Coba taqueria in Noord

When you think of tacos, you quickly picture a simple bite with a beer, but at Coba in Noord things are just a little different. Here, you eat haute cuisine Mexican food with killer cocktails and amazing mezcals.

On the corner of Schaafstaat stands a somewhat inconspicuous building with white lettering on the windows: Coba. Once through the door, I step into a raw, no-nonsense restaurant. No colorful sombreros, but a huge bar as the centerpiece. The evening naturally starts with an aperitif. The spicy mandarin cocktail is surprisingly fresh with a spicy kick, the hibiscus lemonade is every bit as good as its alcoholic alternative, and the service is fast. Our glasses remain filled and the dishes keep coming.

What’s on the menu?

We start with deep-purple, crispy tostadas with eringyii (king oyster mushroom), which, thanks to the preparation method, has the texture of octopus. Not that I’m a vegetarian, but I was almost convinced. Especially after the cauliflower ceviche, I begin to wonder whether meat and fish are even necessary. The tostada with stewed pork, on the other hand, puts both feet firmly back on the ground, because it is so delicious. To finish things off, we share cheesy quesedillas with cactus. Naturally, there is still plenty of room for the memorable dessert with sweet potato ice cream, goat’s milk dulce de leche and caramelized nuts. I still lie awake thinking about it.

Lyrical

You can probably guess: I love Coba. From the lovely staff to the refined Mexican dishes that are nevertheless very accessible. I’m not the only one waxing lyrical, either, because Hiske Versprille rewarded Coba with an 8.5 and Joël Broekaert even gave it a 9-.

Coba taqueria
Schaafstraat 4
Amsterdam