A Taco Journalist on Austin Monthly

Pretty much our premiere on a glossy magazine. It's not available online but that's not gonna stop this Taco Journalist! Click here to download the write-up.

Don't ever trust a Flaco!

And I don't mean the skinny hipsters that hang out in the new East 6th Street bars. I'm talking about those distrustful skinny cooks and it seems like Flaco's Cafe y Cantina lives up to it's name.

I stopped by Flaco's this week to meet a friend "who will go un-named for bailing on me" for breakfast. Anyjuaysss. I ordered 2 tacos, one machacado and the other, bean, egg and bacon. As I was waiting for my tacos I had a good scoop of their red salsa. It looked fresh and sausssaay...but to my disappointment, it was worst than Pace Pecante sauce. It was really tomatoey and bland. The tortilla chips weren't the freshest either.

My tacos arrived and to my surprise they were nice and full. Not bad for 2 bucks. I tried the machado or as they described it beef jerky and eggs. It was mostly eggs and tomato and lacked a lot of the carne, making it the blandest machacado I've ever had. Kinda dissapointing. Next up, my Go-2-taco: bean, egg and bacon. The bacon was crispy and thick but again the bland consistency kept creeping up; the eggs and even the beans were pretty tasteless.

I've always passed by Flaco's and I've never been drawn to it. Now I know why.

Flaco's Cafe y Cantina - 1 Star - El Mundo de Mando

Flaco's Cafe y Cantina
3632 S. Congress
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-2767‎

Taco Taco Cafe: Best Taco in America or is it?

I kept hearing about this little place in San Antonio, where the locals wake up early, tortillas are made in-house, ingredients are fresh, people are friendly and they've got a pretty good standing with The Food Network. A few years ago, The Food Network gave this mom and pop shop the Best Tacos in America title. I had to find out for myself how good these tacos really were so when I had opportunity to go to San Antonio for a day trip, that's exactly what I did.

El Norteño y Los Puffy Tacos

Walking into Taco Taco Cafe reminded me of the cafes in El Chuco like the Good Luck Cafe. These joints look like regular cafes/diners but they're all Mexicano! I sat down & ordered my diner coffee, just the way I like it, and ordered the 3 tacos the muy simpatica waitress recommended. I had the Carnitas, Machacado y Chilaquiles tacos. When I got my tacos, I was definitely impressed - they were huuuge! The tortillas were made in-house and the ingredients looked and tasted fresh. Okay, back to the tortillas - seriously, I haven't had tortillas like these in a while. They were so big and so good (that's what she said!). It took me back to when my abuelita used to hook it up at 6 in the morning and that's the smell you woke up to. So not only were these tortillas good, they made the tacos. The carnitas (thin cuts of carne con pico), machacado (dried shredded beef w eggs and pico) and Chilaquiles (that's Migas to you) tasted as fresh as the tortillas. And to top it off, the tacos were big and cheeeeeeeaaaap ($1.45 for starters), it completely made my trip worthwhile. I tell you, if you would bring that taco to Austin, the places around here would easily charge 10 bucks for just one taco. Austin, te quiero pero your peeps just don't have good tacos like these. Why? Because it's all about the tortillas and they know what they're doing down in S.A.

So in honor of one of the best tacos I have ever eaten, I made a short 3 minute video. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll salivate!

Check it out!





Taco Taco Cafe - 4.5 Estrellas - El Mundo de Mando

Taco Taco Cafe
145 E. Hildebrand Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78212

Taco Taco Cafe

Taqueria “Olivas”: Intro to South Austin LoCo Taco Trucks

On one of the first rainy, cool nights in Austin in mid-September, after four months of 100-degree heat, we escaped Baudrillard’s world on West 5th Street for our favorite taqueria in South Austin. This would be our third visit to Taqueria “Olivas” on southbound South Congress Avenue in the parking lot of McCoy’s lawnmower repair shop, just south of Ben White, as you enter the recently nicknamed “Lower Congress” (LoCo) neighborhood.

Prior to frequenting Taqueria Olivas, my only other experience was in East Austin about four years ago, before mobile eateries in Austin had become swank. What had first caught our attention about Olivas was the flashing strobe light on the red and white painted truck – it didn’t even have a name for a long time. It was simply called TAQUERIA. Normally, the one (yes, only one) table next to the truck is taken over by a family with children, and we’d sit up on the service counter, but that night the table was free. It’s the perfect place to sit and watch dozens of people drive in and out of Wendy’s across the street.

For the first taco, I went with the Fajita de Res (beef). As Goldilocks proclaimed the final porridge – I deemed the beef fajita taco just right. Not too greasy, not too dry, and the seasoning not too salty, but flavorful enough to become addictive. The texture of the meat was tender and non-gristly (gristle is a major meat turn-off for me), and the grilled bell peppers were flavorful and not overcooked. The tortillas weren't necessarily memorable, but I did like the fact that they were firm yet moist, and doubled up to keep from falling apart. Corn only. Flour is not an option.

Left to Right: Capechano, Fajita de Res, Limes

For my second taco, I went with a combination called Capechano, made of bistek (beef fajita minus the bell pepper) and pork chorizo. Both the tacos were generously topped with freshly chopped cilantro and onions, and juicy limes on the side. If you want salsa for your tacos, you don’t get a choice of red or green – only the intensely spicy creamy salsa verde. This Undercover Mexican can’t take the heat, so I added only a few tiny drops of salsa.

I understand Barbacoa (beef head meat) and Pastor (pork cooked with pineapple), but I do have a difficult time remembering the combination tacos. I think I need to carry a taco glossary around with me. Every time I go to Olivas, I always have to ask them to remind me – what again is in the Discada? And the Cortadillo?

Which brings me to an interesting mystery. If you look on their menu, you can see that the pre-printed font ends with the menu item Chorizo. Below that, you will see Capecha written in permanent marker, and in less bold writing the final two letters – no. It had been merely Capecha for quite a while, so I had to wonder if my constant questioning prompted them to revise it. Because Capechano sounds strikingly similar to Campachano, refering to people or things from the state of Campeche, Mexico.

To add to my confusion, I had understood Discada to also be a combination of bistek and chorizo. I will have to go back and clarify this matter. Need to get my tacos straight. Please watch for an addendum to this blog entry. Or if you have any insight, please let me know.

Now, if you’re in the mood for something very greasy and spicy, try the Chicharron taco. While I thoroughly love the dry crunchy chicharrones (with Salsa Valentina!), which you may know as pork rinds, I’m not a fan of the cooked chicharrones. When they’re dry, they lose their resemblance to pig skin, but once cooked, they’re slimy and chewy. Much how you would expect the texture of cooked skin. I think these might be best preceded by a couple of Tecates and/or a shot of tequila.

Olivas is cash only – $1.75 a taco. While East Austin taco trucks may be used to seeing white folks, I think South Austin taco trucks are still mostly unchartered territory for the non-Mexican. Although during our most recent visit, after bar-closing time, we did begin to see a harmonic mingling of cultures, as seen in the photograph.

The vibe is always super-friendly – both from the owners and the patrons – and you pay after you eat, which seems to me a remnant of the old world and refreshing to know that such level of trust exists. It takes a while to get your tacos, but they want to be sure they serve you the best possible.

So see you at Olivas! And don’t let me catch you at Wendy’s.

Taqueria "Olivas" - 5 stars - Undercover Mexican Girl
4140 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78745

Places to Eat When You are White and Have Questionable Taste : El Chile - Downtown

Why can't anyone open a good downtown Mexican joint? Downtown is home to some of the most overpriced, under-tasty places around (see Manuel's, La Condesa, El Sol Y La Luna, Rio Grande). El Chile's new Downtown location keeps that streak alive.

I've eaten at El Chile's Eastside location more than I would like. The downtown location is very similiar, although it lacks the large patio of the Eastside. Much like Mando and Curra's, I just don't understand El Chile's popularity. There is a littany of things that I dislike about it, but I'll just focus on my main complaint first: their salsa is not good. Sure, I eat it when I'm there, it's edible; but I'll eat anything laid out in front of me, so long as it is accompanied by a bowl of chips. That doesn't mean I enjoy it. Give me a good red or a green salsa over their brown, over-roasted sludge in a bowl. (I can't, for the life of me, imagine who buys it at the grocery store.)


So, after eating the chips-and-so-so-salsa, I ordered a smattering of selections. To start, I had the Rajas con Queso, which in Spanish means "small bowl of white cheese with two or three strips of caramelized onions and green peppers for only $6" (yes, Spanish is a very concise language.) It was decent, but barely lasted two minutes between my friend and I. Next I had the Tortilla soup. It was probably the best thing I had there. It had a nice smooth texture and a spicy heat about it that I liked. However I was disappointed in its relative lack of tortillas. Looking back, I'm not sure there were any in there; although I wasn't explicitly looking. You kind of expect them to be in there, right?


For the main course I figured I should order Puffy Tacos since this is, after all, Taco Journalism. The stewed chicken was tender but very bland. One of the nice things about 'fancy Mexican' is that the chicken is usually decent or, at least, non-nasty; El Chile lived up to that, at least. The two tacos were nicely garnished with guacamole and the usual accompaniments. However, like a lot of puffy tacos, it was damn hard to eat since the shell exploded into a million pieces on the second bite. Eating a taco with a fork? Nonsense! I didn't touch the rice or beans, so I can't comment on them.

I hope and pray that, one day, downtown will get a good Mexican (or Tex/Mex) restaurant. If you know of one, please leave it in the comments.

El Chile Cafe y Cantina - 2 stars - The Commish
918 Congress Ave
(512)291-3120
Austin, TX 78701

ACL Tacos!

Atencion ACL revelers and taco lovers!

We wanted to provide you with a Taco Public Service Announcement in preparation for the Austin City Limits Festival.

Eat tacos because they're good, cheap, easy to eat, mobile and if you find a good spot, tell your friends about them.

We also wanted to give y'all a heads up on where to eat tacos this ACL weekend. I heard tacos will be available at the ACL fest but the only one worth mentioning on this blog is Wahoo's Tacos.

Here's the "in the city" TacoJournalism tops list...

Tacodeli
La Guera Taco Truck
El Primo Taco Trailer
El Taquito
Porfirio's Tacos
Taqueria Star
Taqueria Chapala
Joe's Bakery & Mexican Food

And the rest...
Warning: Eat at your own risk - some of these were chose because of their convenient location!

Wahoo's Fish Taco

Juanita's Tacos

El Chilito on Barton Springs Rd

Zocalo Cafe

La Casa Del Fuego

ACL Taco Map

View Austin City Limits Festival Tacos in a larger map

Introducing The Undercover Mexican Girl & La Michoacana Meat Market

We were on a search and we didn't even know it! And finally, we had try-outs at La Michoacana and we finally came down to 1 winner out of 1 contestants. Yes, that's right, we found our Taco Journalista! She hails from the land of tacos, has a knack for South Austin taco trailers and everybody thinks she's a gringa (hence the name)! Taco world, get ready, here comes The Undercover Mexican Girl...

Undercover Mexican Girl
Undercover Mexican Girl spent her childhood in Aguascalientes, Los Angeles, and in her imagination. Ever since she was quite young, she was filling up notebooks full of stories and going off on adventures without her parents. At some point, she went to college (which she recommends only if you don't have to take out a loan) and earned a BA in History and a MFA in Creative Writing.

She's worked (for pay) as a violin shop manager, a film production assistant, a high school and college teacher, freelance writer and editor, and in the non-profit world doing public relations and development. She's also worked (without pay) as an actor, stop action animator, musician, decoupager, sketch artist, epicurean, and pirate.

First Review: La Michoacana Meat Market/Taqueria No. 1

What began with an e-mail inquiry to the Taco Journalists about their coverage of South Austin taco trucks ended in a merry lunch meeting at La Michoacana (minus The Commish). At first, we were stumped by the meal-ordering process. We instinctively migrated to the hot deli counter, where all the taco fillings and entrees resided in glowing warmth, but the cooks cheerfully instructed us to pay at the register and then return with our receipts for faster service.

I had fiercely hoped that their menu that day would include what I call "folded in half, fried mashed potato" tacos. These tacos were a staple in my childhood cuisine, and although I'd always thought they were my mother's unique creation to get rid of leftover mashed potatoes, they are universally known tacos. In fact, Mando explained to me that these are called "doraditos." But apparently, they only appeared briefly during my last visit to La Michoacana several months ago perhaps at the whim of one of the cooks. And the cook had referred to them as "taco dorados," or simply "tacos de papa."

Still lusting for the non-present tacos de papa, I settled for the Chile Relleno "antojito" plate, and I was thrilled that it didn't come with a side of rice and beans. Why does every Mexican and Tex-Mex dish in Austin come with rice and beans? I don't remember my parents or relatives (all from central Mexico) serving up rice and beans with every single meal. Mexicans eat other sides, too, like salads and vegetables! (Do Americans eat mac'n'cheese and french fries with every meal?) The Chile Relleno plate came with a salad of fresh iceberg lettuce and tomatoes, topped with a creamy queso fresco dressing. Queso fresco is crumbly like feta, but mild like mozzarella.

The chile relleno, as well, was stuffed with queso fresco and only queso fresco. No cheddar or fancy jack cheese, no pumpkin seeds or raisins, no blackened fish. I appreciated its simplicity, but I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't topped with a warm tomato salsa and grilled onions (as my mother made it). As adequate back-up, the salsa from the condiment squeeze bottle was tasty enough.

Eating at the counter was an exciting experience itself, with an intimate view of the cooking action, busy market shoppers, and chaos from the cash registers. Sort of nostalgic, too, the way I would imagine sitting at the corner pharmacy soda fountain. And when you're done with your meal, there's a full selection of "pan dulce" (sweet breads), all-natural Grisi soaps and shampoos, and cuts from the meat market I recommend the marinated beef fajita for the grill. (Recommendation endorsed by Mando.) So, see you at La Michoacana... "donde usted siempre gana."

4.0 Stars - Undercover Mexican Girl

La Michoacana Meat Market/Taqueria No. 1
1917 East 7th Street
Austin, TX 78702

Preview of the new Taco Journalista: The Undercover Mexican Girl

Yesterday, we had our audition (yes, just one) over tacos. We met up with the Undercover Mexican Girl at La Michoacana to eat and talk tacos. We laughed, we cried and we found out what kind of tacos she's going after. Check out our preview of the Undercover Mexican Girl. Look for her first post within a couple of weeks too.

Mando