Taco Tuesday in Redmond, Oregon: Why a Cold Beer and a Good Ground Beef Taco Just Work

There are people who take beer and taco pairings very seriously. They have charts, tasting notes and probably an opinion about which specific beer brings out the “subtle citrus character” in a particular salsa.

We're going to make this a little easier.

At The Tumble Inn Tavern in Redmond, Oregon, Taco Tuesday isn't about complicated food rules or trying to turn a neighborhood bar into a fancy dining experience. It's about a good ground beef taco, a cold beer or margarita, a table full of friends and having somewhere to go on a Tuesday night that doesn't require much thought.

Honestly, that's probably the best kind of dinner.

Our Taco Tuesday special is simple: $8 tacos with your choice of a house margarita or an Estrella beer. And while we're not going to pretend you need a degree in beer and food pairing to enjoy it, there actually is a reason that a cold beer works so well with a good taco.

Why Beer and Tacos Work So Well

Tacos have a lot going on. Even a straightforward ground beef taco brings savory beef, seasoning, salt, tortilla and whatever toppings you like to add. Then there's salsa, cheese, onions, lettuce, hot sauce or whatever your personal taco strategy happens to be.

Beer brings something different to the table. It's cold, carbonated and refreshing, which makes it a natural match for savory food. The bubbles help cut through richness, while the cold temperature gives your palate a little reset between bites.

That's particularly useful when you've got a taco with seasoned ground beef and plenty of toppings. One bite is savory and rich, the next might have a little heat, and then you take a sip of a cold beer and you're ready to go again.

It's not complicated.

It just works.

Why a Cold Lager Is a Great Taco Beer

There's a reason lagers and tacos have been hanging out together for a very long time.

A crisp lager doesn't try to overpower the food. It doesn't show up demanding all the attention. It's cold, refreshing and easy to drink, which makes it a great match for a seasoned ground beef taco.

That's one reason we pair our Taco Tuesday special with Estrella at The Tumble Inn.

The beer helps balance the savory, seasoned beef and whatever toppings you decide to add, while the carbonation keeps things refreshing. Take a bite, take a drink and repeat until someone at the table realizes you've eaten more tacos than you originally intended.

That's a successful Tuesday as far as we're concerned.

And Then There's the Margarita

Of course, beer isn't the only option on Taco Tuesday.

If you're more of a margarita person, we've got you covered there too. Our Taco Tuesday special includes your choice of a house margarita or Estrella beer, because sometimes you want that cold beer and sometimes you want lime, tequila and a margarita sitting next to your tacos.

The citrus in a margarita is a particularly natural partner for tacos. Lime and seasoned beef have a way of making each other taste better, and the bright, tart flavor of the drink helps balance the savory richness of the taco.

So really, the important decision on Taco Tuesday isn't whether you need a drink with your tacos.

You absolutely do.

The question is beer or margarita.

Don't Overthink Your Taco

This might be the most important taco-pairing advice we can give you: don't overthink it.

You don't need a different beer for every taco. You don't need to identify five different flavor notes in your drink. And you definitely don't need to sit there wondering whether you're pairing your ground beef taco correctly.

If you like your taco with extra salsa, add extra salsa.

If you like it with hot sauce, go for it.

If you like keeping things simple, that's good too.

The beauty of a ground beef taco is that it's familiar, satisfying and easy to make your own. Add your favorite toppings, grab your drink and get to eating.

There are no taco police at The Tumble Inn.

Taco Tuesday Is About More Than the Tacos

This is something we think gets overlooked when people talk about finding the “best tacos” or the “best Taco Tuesday.”

The food matters, obviously. Nobody wants to go somewhere for tacos and get something they don't enjoy.

But going out for Taco Tuesday is also about the experience.

It's having a reason to get out of the house on a Tuesday. It's meeting a friend after work. It's grabbing dinner before a night of hanging out. It's sitting at a neighborhood bar where you don't have to dress up or make a big production out of going out.

That's what The Tumble Inn has been doing in Redmond since 1950.

We're a dive bar. We're a neighborhood bar. We're the kind of place where you can come in, grab some food, have a drink, shoot some pool and hang out without feeling like you need to be somewhere else.

And after 75 years in Redmond, we've learned that sometimes the best nights are the uncomplicated ones.

Looking for Taco Tuesday in Redmond, Oregon?

If you've been searching for Taco Tuesday in Redmond, Oregon, looking for a bar in Redmond, Oregon where you can grab dinner and a drink, or just trying to figure out what to do on a Tuesday night, The Tumble Inn is an easy answer.

Our Taco Tuesday special is $8 tacos with your choice of a house margarita or Estrella beer. It's straightforward, affordable and exactly the kind of food and drink combination that belongs at a neighborhood dive bar.

You don't need a reservation. You don't need to study a menu for twenty minutes. You don't need to know anything about beer pairings.

Just come hungry.

And maybe bring a few extra napkins.

A Cold Beer, a Ground Beef Taco and a Tuesday Night

At the end of the day, the best beer and taco pairing isn't necessarily the one that wins a competition. It's the one that makes you want to take another bite.

Our Taco Tuesday at The Tumble Inn is pretty simple: seasoned ground beef tacos, a cold Estrella or a house margarita, and a neighborhood bar full of people looking to have a good time.

That's it.

And that's kind of the point.

Redmond doesn't need every night to be an occasion. Sometimes you just want to grab some tacos, have a drink, catch up with friends and enjoy a Tuesday night.

So if you're looking for Taco Tuesday in Redmond, come see us at The Tumble Inn Tavern. Grab the tacos, choose your drink and settle in.

We'll handle the rest.

Just don't blame us when “a couple tacos” turns into a fun night with friends.