[2] Most of the instrumentation for the album was employed by Guerrero, while session drummer Chuck Treece and keyboardist Greg Galbreath also contributed to Soul Food Taqueria.

[9] According to one music writer, the title of the album reflects its "spicy fusion of soul, funk, hip-hop and Latin flavors stirred up in an intoxicating downtempo gumbo that is hard to resist".

[13] Lily Moayeri of Remix Magazine noted the similarity of the album's "low-key soul threaded through the understated funk" to the work of underground artist Money Mark.

[7] His guitar playing utilizes a minimal, acoustic and sparse sound and space blended with the live percussion of drummer Chuck Treece, Jupiter-heavy bass lines and keyboardist Greg Galbreath's synths.

[1] The minute-long intro track, entitled "Lectric Chile Goat", is a blues-based guitar instrumental performed alone by Tommy Guerrero.

[19] Accompanied by delicate harmonies, "Tatanka" is a funk-infused and bass-driven track that features intricate percussion and guitar riffs,[17] as well as unique fret-work by Guerrero.

[20] The adumbral "It Gets Heavy" features melancholic lyrics and folk vocals by Gresham Taylor, which are similar to those of singer-songwriter John Secada.

[7] The song also contains a predominant hypnotic beat, which, according to one music critic, "makes you feel stoned even after completing a Twelve step program".

[17] The moody "It Gets Heavy" features Guerrero and Gresham Taylor singing, and is reminiscent of trip hop artist Tricky, contributing to the album's general sound of hip-hop infected Latin soul.

[19] Another critic noted "Falling Awake"'s meditative sound, writing that its light guitar melodies are "slowly ascending on a journey of Satori".

[22] On September 29, 2007, the album's artwork and other similar works by Powers were displayed at Coney Island's Dreamland Artist Clubhouse in Brooklyn, New York during his studio visit there.

A columnist for the Santa Fe Reporter later described the artwork as "totally cool, with a blocky style depicting some kind of Miami soul food/taco stand.

"[24] Music journalist Kimberley Chun of the San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote of the concept, stating "So what is a soul food taquería?

[3] "Gettin' It Together" later featured a limited edition single release in 12" vinyl format on March 22, 2004, through the Santa Cruz-based label Galaxia.

editor Noel Dix observed an improvement in production and complexity of instrumentation by Guerrero from his earlier work, and stated, "This record pours so much heart and emotion into it that you’re bound to feel its warmth and splendor while it’s bumping in your walkman as you trek the city streets.

[34] Carmen Johnson of Prefix Mag called it a "stellar follow-up to 2000's A Little Bit of Somethin'", and commended Guerrero for producing "his own organic, subterranean blend of bohemian blues, hip-hop and salsa that's creative and adventurous".

[19] However, McManus criticized the album's mood and wrote, "Soporific, over polite and too damn quiet, Soul Food Taqueira veers dangerously close to snooze territory.

"[19] Bryan Carroll of AllMusic criticized the predominance of "mood pieces", and stated, "on the whole Soul Food Taqueria fails to stick to the ribs because it simply lacks the proper spice".