The Mad River Valley—coined the “Bad Liver” Valley by locals (and for good reason)—is more than your typical Vermont ski town with old money, long vistas and some of the best skiing in the state. With Mad River Glen and Sugarbush located within minutes of the quaint downtown, Waitsfield is a popular getaway in the winter with high-end B&Bs and ski chalets, plenty of good restaurants and down-to-earth residents who choose to call Waitsfield home for the access to the outdoors and the relaxed lifestyle the town provides.

All year round, Waitsfield has a certain je ne sais quoi… You’ll have to experience the energy and vibe of Waitsfield for yourself to know exactly what I mean. People are real, rugged, laid back. They’re friendly and happy… probably because they’re living the good life with ample time outside, ready access to the best beer in Vermont and seemingly little stress.

For us, driving over the App Gap to Waitsfield, whether to spend the morning at the Farmers’ Market, get our hands on some hard-to-find local brews or visit the Mad Taco, always invigorates us. We leave the town feeling energized (and usually in a food coma).

It may not look like much, but just you wait.

This way to delicious Mexican in Vermont and cold, Vermont beer.

The Carnitas Tostada, with a Hill Farmstead Edward and hot sauces galore.

Be sure to notice the heat scale… or surprise yourself.

The Mad Taco – Central Vermont’s Premiere Taqueria

The first time you try to find the Mad Taco, located on Route 100 in Waitsfield, you’ll likely breeze right past it. The façade is nothing special. It’s located in a strip mall in Waitsfield… (yes, we do have them in Vermont). The small storefront is unremarkable and easy to miss. Outside, you’ll see a smoker and a sign, and sometimes, if you time your visit wrong, a line out the door. The Waitsfield location is the original Mad Taco. There’s another Mad Taco in Vermont’s capital city, Montpelier, that also has breakfast options.

As you enter the front door to Mad Taco in Waitsfield, you’ll be greeted by wafts of spice mixed with smoke and fry, loud music and shit-talking chefs in the open kitchen. The floors likely will be grungy… trust me, after a sip of Lawson’s and a bite of Neil Farm Oxtail tacos, you won’t care. The menu appears on chalkboards the length of the kitchen, along with a list of one of the best selections of local beers in the area and tequila ready to be shaken into a margarita. Mad Taco, without fail, has Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Hill Farmstead and Heady Topper ($6!) at the ready, making it also a watering hole destination for locals.

At Mad Taco, you order at the register and seat yourself, whether at the counter overlooking the kitchen, seats facing the parking lot or in a backroom with a beautifully made high-top wooden table or picnic tables in the back. You grab your utensils and plenty of paper towels. Be listening for your name.

Seating is pretty limited, especially due to the popularity of the place, but sitting wherever there’s a seat available is acceptable, even if it’s next to someone you don’t know. For sunny days, there’s a small patio outside for a little al fresco dining. We like the window seats, especially when the patio is full. Mad Taco attracts a diverse clientele, which makes for awesome eavesdropping and people-watching: skiers, hipsters, hikers, rednecks, bicyclists, families (they won’t mind if your kids throw food on the ground, and it’s already noisy)… and people like us who value good food and drink, no matter the décor.

Enough About the Place… Tell Me About the Food

Mad Taco’s Mexican fare is the absolute best you’ll find in Vermont: flavor-packed and authentic, with little cheese and featuring many smoked meats, local produce and homemade hot sauces to choose from. If you begin to spend a lot of time in Vermont, you’ll notice that restaurants don’t tout their local products anymore… really everything is local and, when possible, bought from farmers close by. Mad Taco smokes most items on their menu, including pork belly (the taco is delish), pork shoulder for carnitas, and chicken, along with jalapenos and squash.

When ordering, eat it how they make it, and don’t spend too much time trying to make a decision on the menu—it really doesn’t matter. It’s all that good. If you’re daring, ask one of the chefs to make you their favorite. Or try the Carnitas Tostadas, my standby. Smoky, melt-in-your mouth pork shoulder, layered on top of mounds of refried beans and a just-fried, crunchy tortilla. Then pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro layered on top. The vegetarian burrito would also leave any meat eater or veg satisfied. With about a quarter of a pound of seitan and grilled sweet potatoes, it’s unlike any vegetarian Mexican burrito you’ve had before.

Be sure to visit the hot sauce station (pay attention to the heat ratings – or don’t and be surprised) and sample as many as you dare… you might need those paper towels to wipe the sweat off your brow.

The next time you’re in Waitsfield, spend the afternoon enjoying a leisurely Mexican meal, complete with smoked meats, people watching and cold Vermont brews. The ambiance and people will give you a good feel for what the Valley is all about, and you’ll be replenished after a hike, ski or bike, adventuring throughout the Mad River Valley.

Tips for Visiting the Mad Taco Like a Local:

• Order the tostadas as opposed to tacos – you’ll get three massive tostadas for the same price as the tacos.
• Time your visit for the mid-afternoon (2:30pm-3pm is usually a good time to drop by) and combine lunch and dinner. The portions are plentiful. You’ll want to eat it all. Make sure you’re hungry.
• If you’re visiting the Mad River Valley for its beer, you can sometimes find Sean Lawson himself at the Waitsfield Farmer’s Market on select Saturdays throughout the year. Get to the market early (note, Lawson’s usually has a per-person limit, so bring a friend) and head over to Mad Taco afterwards. They open at 8am… Anything goes in Vermont, including sipping a Lawson’s on tap at 9am. It’s that good, you won’t care what anyone thinks.

The Mad Taco
2 Village Square, Waitsfield, Vermont
Open 7 days a week, 8am-8pm daily
802.496.3823