alluded to, and is, like most joints in PC-​proper, very casual and no-​frills. Just a simple dining room with a very generic Southwestern motif, a couple tvs, and some music playing. You order at the counter and, when your number is called, you go pick it up. It’s that kind of place. If it’s slow they will bring it your table sometimes.
Unfortunately (in my opinion) they serve Pepsi instead of Coke products, but I get that small businesses have to cut the distributor deals they can.
Bottom line: This is a local institution, beloved by many natives. Beach people or out-​of-​towners looking for authentic Mexican food should go elsewhere. This is a 100% Tex Mex throwback, but it’s independently good.

What is in their ground beef (mystery meat)? I NEVER want that taste in my mouth again… YUCK!!!

I know this sounds crazy but I love Taco Casa. I live in Denver CO but I grew up in Panama City FL. Everytime I come visit my family, my brother and friends get together for a lunch at taco casa. The Sanchilada and chips and queso are the best.
I was disappointed to see that they dont have the crushed ice anymore and the queso is a little different.

I was hoping that the crowd at lunch today was a good indication of good food but I was a little disappointed. The salsa that came with the chips and salsa looked to be from a jar (most likely Pace brand salsa) and the hot and mild sauce in the drip cuts were flavorless and lacking any kind of seasoning. Had the taco burger and sancho and I was disappointed. This café was about two steps below Taco Bell.