By: Andrew Silverstein

We'll guess right now; you've just read "Mema's Alaskan Tacos" and are chuckling at the funny, oddball name or remembering how awesome it was the last time you ate there.  A late-night institution for after bar munchies in Ybor City, Mema's is the place to go for some delicious Mexican fare that delicious, affordable, unique, and not Taco Bell...for once.

If you've never been, Mema's cooks up tacos in a way you've probably never seen before.  They fry both the meat and shell together to create these flaky, golden delicacies.  You can choose from fillings including the standards - beef, pork, chicken - or something a little more outside the box including tofu, chorizo sausage, shrimp, fish, or gator.

The house fish at Mema's Alaskan Tacos rotates between some quality choices always caught locally and shipped fresh every day.  Popular ones include grouper, red snapper, amberjack and salmon.

The other menu items definitely can't be glanced over though.  Many items, including their fresh salsa, and refried beans are made from scratch in their kitchen with a difference you can definitely taste.  No lard in the beans either, just veggies, beans, and olive oil which is MUCH healthier than the stuff in most other refried beans.

Enjoy a variety of Mexican classics including nachos, burritos, chimichangas, tostadas, and more all with the option to be filled with the aforementioned fillings.  They've also got a huge selection of over 50 beers as well as red and blonde sangrias with apples, oranges, pears, cloves, cinnimon and a touch of honey.

Best of all, the TECO Line Streetcar stops right next to Mema's Alaskan Tacos, so even if you're in Downtown Tampa or Channelside, you can ride out and enjoy some drink and grub.