Trapped by the Tacos: A Mixed Bite at This Shinjuku Spot
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Time of visit: July 2025
We visited Tacos Trap’ Shinjuku-Gyoemmae 2nd Store 新宿御苑前 2号店 in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the second location of a taco joint, Tacos Trap’, after learning the original branch doesn’t take reservations. Thankfully, the second spot does—and on a hot, crowded evening in Tokyo, that was reason enough to choose it.
To start on a positive note: the food itself was quite good. The chorizo was super spicy and delicious. The guacamole & chips also stood out, with their fresh ingredients and crispy, freshly-fried tortilla chips.
The tacos featured fresh-ingredient toppings—which I appreciated. We sampled a variety, but despite the range of fillings, many of them ended up tasting quite similar, as they all came topped with the same garnishes. Some variation in the toppings would’ve gone a long way in differentiating each taco.
Unfortunately, the overall experience was less impressive. Service was painfully slow—we waited far too long for both drinks and food to arrive. The staff were clearly working hard and genuinely kind, but it was obvious the restaurant was understaffed and struggling to keep up with orders. It felt a bit ironic, really—aren’t tacos supposed to be fast food?
Other frustrations included the small portion sizes (especially for the price), and a weak air conditioner that made the space uncomfortably warm on a summer evening.
In the end, we paid 10,560 yen, and it felt overpriced for the quantity and speed of service we received. There’s definitely potential here—good ingredients, good flavors, and friendly staff—but they need to rethink how the place is run if they want to live up to the fast, fun spirit of a taco joint.
tacos trap’ Shinjuku-Gyoemmae 2nd Store 新宿御苑前 2号店 – Review
Summary
We visited the second location of Tacos Trap’ for its reservation option and enjoyed the fresh ingredients, especially the guacamole and chips. While the tacos were tasty, they lacked variety in flavor due to repeated toppings and came in very small portions. Service was extremely slow, the AC struggled in the heat, and overall, the experience felt overpriced for what we received.
Details of the Restaurant
tacos trap’ Shinjuku-Gyoemmae 2nd Store 新宿御苑前 2号店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nKcHtSP6iznws34P6
〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 1 Chome−18−12 柳田ビル 1F
Tokyo-based Japanese home cook and food writer, sharing easy, low-carb recipes featuring Japanese staples like shio koji. I also explore the city’s dining scene through honest restaurant reviews and food adventures. Learn more at sakurayubi.com/about.
