Barrio Portsmouth, NH: Worth the Hype?

At the moment, the most talked about restaurant name going around the New Hampshire Seacoast is ‘Barrio’ – a taco and margarita haven located at 319 Vaughan Street in Portsmouth (aka the 3S Artspace). So, I thought I’d try it out to see what all the fuss was about. 

Well…for starters, Barrio in Portsmouth, NH has lived up to the hype and praise, as I’ve been back numerous times in just a month, quickly working my way through their menu. 

Let’s start with the drinks! And then I’ll work my way through their bountiful taco menu. 

Barrio Happy Hour: Margaritas & Beers & Libations, Oh My!

My first visit to Barrio was for their happy hour, which is a reasonable three hours – from 4PM to 7PM, Monday through Friday. In preparation, I called up a few old buddies, threw on some of my finest athletic shorts (in preparation of taco excess), and headed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Do note that Barrio’s happy hour is only available for those sitting in the bar area, so you should likely plan accordingly for Thursdays and Fridays – as Portsmouth, NH in the summertime can be absolutely hopping.

When at a taco stand or restaurant, there’s no way I’m NOT drinking a margarita, so you can count on it that my first drink was a half-off standard frozen mango margarita. I’m no expert on margaritas, but this was one of the better mango margaritas I’ve had in my short-time on this Earth. It was sufficiently strong (they became stronger as the night went on), adequately sour, and went down smooth (with brain freeze of course because I can’t take sips like a normal person). 

This margarita ticked all the boxes, so much so that for my remaining trips, I stuck to them – with several Lone Pine and Pacifico beers mixed in for good measure. However, I’ll be sure to try their ‘Bears, Beets, Battlestar Gallactica’ speciality libation next time – made with a beet-infused Vida Mezcal, Ginger liqueur, agave, and fresh lemon juice. 

Looking for an awesome cafe to post up at in Portsmouth, NH? Check out my blog post detailing 3 unique cafes you can’t miss!

Build Your Own Tacos & Selecciones

Before we get into the tacos, I would be remiss not to mention that Barrio provides each table with unlimited chips and salsa. Make sure to go the extra mile though and order a side of guacamole – there’s five to choose from. You can’t go wrong with the traditional, but for the more adventurous, I recommend trying their candied bacon guac made with brown sugar plantains.  

I’m a pretty simple guy. In a taco, I really only need a few things; meat, cheese, sauce, and avocado. As you can guess, I typically opt for Barrio’s ‘El Jefe’s Selecciones’ (tacos), which I have been more than happy with. However, on one occasion, after several (dozen) drinks elsewhere before, I did have a friend fill out the build your own tacos form for me – at her discretion. I wasn’t disappointed. At the end of the day, if you build a bad taco, it’s on you. 

There’s a great contrast in all of Barrio’s tacos. No one ingredient seems to repeat itself across the board, and each taco seems to perfectly encapsulate the idea that there should be a healthy mix of sweet, salty, savory, crunchy, and chewy in each bite (I think that’s a thing?).

I’ve worked my way through nearly all of El Jefe’s Selecciones. These are my Barrio taco top three power rankings (feel free to tell me yours in the comments):

1. Camarone Agrietado: I’m not sure what their crack sauce is (some type of white sauce), but it offsets a little bite of the jalapeno lime shrimp perfectly. 
2. La Tierra: What better combination is there than coca-cola marinated steak, portobello mushrooms, and caramelized onions and poblanos? Plus, queso – the only reason anyone ever once chose Qdoba over Chipotle. 
3. Curd Ferguson: Maybe I’ve been in Asia so long that I’m pro-tofu these days, but this could stand toe-to-toe with any meat-filled taco on the menu. The pineapple salsa works perfectly to curb the mild numbness brought about by the thai-chili coated tofu.  

Fish tacos became a staple of my mid-twenties, so I will note that I am a tad disappointed there isn’t at least one other fish taco on the menu (other than the shrimp and fish of the day). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I don’t think New Hampshire’s gastronomic scene gets as much credit as deserves. Frankly, I think it’s on the rise and is a slept-on state. Read about it more in my article tackling the pros and cons of living in New Hampshire.

Final Thoughts on Barrio in Portsmouth, NH

So, is Barrio in Portsmouth New Hampshire (NH) worth the hype? Absolutely. Get there as soon as possible.

Atmosphere-wise, this is where you want to be any night of the week. It’s packed with everyone from college students, to wedding parties, to retirees looking to kick back and relax. Do make sure to either to get there a bit earlier than when you want to eat, because Barrio does NOT take reservations – they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Finally, Barrio’s prices are fair for the amount of food given, quality of drink, and atmosphere (after all, I’m told we pay for atmosphere these days). Most tacos are in the USD $3-5 range (keep in mind that these are well-packed and filling tacos) while drinks are in the $8-10 range.

If you’d like to take a look at Barrio’s menu for yourself, head on over to their website or check out their Facebook. 

• Barrio Portsmouth, NH Address: 319 Vaughan St, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (it’s part of the 3S Artspace)
• Barrio Open & Closing Hours: 4PM to 1AM Monday to Friday, 11AM to 1AM Saturday and Sunday. 

If you’re from New Hampshire or passing through on vacation, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Barrio in the comments, along with any other taco stands, trucks, or restaurants you think I should check out. 

And, if you’re looking for the best bang-for-your-buck burrito in all of Portsmouth New Hampshire, make sure to check out my write-up on ‘The Wrap Shack’. 

-Big Body