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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 18, 1916 ... Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 18, 1916 ... DINING Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 1, 2015 at 10:56 AM Posted May. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 1, 2015 at 10:56 AM » Social News Night owls prowling downtown Ashland now have an option for a tasty late, late meal. Taqueria Picaro at 76 N. Pioneer St. has a walk-up taco window open from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The taco window is a welcome addition for the weekend bar crowd or hungry theater-goers who typically exit Oregon Shakespeare Festival plays well past 10 p.m. Located where Tabu Restaurant used to operate, Taqueria Picaro also has a sit-down restaurant for people who keep more traditional hours. While Tabu had more upscale menu offerings such as softshell crab, Taqueria Picaro has adopted a casual, inexpensive approach. Booth seats along the walls are upholstered in Mexican blanket-style fabric, and picnic tables fill out the middle of the restaurant's main room. Dozens of colorful "papel picado" — or cut paper — banners hang from the ceiling. The elaborately cut papers are often seen at Latin American birthday parties, weddings and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The restaurant still has a bar in a side room, a holdover from the Tabu days. Similar to Agave restaurant at 5 Granite St. in Ashland, Taqueria Picaro has inexpensive tacos on about 6-inch mini corn tortillas. Taqueria Picaro's tacos cost $2.50 each. Options include Chipotle Lime Chicken, Carnitas, Al Pastor Marinated Pulled Pork, Picadillo Beef, Black Beans & Pico and Refried Beans & Oaxacan Cheese. I had a chicken taco and a pork taco while there with a friend recently. The chicken taco had a mild flavor with minced red onions and cilantro. The marinated pork taco was more flavorful. A salsa and hot sauce bar at the restaurant allows patrons to spice food to their taste. Take out boxes at the salsa bar are at the ready, allowing for a quick getaway with leftovers when it's time to go. Patrons pay when they order at the counter and are encouraged to bus their own tables. My friend had the Big Bowl, which cost $5 plus $2 for meat. The vegetarian bowl has beans, rice, cheese, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream and guacamole. The meat toppings are the same as the taco options. My friend described her vegetarian Big Bowl as fresh, with mild seasonings. Like me, she added spicy sauces from the salsa bar. Other menu items include pints of salsa to go ($6), desserts such as churros with Mexican chocolate sauce ($5), Mexican sodas in flavors that include mandarin orange and lime ($2.75), Mexican hot chocolate ($3), tamales ($3.50) and burritos ($6 vegetarian or $8 with meat.) Taqueria Picaro restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 541-708-6565 or see www.roguetacoshop.com . — Vickie Aldous MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated May 1, 2015 at 10:56 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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