DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!
In the words of a true P.I.M.P., a man ahead of his time...Y'know who I'm talking about! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH BOYYYYYYYY!
So in honor of Flava Flav and Public Enemy, I give you my DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE top five taco joints. But before we go there, I just want to be clear what constitutes hype...
- Selling tacos at or more than 3 bucks a pop - no self respecting taco connasiour should have to pay that much for tortillas, beans and meat.
- Just okay food but in a conveniently located spot - I've done it, you've done it, now stop doing it!
- Jacking up the prices because it's organic or fresh - this gets a "No Mames" award! Fresh and yes, even organic food isn't & shouldn't be THAT expensive.
- Way too many hipsters or wanna be-s at one location - Ah-noy-ing!
So yes, the following establishments are guilty of one or all of the above. Drum roll please....dddrrrrrr....
#1 - Torchy's Tacos - See You are Dead to me
#2 - El Chilito - See bullet No. 4
#3 - Mr. Natural's - 8 bucks for a plate of Nachos! Let's remember that it's still chips, beans and cheese.
#4 - Maria's Taco Xpress - Don't let your taste buds be blinded by the celebrities!
#5 - Taco Shack - At least mix it up! Don't just slap pre-made eggs and pre-made chorizo on a cold tortilla.
El Mundo de Mando
12 comments:
I've always wondered why you never reviewed Chilito - other than your references to the "overrated place". What is it? Too expensive? Too white? Too many hipsters? I can accept all that - but the tacos are delicious. Maybe not authentic, I don't know, but owner Carlos Rivero put some serious culinary expertise in those tortillas. Mmm barbacoa, cochinita pibil and that wonderful salsa - my mouth waters just thinking of it. Maybe its just an acquired taste - I found your highly rated Chuco's tacos dry to the point of being inedible, the sauce watery, (the service indifferent, and the decor and tvs annoying..... not a happy taco day)
My Dearest Anonymous,
Yeah, we've never done El Chilito but it's on my short list. I've definitely been there lots of times but I do feel that it is much more hype than really good food. I find the food too tame and mibbe that's my own 'authentic vs. not' bias. Oh and the Chico's/Chuco's tacos some might say is also an acquired taste!
El Mundo de Mando
Chuco's taquito's are good. Their tacos are so-so.
El Chilito is terrible. I mean terrible. I am always confounded by the line at that place. The fish tacos can be good, but they are so inconsistent. Their meat is the blandest, driest meat I have ever had. I love the agua fresca though. i live very close by and out of laziness I go back once every month or so and always hate myself for it.
I second that emotion on the savoryness of the El Chilito Cochinita Pibil and the sad inconsistency of the fish tacos (their two best menu items when they're on their game). Considering the lack of trucks or stands in that hood, it fills a void with some pretty adequate fare.
"Fills a void?" Mi Madres is right next door and Elayna's is just down the street. See reviews of both here on the site....
When Mi Madres is closed at 2, and I need a taco at 5, try telling my stomach there's not a void. Now where's Elayna's? I don't see the review here, unless it goes by another name.
It's actually Alayna's, the review is here - http://tacojournalism.blogspot.com/2007/09/that-is-magic-taco-box.html
I live in the neighborhood near El Chilito also, and I hadn't known about Alyna's until I saw the review here. But now I go there all the time. The bacon and egg taco and the barbacoa are my favorites. But the clincher is their killer hot sauce. If you live nearby you have to go to Alayna's.
Hmmm.. dunno about the bad wrap for Maria's. They are still reasonably priced, open late, the whole family can sit down, and the Pollo Guisado is pretty dang good. I've never seen a celebrity there and I've brought my dogs a couple of times.
taco shack blows. i hate the gray-pony-tailed owner b/c:
i got breakfast from there one morning--the eggs were way undercooked--wet and disgusting. i, not happily, made due by microwaving them
fastforward a week or two. i call in an order, explicitly specifying 'huevos muy seco.' i get to work----DISGUSTING WET FLUCKING HUEVOS----I call and politely express my great disappointment and request that my name be written down so i can stop by for a refund at a later time.
i go pick up the refund. the douchebag owner is a total prick (i already thought so from previous experience but this really sealed it)--no apology--just a complete asshole. i had already decided on a lifetime boycott due to MONUMENTAL INCOMPETENCE, but captain shithead moved me into the full-on hate zone w/his world-classedly pathetic customer service.
don't go there--they blow goats
ahhhh, much better now
Just discovered your site and am salivating reading the reviews.I'd be interested to see what you think of El Meson Taqueria on Burleson. The cochinita pibil is awesome. Ask for a side of quac ( its not on the menu, neither are tacos)- they make it to order and it is great.Ditto the salsa- chile moritas, maybe? Thick and hot. Thanks... Robin
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