TacoTown is starting a new weekly taco lunch excursion – Taco Turrsdays! make sure you are our fan on facebook then be on the lookout for invites to meet us around town for some Thursday taco tastings..

for the inaugural run, we hit up the trailer scene on south congress near stassney.. site of the recent taco trailer murder..

First up was Chilango’s.. we had been here before and this visit was on par with last time .. the al pastor taco ($1.75) was good – flavorful and meaty, and the carne guisada was decent – the flavor was a little bland but he meat was tender – no dryness.. stay away from the fajita beef!.. no bueno. Chappy had a $1 cup of mexican coffee that was surprisingly good with a nice cinnamon flavor.

Next up was Tacos Linda, which was only 50ft. away and the site of the aforementioned murder.. the trailer was the same (it still had the ” La Surena” sign written on the side), but it was under new ownership. When asked, the owner said they weren’t really bothered by what had happened .. fair enough.. besides, it all makes sense to me now – their tacos really are to die for.. (too soon? sorry  :-/ )

Tacos Linda served up $1.75 tacos on handmade tortillas.. they were the highlight of our Turrstay.. as was the al pastor that edged out Chilango’s on flavor..
the owner and cook were friendly and attentive.. they even made us some free tacos before we left.. some tacos Campechanos – bistek and chorizo mixed and served on a freshly-made corn tortilla.. they were awesome! .. they serve their salsas wrapped in little sandwich baggies.. funny. We heard that the weekends are the best time to go to Tacos Linda because they have special goat barbacoa and fresh tamales.. The assortment of tortas on the menu also looked promising.. We will definitely have to return for a followup..

Lastly, we decided to swing by Antojito’s Mexicanos on south first near Clifford Dr. ..  Cabeza went for the Chicharron taco.. total fail.. I tried the al pastor.. moderate fail.. shoulda quit while we were ahead.
til next Tursday!!

Murder Scene: La Sureña Taco Trailer (credit AAS)

Austin Police are still searching for the gunman who shot and killed a 43 year-old employee Sunday afternoon at the La Sureña Taco Trailer (translation: “The Southern”) on South Congress near Stassney. {google street view}.

Hispanic male in his mid-20s to early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build, wearing a yellow shirt under a dark jacket and dark baseball cap, walked up to the taco stand about 3 p.m. and shot the man working inside, police said. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene. statesman article >

TacoTown has never tried La Sureña, but it’s about 100 feet away from Chilango’s, which is easily one of the best taco trailers in Austin.  We assume its a newer operation, cuz it seems to be in the same spot that used to be Taqueria “Angel”…

The suspect is still “on the runs“, and motive for the shooting is still unclear, though we highly suspect the chorizo.

WELL……on 2nd thought:  While TacoTown has never claimed to be a “classy” outfit, we DO apologize for the light-hearted comments on this subject.  Our hearts REALLY DO go out to the family of the victim and to all other mobile vendors in Austin.  Stay safe you guys.

-cabeza

Austin’s most popular gringo taco trailer & mobile food pioneers TORCHY’S TACOS turns 3 years old this week. To celebrate, they’re throwing a Birthday Party this Thursday evening at their non-mobile location on the corner of South 1st & El Paso.  FREE KEG BEER will be served from 7-10pm along with fiddle music from teenage prodigy Ruby Jane Smith.

Don’t forget about movie nights up the road at Torchy’s South Austin Trailer Park (1311 s. First). Tonight’s feature film is GroundHog Day

-cabeza

Al Pastor taco $0.99

I found this GREAT little taco stand just a couple minutes South-East of Austin, off Hwy 183 and DG Collins Rd.  I was the only gringo there, and the girl inside spoke ZERO engles…which is always a good sign in my book.

Chorizo/egg taco (.99) was and great, especially with the chunky, vinagery house salsa piled on top..reminded me of Maria’s w/ the chimichurri (though not quite THAT good).

Bomb Taco Alert: the Al Pastor Taco (.99), was more like a BBQ pulled pork smothered in red sauce – but it was AMAZING…highly recommended.

Las Flores – try to remember that name – and go there next time you head out near the airport or traveling towards Lockhart – its right off 183 about 5 min south of hwy 71…It may be a little off the beaten path, but there’s also a Pollo Regio stand across the street- if you feel like u wanna double up.

will post more pics later.

-cabeza

So, I just tried the brisket tacos for lunch today at the Vaquero Cocina – one of the the new trailers on South Congress- and part of the recent food truck explosion in Austin…

Brisket Taco $5.25

I gotta admit – the Mighty Cone was calling my name from only 50ft away.  But alas, i stuck to my taco exploring guns, stepped up to the Airstream counter, ordered a cold Topo Chico and TWO brisket tacos – the lone taco on the menu (also serving assorted smoked meats, corn, sweet potato fries and mexican drinks).

My meal total was about $12…not exactly cheap eats, but at least they’re big tacos.

Each Brisket taco starts with a big, fresh homemade flour tortilla, a generous pile of hot, lean and moist beef brisket (smoked on site), some cabbage slaw, a mild red salsa, and finished with a sprinkling of cojito cheese.

Oddly enough, the cheese and mild salsa combo reminded me of Italian marinara & parmesan at first – with no spice to speak of…

SO I immediately reached for Vaquero’s small selection of bottled sauces to add a kick …They had some Louisiana Hot Sauce, some Valentina, and my pick – Tex-Mex Rapper Chingo Bling’s Habanero salsa:

just a couple drops por la spicy pop, on my taco chop…i did the pop n lock, then i killed a cop…sheeet…Chingo got me rhymin’ bout taco timin.  just a lil clowin bout taco townin….

anyways…

Let’s get one thing straight: the real star here was the brisket – cooked beautifully – with plenty of pit smoke flavor and not dry at all…the beef really carried this one…moisty, hearty, tasty.

Still, this taco was one topping short from being truly outstanding – maybe a spicy cream sauce or a tangy green salsa would’ve kicked it over the top.

And, not to keep doggin on it, but the red sauce was so watery – it destroyed the tortilla and dripped all over the place…bummer.

All that said – this is a GOOD taco – at least worthy of a try…but not great (for GREAT, see Matt’s El Rancho – Pecan Smoked brisket tacos -da bomb).

cabeza

Wall Street Journal, that is…check out this article on gourmet food trucks, a trend that’s sweeping the country and bridging the gap between expensive restaurants and fast food:

Jeff Blank, Owner of Might Cone

Jeff Blank, chef and owner of Hudson’s on the Bend, in Austin, Texas, where the average check is $75, rolled out a lunch truck in March. The truck, called the Mighty Cone, specializes in fried chicken, shrimp and avocado coated with a mixture of almonds, sesame seeds, cornflakes and chili flakes; average checks are under $10. At Hudson’s, revenue is off by 20% to 25% compared with two years ago, Mr. Blank says, but revenues from the truck have made up for those losses and even allowed him to hire extra staff.

Good Stuff and congrats on Blank’s success. TacoTown will always be children of the cone.

]]> http://tacotown.org/2009/06/08/mighty-cone-hits-wall-street/feed/ 1 http://tacotown.org/2009/04/17/taqueria-charly-trailer-south-austin/ http://tacotown.org/2009/04/17/taqueria-charly-trailer-south-austin/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:58:34 +0000 Cabeza De Taco http://tacotown.org/?p=1026

Behind the Shell at Ben White & Packsaddle Pass

Taqueria Charly just came fresh out the box this moanin – new trailer player (map) on the taco block – mom and son servin up them goodies fer just $1.25 each…

The awning had “best tacos in town” skrawled across it in puff paint…whoa there hombre!  U gotta pay your dues before you go slanging that kinda bravado around…besides, we’ll be the judge of that,  holmes.

GET: Chorizo/egg topped with habanero salsa

GET: potato/egg (diner style hashbrowns up in eer)

AVOID: bacon/egg (looked like fuggiin BAco’s – FAIL)

more pics after the jump >

-cabeza

I pass this trailer most days coming home from work…its located in a convenience store parking lot off the southbound feeder of i-35, just past the Whip-In.

Trompo Taco (1.50), which is just another name for the Al Pastor taco, also referenced by the flaming trompo painting on the trailer itself.  It was a hearty taco, with big chunks of pork and pineapple smothered in mystery red Pastor sauce, in a fresh flour tortilla and topped with the ubiquitous green jalapeno paste salsa (which u gringo’s may recognize as TacoDeli’s Doña sauce)

…twas definitely above average al pastor, if a bit salty and i chomped a few bubblegum fatty pieces. but not baaad.  seemed like quality offering – but it could’ve been an off day for the trompo.

The real star here was the bacon/egg taco (1.50), topped with melted white cheese. The bacon was chopped up and cooked together with the eggs so the grease flavors just melded into pure breakfast bliss.  It may be a simple combo – but when done correctly, bacon & eggs is just the tits.

Verdict: I will return for sure after having the legit bacon/egg – and I might try the pastor or the Pollo Asado taco – since that seems to be their specialty…i do love me some pollo asado. -Cabeza

bacon/egg taco

Trompo Taco

the benny compound

this is a great place to eat if you need a haircut.. Benny runs Barber Bennys Beauty, the unassuming barber shop that located next to his taco trailer on South Congress..  We were a bit miffed that Benny was out of Al Pastor, but we managed.. and got Beef Fajita, Carne Guisada, and Picadillo tacos.. the beef fajita was cooked right there in front of us and it turned out to be the highlight of our otherwise lackluster snack..

hot spot

now this is where its at!  classic taco trailer with all the usual items.. the al pastor was bold and flavorful, with plenty of pineapple.. Cabeza got the barbacoa and it was equally authentic and delicious.. the prices were reasonable and the service friendly.. this is a good stop for anyone wanting to try true mexican taco trailer food.. no sign of gringo compromises..

Tio Rolfo is a fiarly new stand that has shown up on along our morning work commute.. Its in the parking lot of the Shell station at South Congress and Crocket st (north of Oltorf).. Lucky for us, its actually a great stop for morning tacos.. $1.50 for 3 ingredients.. of which we have tried Chorizo, Egg, and Cheese.. and Bean, Bacon, Egg.. The salsa’s are outstanding.. especially the tomatillo verde, with a hefty jalapeno kick.. This place is definitely worth a try.

We visited the newest Torchy’s location today and I have to say the new digs have a lot of potential.. You can find the new spot just south of the original location on S. 1st St and also houses a new burger trailer called Shuggies.  

Formerly an auto shop and used car lot.. they’ve managed to repurpose the shop into a covered eating patio that overlooks bouldin creek, quite nice.  Other renovations were still in progress.. 

Even though the Torchy’s was beckoning us for another taste, we had to try out Shuggies.. I got the Catfish PoBoy with fries… it was pretty solid – with a nice pineapple coleslaw.. the fries were top-notch – beer battered and crispy. 

Cabeza got the cheesebuger and onion rings ($7).. he seemed to enjoy its fairly large and juicy stature, specifically noting the kaiser/onion bun as a nice touch..

“Hey man, You got something on your lip there…” “Shiit, that’s juss my Dirty Sanchez muthafucka”

If you want a more in-depth look at Torchy’s Taco’s- check out Chappy’s full review Here.

Today I only have eyes for one taco, and Holy Hell! Just got a chance to try the newest spawn of the fanatical quasi-breakfast taco dogma. It was a Revelation, or perhaps a Genesis. On the eighth day, Torchy shot his (proverbial) wad and created THE DIRTY SANCHEZ. I must admit it was the first time I’d been on the receiving end of this tasty treat…and for a dash of irony- its a meatless taco. Here’s the fillins:

Big Flour Tortilla filled with
fluffy EGGS
Tempura-fried POBLANO pepper
CHEESE
Pickled CARROT spears
Topped with Poblano-RANCH dressing

So, the tempura-fried poblano was the Alexis Amore of this gangbang, with the creamy ranch and tangy carrots playing perfect supporting roles (maybe Peter North and um…Carrot-top?), all melding into a greater-than-their-parts euphoria of taste, texture and smell. I heard thunder-claps, and visions of Dustin Diamond’s Saved by the Smell danced in my dome. Fuckin great taco and major props to Torchy’s for the balls to call it the Dirty Sanchez….

In the 24hrs since Taking the Sanchez, I’ve been flirting with the idea of this taco de-throning my longtime favorite alt-breakfast taco- Tatiana’s Tamale Taco at Maudie’s…But alas- Cabeza is never one to make a hasty decision. I’ll have to eat one more Sanchez to confirm the new champ..

oh yeah- I also had a beef fajita taco- which was amazing and also deserves props…If I can take my mind off the Sanchez for a second, then i’ll add to this post…

Torchy’s Tacos [map]
1207 South 1st Street
512-366-0537
Monday-Sunday 7am-11pm

The great Robb Walsh recently wrapped up a mini-series of Houstoned blog reviews on Houston taco trucks entitled the Taco Truck Gourmet.

Need credentials? Robb’s the founder of the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, Lead Food Critic for The Houston Press and author of several books including The Tex-Mex Cookbook. If you thought taco journalism was a relatively safe form of reporting- think again. The seedy, nomadic and oft-times unsanitary world of taco trucks has claimed the bowels of more than one taco explorer. Mystery meats abound- Robb even tried sweetbread tacos for Christ’s sake…so move over Geraldo, there’s a new face on the front lines of batlleground taco journalism. Taco Town salutes you Robb Walsh!

Below: highlights from Robb’s blog mini-series, Taco Truck Gourmet:

Taqueria Tacambaro [2520 Airline Drive - behind Canino Produce]
The sweetbreads were white and just barely cooked through. They had a delightfully mild flavor and a lovely fluffy texture that might remind you of the filling of a German veal sausage, like bratwurst or weisswurst. The tartness of the lime juice and sweetness of the onion were beautiful complements. But it was the addition of that dark brown salsa that made me close my eyes and sigh. Full Post…

El Mapache III [Renwick Dr & Gulfton St]
The barbacoa taco was by far the best –a huge mound of hot cheek meat nicely shredded and very moist. I was offered my choice of flour or corn tortillas, which is pretty unusual. I went for corn. The salsa was a thick and creamy green concoction and it packed a major kick. The truck also sells roast chickens and the beans are free on the weekend. Full Post…

more after the fold…

Tacos Y Mujeres [13502 Almeda - parking lot of Mi Ranchito]
While I was standing there, a well-lit patron stumbled out of the front door of Mi Ranchito and ordered a taco. There is a sign by the door that says “Mujeres! Mujeres! Mujeres!” I asked him what went on inside. He offered a particularly succinct summary of a taxi dance bar, “You go in there with $200 in your wallet and you meet all these 23- and 24-year-old girls, and then you come out broke,” he said in Spanish. Luckily, he saved enough to buy a taco. Full Post…

El Ultimo Taco
I sampled three egg tacos, one with machacado, one with nopalitos and one with chorizo. The flour tortillas were hand made and all three tacos were generously stuffed. They all tasted great, but the chorizo was truly exceptional. And the thick green salsa served on the side was super hot. Highly recommended for your proximo desayuno!

Jarro Cafe Taco Truck [1521 Gessner]
Go get an Angus sirloin taco at the Jarro taco trailer, slather it with your choice of five awesome salsas, smother it with pickled onions, and tell me whether or not this is the best taco truck in the city. If you’re still undecided after the steak taco, try a taco al pastor with a little pineapple, or a cochinta piblil taco with purple onion salsa. Full Post…

Taco War on Caroline
Jesse’s Taqueria excelled in the chicken taco genre. And they had a copy machine too, in case you needed to duplicate some documents while you ate lunch. Full Post…

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/houstoned/2007/01/taco_war_on_caroline.php

Nice Asados
El Norteno is the name of the Long Point roasted chicken dynasty. And “pollo asado estilo Monterrey” is their specialty. Full Post…

El Ultimo Taco Truck (map)
7403 Long Point Rd – Houston, TX
(in the Mr. Car Wash Parking Lot)
Hours: MON-FRI 8am to 10pm; SAT-8am to 12
Rating: 3.55 out of 5 stars

A great taco conquistador once mused that, “to unearth the mother of taco pearls, one must venture into the belly of the beast, deep into the dark recesses of the latino bum cranny….or just try the East side.”

The “bum cranny” in this case is Long Point Drive – proof that Houston is too big for just one East side, and a formidable bastion of crackheads, pawn shops and seriously dope taco spots. (truth be told- Long Point isn’t really east of anything, but its nestled firmly in the “bum-cranny” of 1-10 and 290…but, fuckit- just turn the map over and call it the east side)

El Ultimo Taco Truck is definitely in the hood- the roach-coach shares a parking lot with a Lebanese car stereo shop (Los Tigres Del Norte always sound better at extreme dB’s) and a Mister Car Wash formerly owned by Kenneth Allen McDuff. However, los gringos brave enough to endure these dire environs will reap the benefits of a Latino culinary slumsplosion.

The lady at the window spoke no english- par for the course- but da amateur murials on the sides of the truck explained enough. I stepped up to the plate:

Al pastor taco
Came HOT off the grill, garnished with cilantro, slice of very green avocado and a lime wedge, enclosed in a doubled-up fresh corn tortilla. Shit was juicy, hot and best of all- FRESH. The avocado was a very nice touch.

El Ultimo Taco
the pride and joy of this establishment lived up to its name and then some. Hot and savory carne asada nuggets dressed with the same cilantro/avocado combo, crumbled a bit of queso fresco on top, a generous drizzle of the house verde sauce (jalapeno-based and spicy ass!) and that’s it. A beautiful thing happens when the mexican cheese merges with the salsa and infuses itself in the beef- a smoky, creamy, taco ORGY. That’s why we do it folks. moments like this. beautiful moments…

Taco de Pollo
basically pollo guisado- stewed chicken with sauteed onions, poblano peppers, cilantro and queso fresco. It was fantastic. Moist and delish. nuff said.

El Ultimo Taco Truck also serves up Aguas Frescas, mean breakfast tacos in the AM, and rumor is people have been murdered for the menudo, which they ONLY make on weekends. Apparently, there’s just not enough to go around. “Fuck the Nike’s…gimme that menudo muthafucka!”

cabeza De Taco

Quality: 17 out of 20 [Orgy of taste]
Salsa: 7.5 [damn good- hot as shit]
Tortillas: 6 [decent]
service/atmosphere: 7 [ friendly and mexican]
Brown Factor: -2 [very clean- but its a taco truck]
Total: 71%
Rating: 3.55 out of 5 stars