La Taquiña is a small, plainly furnished restaurant on a side street near Plaza 25 de Mayo, named for the famous Cochabamba beer brewed in the valley. The menu is uncomplicated Bolivian: pique macho (a mountain of beef, sausage, eggs, chips and chilli — a sharing plate in theory but ordered for one at your own risk), milanesa, asado, silpancho. Most mains are around 35–50 bolivianos and portions are huge.
What sets it apart is that almost every customer is local — students, taxi drivers, families at weekends — and the food is the real deal rather than the lighter touristed version. Beers are cold, the salteñas in the morning are first-rate, and the staff are friendly but unhurried. A good spot to break a day of museums.