Taco place in Poznan keeps it simple with mini menu but cravings-busting taste

Sometimes I just want tacos, and in those instances a restaurant doesn’t need a sprawling menu.

That was essentially the deal when I went with friends to Cholo Machete Street Food in central Poznan. The Mexican street-food spot in Poland keeps its menu noticeably small.

Tacos are the main attraction, and when I visited, the meat choice was even simpler: al pastor. For me, that wasn’t much of a problem. Al pastor is my go-to taco order anyway. I ordered six, because three have never felt like enough.

An order of al pastor is served with onion, cilantro, pineapple, salsa and lime at Cholo Machete Street Food in Poznan, Poland. A six-taco box costs 69 zloty, or about $19. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)

Three al pastor tacos are topped with guacamole at Cholo Machete Street Food in Poznan, Poland. Guacamole can be added to an order for an additional 10 zloty. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)

But the lack of variety is worth knowing before you go. Coming from the United States, I’m accustomed to taco shops where I can choose between carne asada, chicken, chorizo and several other meats.

At Cholo, patrons looking for that kind of selection may be disappointed. The menu lists al pastor, a mushroom-based alternative and a few other dishes including burritos, quesadillas and nachos, but this isn’t the place to spend 15 minutes deciding between a dozen different taco fillings.

The upside is that what Cholo does it does pretty well.

My tacos came on small tortillas piled with al pastor, onion and cilantro, with lime on the side. The meat had plenty of flavor, and the salsa added enough heat without overpowering everything else. The guacamole was more like whipped avocados, but the portion was generous.

Corn tortillas can be substituted for an additional charge. The drink menu includes beer, micheladas and frozen cocktails, as well as nonalcoholic options such as horchata, agua fresca, Jarritos and coconut water, though I stuck with water during my visit.

The menu at Cholo Machete Street Food in Poznan, Poland, features al pastor and mushroom tacos along with burritos, quesadillas, nachos and a selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Tacos cost 14 zloty each, 39 zloty for three or 69 zloty for six. (ShaTyra Cox/Stars and Stripes)

Is it the kind of place where you walk through the door and suddenly feel like you’ve been transported to Mexico or back to a taco shop in Texas? No.

But I’m also eating tacos halfway around the world. With that reality in mind, Cholo scratched the itch.

Takeaway is available, but workers recommended eating the tacos at the restaurant while they’re fresh. There is some outdoor seating, though with temperatures dropping in Poznan, it may not be the most comfortable option during the cooler months.

There is one piece of advice I’d take more seriously than anything else: Don’t wait until late in the evening to go.

Cholo prepares a limited amount of meat each day, and once it sells out, that’s it. Miss out, and you’ll have to come back the following day.

For a place built around essentially one meat option, arriving after the al pastor is gone changes the experience considerably.

The stripped-down approach ultimately works in Cholo’s favor, though. This isn’t a massive Mexican restaurant trying to cover enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, burritos and everything in between. It’s a street-food spot with a clear specialty.

And sometimes, six good tacos with friends are all I need.

Cholo Machete Street Food

Address: Ulica Swiety Marcin 25, Poznan, Poland Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, noon-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m.; closed Monday

Cost: One taco, 14 zlotys; three tacos, 39 zlotys; box of six tacos, 69 zlotys