Smoke - Pittsburgh

I never really liked this place, even back in Homestead. The tacos were always overpriced, and I won't miss it at all.

Everything was absolutely delicious! The staff was incredibly friendly, and the fun drinks were fantastic. The creative tacos were exceptionally tasty. The ambiance of the place is rustic, with a charming vintage flair that adds to the experience.

This used to be my favorite taco spot in Pittsburgh, but they've been making cost-cutting changes that are really noticeable. Ever since COVID, I've found them to be seriously short-staffed during my visits. They've removed 80% of the menu items, and they've switched from homemade flour tortillas to store-bought ones, which has completely changed the quality of the tacos and queso. The salads have also lost their fresh bacon and tater tots. I understand that keeping a business afloat is important, but I would prefer price increases over losing the things that made this place unique. I'm done with my SMOKE hat.

I really quite enjoyed this place. They sell donuts on the weekends in addition to their regular Mexican offerings, and I am so glad I decided to come on a weekend. I tried out their glazed donut holes, glazed donut, and Mac n cheese. Very simple, but done so well. The Mac n cheese was very tasty. It has flavorful breadcrumbs on top with tons of cheesy, creamy sauce all inside. It might be a bit too rich and creamy for my taste, but it’s still very enjoyable. The only real down side is that it is quite expensive for Mac n cheese, even with the very nice portion. Both of the donuts were absolutely excellent. Again, so glad I went on the weekend. The glazed donut, although again a bit expensive, it was delicious. Definitely homemade. Soft on the inside and perfect glaze. The donut holes were equally delicious; a lovely bite sized treat, soft and flavorful. I thought it was very good overall. A bit pricey, but I still recommend this place for sure. Vegetarian options: Egg and cheese, vegetable, and other taco options as well as Mac n cheese and more

Excellent food, drinks and service, no complaints at all. Tried 6 different tacos and every single bite was full of flavor. Will definitely be back. Parking: It's Lawrenceville, there's always a crowd so parking will always be a bit tricky but there's so much to do just park wherever and enjoy the walk.