Some restaurants give you a meal. What has always set Tio’s Latin American Kitchen apart from being “some restaurant” is the meal is just part of an entire sensory celebration.
The way the hodgepodge of mismatched stools around the live edge bar at the Hilton Head Island location all drink in spectacular waterfront views. The way the vibrant mural depicting the color and kineticism of Latin American culture saturates the room like a kaleidoscope. The way both locations put the kitchen right out there for all to see, letting you see the dynamic team of chefs in action as each dish is assembled with the utmost artistry and flair.
And swirling around you in the air, lending subtle authenticity to each and every bite, the sounds of Latin American, swaying from samba to reggaeton in intercontinental rhythm. It’s no wonder that every meal at Tio’s is served in atmosphere that buzzes with excitement coming from every table around you.
Tio’s owners Sally and Lynden Zuniga
And yet, as much of an overall experience as these two sister locations provide, each knows one inescapable truth: The real star of the show is the food.
“We pride ourselves on having all the Mexican favorites that people know and love, but branching out across different styles of Latin American cuisine,” said owner Sally Zuniga. “And all of it is as authentic as you can get, and as fresh as humanly possible. We go through cases and cases of limes just because of the fresh-squeezed juice in the margaritas alone.”
Empanadas, flautas, tacos, paella and colorful salads are just a few of the offerings on Tio’s extensive menu.
That dedication to freshness and quality has kept Tio’s atop every locals’ list of favorite lunch and dinner spots since they opened their doors, with the secret quickly getting out among visitors. It would be tempting, then, to take an approach of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But the staff at Tio’s has never been one to rest on their laurels.
“We’re in the middle of doing a huge menu update right now,” said Zuniga. “We’re changing things like the tacos up just a little bit, but the big thing is we’re bringing back some original favorites that have come off the menu over time. For example, our burgers which were incredibly popular.”
A colorful mural greets guests at the bar at the Tio’s Hilton Head location.
It’s a menu that benefits tremendously from the vivacious atmosphere in which it is served, but one that is more than capable of serving as its own solo attraction. Which might explain why Tio’s catering has exploded in popularity recently, with taco bars and fajita bars popping up at some of the biggest can’t-miss parties in the Lowcountry
Chicken Flautas
“Getting into spring and summer, we’re really getting into doing a lot of catering,” added Zuniga. “A lot of times people will come in to visit and order a Tio’s night in at their rental property, and we do a lot of orders for locals who just want to bring our party back to their house.”
So yes, it is possible to capture just a little bit of that magical Tio’s atmosphere and bring it your own celebration. But then, you’ll definitely want to come back and enjoy some of the real thing – especially during Happy Hour which runs from 4-6 every single day.
“A lot of places don’t offer happy hour on the weekends, but we do,” said Zuniga.
But then, any hour spent amid the sights, sounds and sabor of Latin America is, by default, going to be happy hour. Visit tioshhi.com to learn more.
Shrimp tacos and Paella served with a frosty cervesa.
