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
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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

editors note: For those of you that don’t know Joby: he’s the mastermind behind Joby’s Hot Sauce Contest and a long time taco lover. His first job was at a Mexican restaurant.  He’s tasted tacos from Ohio to Amsterdam.  In short – Taco Town has mucho confidence in Joby’s ability to tell good Mexican food from bad…enjoy. – Cabeza

The corner of William Cannon and Manchaca is home to over ten restaurants, all battling it out for your hard earned peso-  Chinese, Church’s Chicken, pizza, barbecue and burgers-  but for hardcore taco lovers, there is only one place that can satisfy- the way you want, the way you need, the way YOU DESERVE. That’s Casa Garcia’s.

9 different kinds of MIGAS!

One of the best aspects about Garcia’s is the sports bar.  The right side of the restaurant is dedicated to sports fans and alcoholics, with four televisions tuned into all the big games and super strong Bloody Mary’s available at before noon. Its a great way to separate the after church crowd from the after party crowd.  This morning there are a mix of college kids, thirty-somethings and couples in the bar, with the older peeps and families safe in the dining area.

I feel breakfast is the strong point of Garcia’s and anyone who has had their migas would agree. With nine different options for migas alone, everyone should be happy.

But today I will have the plate that bears Casa G’s name. The Casa G’s Deluxe (no relation to Grego).  You won’t find a more packed plate of food for $8. Two eggs topped with ranchero sauce, carne guisada, chorizo and eggs, potatoes and refried beans.. Served with flour or corn tortillas, made by authentic Mexican women- I checked em’ myself.

Casa G's Deluxe

Now this plate is not for the faint of heart.  It’s designed for fat Americans who eat five servings of food for breakfast- People like me. If you are counting calories, this plate is not for you.

Today I got the eggs sunny side up and found myself in gooey goodness while making my tacos with a little of everything in them.. Although I can’t finish it most days, I felt obligated today because of Taco Town- I wanted to make the boys proud.

The service is always friendly and quick.  There’s even one person designated to hand out chips & salsa all day. Now that’s good service !!!!! Are you listening Polvo’s ?!?!?  And let me tell you something, this guy is always busy refilling the salsa cups and chip baskets.  The chips are hot and crispy and the salsa had a spicy kick that reminds me of my home town Mexican restaurant back in Goliad, TX.

Overall, I give the place very high marks for great food, great service, and their fair prices. The fact that I can watch basketball and drink a tequila sunrise at the same time only adds to the overall quality.

-Joby

Casa Garcia
http://casagarcias.net/
1901 W. William Cannon
Austin, TX 78748.

7 Pound Gut Bomb

apparently, 3 woman have finished!

Denver, CO – A seven pound breakfast taco (or burrito if you must) is not meant to be consumed in one sitting.. much less by a woman.. It seems Jack-n-Grill is tempting the taco gods by challenging the ladies to take down this monstrosity of green chile, ham, cheese and potatoes in one sitting, with no bathroom breaks.. The reward:  free meals for life..  the catch:  if homegirl manages to finish it, she probably wont live to see another meal..

According to Dr. James Richard, of Exempla Family Practice in Lafayette, you can definitely die from eating a 7-lb. burrito. A 110 lb. female cannot finish it without puking.  He did say that it is possible to eat the burrito without going to the bathroom.

More 7lb Burrito Links:

• Man vs Food’s Adam Richman was defeated
• Skinny Boy FAIL
• Jack-n-Grill gets 15min & 7lbs of Fame

We were lucky to have some old friends in town last weekend (whatup T$!).  So, we figured, “what’s a fitting way to mark such a special ocassion?  How bout an amazing Brunch at one of Austin’s most influential eateries: FONDA SAN MIGUEL?”  Just off Burnet on Hancock in North Central Austin, FSM is a tour de force of traditional Mexican and South American cooking. Let’s eat!

Various botanitas

Everything is served buffet-style out of huge clay pots and antique mexican vats.   There’s always 4 or 5 main entrees, in addition to a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, escabeche, side items, migas, ceviche, homemade tortillas, and a full bar ($3 mimosas hit the spot).  And, if you leave any room in your gut, the gourmet desserts will seal the deal.

Some particularly GREAT items were:
The Carne Guisada: a juicy and flavorful classic executed perfectly- the sauce was less of a gravy, more of a rich broth.

The Corn Polenta: sweet and creamy with thick crust – perfect with a dollop of sour cream and rajas.

Pollo en mole Poblano: classic dish – rich and complex.  Very satifying….recipe here

Bread Pudding: sweet nirvana

Price was a bit steep at $40/each, but the ambiance was top-notch (they had a mariachi band playing beautifully harmonized love songs – none of that la cucaracha bullshit) and nobody hits the real mexican cuisine in ATX like Fonda.  The whole building is like an art museum…if you haven’t been yet, i’d suggest taking the folks out for brunch, or maybe a special date for your pumpkin face.

Cabeza like.

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX?
(512) 459-4121
<map> <website>

I often concoct rather interesting late-night/early-morning snacks after returning home from the bars: canned tuna and white rice remains my most notable failure. Last weekend, upon waking at 7:30 a.m. after a wedding to find all my usual breakfast taco haunts closed (who is open at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday, anyway?), I once again took matters into my own hands, and ended up making the best damn gourmet breakfast taco I’ve ever had. Might this be a chance to turn my tendency toward the drunk munchies into a career?

Ingredients:

• Eggs
• Feta cheese
• Cracked pepper
• Portobello mushrooms
• Marinated artichoke hearts
• Roasted red bell peppers
• Pine nuts
• Olive oil tortilla wrap

Directions:

Sauté Portobello mushrooms in olive oil. Beat feta cheese and cracked pepper into eggs; scramble. Brown tortilla in pan. Wrap scrambled eggs, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, bell peppers, and pine nuts into tortilla.

While preparing food, bitch and moan about how no person in their right mind wakes up at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday (after a wedding, at that); continue mumbling and grumbling that no taco stands are open that early (of course they’re not), that sometimes you just have to do it yourself if you want it done right. Upon completion, shut up and forget about the world of hangover hurt you’re about to enter as you enjoy ridiculous, unadulterated deliciousness. And then go back to sleep.