Tac/Quila
Mexican · Downtown · $$
Tac/Quila is downtown Palm Springs' modern Mexican flagship - a high-ceilinged, plant-filled dining room on Palm Canyon Drive where the kitchen works from Mexico City and Oaxacan playbooks rather than combo-plate tradition. The short list of signatures: a duck carnitas that arrives crisped and pull-apart tender, blue-corn tortillas pressed in house, esquites finished with cotija and chile, and a mezcal and tequila program deep enough that the staff will happily steer you by region rather than brand. Cocktails are the other reason people come - the margaritas are made with fresh lime and a legible pour, and the smoky mezcal variations are the ones regulars order twice. The patio, wrapped in greenery and misted in summer, is the best seat in the house at sunset. It is a full-price restaurant, not a taqueria: expect entrees in the $20s to $30s and a room that fills up fast Thursday through Sunday.
