Three years of tacos • PhilSTAR Life

Taqueria Franco is now three years old, and to celebrate, it’s bringing back some of its most popular collabs—the greatest hits.

In 2023, celebrated chef Miko Calo, along with her cousin RJ Galang and husband-and-wife team Toogy and Laveena Clavecilla, opened their unique concept: a taco place rooted in French cuisine—”French bones, taco soul,” as they like to say it.

It’s a combination that works, thanks to Miko Calo’s mastery of French cuisine, which comes through in the menu in delicious ways: Cordon Bleu Quesadilla, Pork Confit Tacos, Ratatouille Enchiladas, Chicken Fricassée.

The Lamb Bourguignon Birria remains a customer favorite, along with the Prawn Tacos, which feature rouille and avocado mousse.

Josh Boutwood’s Cured Hamachi Tostada Taqueria Franco

Also big hits? The Steak Frites Tacos, Octopus Tostada, and Tuna Tartare.

My own favorites are the Foie Gras Tacos, Truffle and Three-cheese Quesadilla, and the XL Soft-shell Crab Tacos.

Taqueria Franco’s Octopus Tostada is a favorite of customers. Taqueria Franco

Miko told The Philippine STAR, "In the three years that we've been creating and doing this, I feel like I'm a little bit more unapologetic when I put things together. The question of 'Oh, what is it?' is not in my head anymore. If it makes sense on the plate, if it makes sense when you eat it... I stick to my core technique, my flavor profiles, the things I like to eat, what I like to put together, whatever it is."

Taqueria Franco’s Steak Frites Tacos Taqueria Franco

Friends of Franco

Taqueria Franco has been kind of a playground for Miko—and not just her. Through its Friends of Franco collaboration series, the restaurant has given other chefs room to experiment and rethink what a taco can be.

Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar’s Chicken Krapow Tacos Taqueria Franco

For the anniversary, some of those collaborations are coming back. Until Oct. 11, diners can once again enjoy the Pork Char Siu Tacos by Your Local and Lazy Suzy by chef Pat Go and the Chicken Krapow Tacos by Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar, the talented duo behind the Michelin-starred Celera.

I love both tacos—I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I’m already planning to come back so I can enjoy them again.

Pork Nam Toc Tacos by Rhea Rizzo Taqueria Franco

Returning from Oct. 12 to Nov. 7 is the cured Hamachi Tostada by Josh Boutwood, whose restaurant Helm is the only establishment in the Philippines to receive two Michelin stars. Also coming back is the Pork Nam Toc Taco by Rhea Rizzo of Mrs. Saldo’s.

Miko Calo’s Fried Chicken and Caviar Tacos Taqueria Franco

You can also dig into Miko’s Fried Chicken and Caviar Tacos and Sonja Ocampo’s Hot Chocolate Cupcakes now until Nov. 7.

Sonja Ocampo’s Hot Chocolate Cupcake is back until Nov. 7. Taqueria Franco

Surprise collaboration

A surprise collaboration will also be launched in October.

For Miko, the collaborations have always been part of Taqueria Franco’s bigger goal of building a community around the restaurant. "We really wanted to become like a neighborhood restaurant where people can just go and chill and hang, maybe grab something to eat, maybe grab a drink."

Taqueria Franco’s Lamb Bourguignon Birria Taqueria Franco

That community also now includes Franca, a stray cat that they have adopted. Miko, a self-confessed "super cat person," said, "The cat just showed up, and the team started giving her food. And then I found out, and Laveena found out. We decided, let's go. We had her spayed, Laveena bought her a toy... Now we're making her try another kind of cat food."

Now, Franca has her own home just by the door of the taqueria.

Receiving the Michelin Bib Gourmand is one of chef Miko Calo’s favorite Taqueria Franco memories. Taqueria Franco

Supporting local cats isn't new to the team behind Taqueria Franco—all the profits of their Meowgarita Mondays go to Cats of Salcedo Village.

It’s been an exciting three years. Miko’s favorite moments? "When we turned a year because we survived the first year. The second one would probably be the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award. It was kind of a validation that we were doing something worth paying attention to."

Taqueria Franco has evolved over the years, with always something new happening, but some things remain constant. Miko said, "I think what has stayed the same is the importance of paying attention to detail. Cooking things properly, doing things properly... the whole dining experience. Every day we make sure that the level of service that we have is the same."

Miko still has a lot of hopes and dreams for Taqueria Franco. She’s currently developing new menu items. "We'd also love to get to know other neighborhoods… I'm hopeful and very excited. I feel like we still haven't really tapped into our fullest potential."

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Taqueria Franco is at San Agustin St., Salcedo Village, Makati.