Showing posts with label Mexican. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexican. Show all posts

Tuesday, 30 June 2015

A Casa Que Pasa

I love going into a burrito shop in a college town like Bellingham because I know that the vegetarians are going to be well taken care of!

The burritos at Casa Que Pasa are large (about 2 meals worth for me) and delicious. There are many vegetarian and vegan options, and on the day of my meal I ordered vegetarian daily special: flour tortilla, spicy black beans, deep fried potatoes, guacamole, sour cream, cabbage and green salsa. It was quite the burrito!
And as with any Mexican restaurant worth its salt, Casa Que Pasa has a nice little salsa bar with a variety of red and green homemade salsas and spicy pickled carrots. All were tasty, none were especially spicy to my palate.

Reminds me that I should spend more time in Bellingham!

A Casa Que' Pasa on Urbanspoon

Saturday, 27 June 2015

Best Corn - Antojitos Mexicanos

There are many emerging intriguing culinary delights at the "Othello Swap Meet" parking lot at the Othello lightrail station at MLK and Othello, including Antojitos Mexicanos, AKA "Best Corn" shack that sells elote (roasted corn on the cob sprinkled with various delicious things), and esquitas (roasted corn off the cob).

On one cold recent evening I bought myself a large sized order of esquitas and it was quite the treat. I ordered mine with everything but the mayonnaise (mayo seems to be a standard part of the dish), and what I received was a big cup full of freshly roasted, freshly decobbed corn layered with butter, lime juice, cheese, chili powder and chili sauce. It was super delicious, and the buttery, corn-y, lime-y cheesy, spicy liquid that remains once the kernals are gone is a treat in itself.

This would be a great snack to munch on while waiting for the lightrail... all the tastyness of a well-dressed elote, but with the tidyness of a spoon.

Antojitos Mexicanos on Urbanspoon

La Carta de Oaxaca

Braved the crowds at this popular Ballard restaurant for a recent birthday celebration. We joined the well-dressed pack waiting shoulder to shoulder in the standing-room-only bar, drinking tasty Margaritas from pint glasses almost as fast as the busy bartender could pour them.
Our patience was rewarded with a table, a basket of hot fresh salty chips and a bowl of guacamole. There is a salsa bar that consists of a half dozen really delicious salsas- pico de gallo, a green one, a light red one, a deep red one, a brown one... I don't know what kinds they were but they were outstanding, especially the brilliant red one which has a wonderful flavour unlike any salsa I've ever tasted.
The menu consists of dishes that were described by our party's La Carta de Oaxaca veteran as "not quite big enough for a meal" so we proceeded to order 2 dishes a piece.

Over the years, I've looked at the menu on the website probably a dozen times, totally excited about Oaxacan flavors and cooking, to find that the vegetarian options are really limited. I've always hoped that something else vegetarian would pop up (Vegetarian tamales? Molotes without sausage?), but the choices remain limited (and, I realize, probably more authentic for being so.)

My first dish was the Quesedilla Fritas, fried cheese quesedillas garnished with guacamole, Oaxaqueno cheese, beans and flavorful salsa. The tortillas were homemade and exquisite (would be worth ordering on their own)- warm, thick, soft, fragrant with masa. I sometimes get in over my head with quesedillas filled with stinky cheese, and was really pleased that the cheese used was mild and completely inoffensive to my sensitive little cheese tongue.
My second dish was the enchiladas, which I special ordered sans the typical fried egg on top. The Oaxacan enchiladas are different from the enchilada I am used to in that they aren't filled with anything. Instead, the fresh tortilla is dipped into a red chili sauce, folded over, then topped with onion, parsley and Oaxaqueno cheese (and a fried egg, if you like). I wasn't enamoured by the enchilada sauce- it was fruity and sweet and I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been.
All in all it was definitely a good evening, and it's hard not to have too good a time with large margaritas and a small fortune of salsas to choose from. But foodwise as a vegetarian, I felt a bit like I was eating from the kids menu. The food I had was good, but I felt like the meatless dishes were just scratching the surface of the wealth of the cuisine. I don't expect every restaurant to make numerous special concessions for the vegetarians, but seeing the dishes my meat-eating companions were relishing made me daydream more than a little.

(206) 782-8722
5431 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
www.lacartadeoaxaca.com
La Carta de Oaxaca in Seattle

Rancho Bravo

Rancho Bravo is a taco truck that parks in the Winchell's Doughnuts parking lot in Wallingford. There are a couple of things that are immediately notable about this place, the first of which is an extremely vegetarian friendly menu. The menu consists of all the inexpensive taco truck standards: tacos, burritos, tortas, and the addition of bowls (more or less a burrito sans tortilla). For any of these, the customer is given a choice of various meats, or a vegetarian mix that includes grilled veggies and mushrooms (and beans if you ask).

Photo courtesy Stephanie P.

I ordered two tacos with the veggie mixture + beans, and for around $4, received a huge gorgeous plate overflowing with soft warm corn tortillas, big piles of colorful veggies and black beans, fresh cilantro, radish slices, and juicy lime wedges. I slathered them in all three of the self serve salsas, which turned out to be hotter than I expected (I like spicy stuff, but almost ruined my tacos by adding too much without testing it out first), and sat down to eat.

The second item of note is that the food is remarkably unsalted, which is a detail that I immensely appreciate. And it seems that they intentionally left the salt level low and instead supplied a large container of little salt packets to allow self-salting, which I did to my taste, and which contributed to a home-cooked healthy feel to the meal.

As with any taco truck, there seemed to be a wide swath of society coming through ordering up a cheap dinner. And as with any taco truck, the furnished plastic dining table wasn't the cleanest surface in the world, but all of that is to be more or less expected. For me, it is the generous accommodation to vegetarians that is the most noteworthy!

Rancho Bravo
Wallingford
211 NE 45th St
Seattle, WA 98105
www.myspace.com/ranchobravotacos

Rancho Bravo on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

El Siete Mares

I was recently in a full car driving through Yakima on the brink of many things: extreme hunger, fatigue, and the 9'olock restaurant closing hour. While two of us in the car were frantically poking and shaking an iPhone trying to get restaurant recommendations, the driver made a sharp turn into the first promising place he saw: El Siete Mares, Mexican/seafood restaurant and late night lounge. Fair enough.

We were seated in a booth and given chips and salsa. The salsa was tasty and different from the norm in two ways: it was honestly spicy, and it was tomatillo based. It also came to the table with a plate full of fresh lime slices.

The menu had a variety of unusual items, including a $56 feast and some kind of meat wrapped in different meat wrapped in different meat and garnished with different meat. For the vegetarian there was just one thing: Cheese Enchiladas. That and the unfortunate words on every page of the menu: NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

Congratulations in order!

And so it was cheese enchiladas for yours truly. And honestly, I'm not sure if I was responding to the bittersweet joys of hidden lard, the easy replenishment of salt, the high intensity mariachi band playing full strength trumpets a few feet away, or, to quote my dad, the fact that "Hunger makes a mighty fine sauce for any meal," but they tasted delicious.

Vegan choices were non-existent.

Thanks to P for the pictures, and congrats D on the successful completion of the 30PBBC!

No shortage of entertainment at El Siete Mares late Sunday night!

El Siete Mares on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

El Paraiso Mexican Grill

I was recently in Everett at dinner time and stumbled upon El Pariaso Mexican Grill. I was initially a little skeptical about vegetarian options at a "grill" but a quick glance at the menu calmed my fears and excited my appetite.

While we waited for a table, the host encouraged us to go over to a corner of the restaurant that was occupied by a little old Mexican woman cranking out fresh hot tortillas. In an unexpected and totally awesome move, she pulled two off the hot griddle and slathered them in butter and fresh salsa, rolled them up and handed them to us. Off to a great start!

Goodness gracious the fresh tortillas were delicious

The next excellent move was the presentation of the hot tortilla chips with good homemade salsa AND a dish of refried beans. We were giddy with pleasure and surprise.

The vegetarian portion of the menu was varied and had nearly a dozen options on it. I was stoked to have the unusual (for a vegetarian) dilemma of having to choose between multiple excellent looking dishes. I ended up getting a combo that included a Gordita (also called Sope), an extra thick corn patty covered in beans and other delicious toppings, and a spinach enchilada in tomatillo sauce.

The Sope was outstanding. I've had versions of these in the past that were pretty lame due to an excessively greasy deep fried flavor, but the sope at El Paraiso was just a thick version of their super fresh, super delicious tortillas. The spinach enchilada, also made with the fresh tortillas, was fantastic as well.

This style of non-region specific Mexican food can really be hit or miss, and El Paraiso is really a hit. Everything that came our way was super delicious and fresh, and all of the tortilla based dishes especially really shone.

It's also worth mentioning that the wait staff is exceptionally friendly, seamless and fast. So good in fact that I felt compelled to tip way over normal just they were doing their job so well.

Great place!

El Paraiso Mexican Grill on Urbanspoon

Saturday, 20 June 2015

Taqueria Guaymas

Taqueria Guaymas has multiple locations in Seattle, including a few called Tacos Guamas, and they are all more or less the same: murals of the same fantasy rural Mexico scene, horchata and jamaica, and a kickass salsa bar. The main difference between locations, far as I can tell, is the freshness of the salsa bar and the general cleanliness of the place. My current least favorite is the one in Renton, and my current best favorites are the ones in Fremont and West Seattle.
The Guaymas standard has fresh pico de gallo, not-super-hot pickled onions with jalapenos, very-spicy pickled onions (pink), a deep red pepper sauce, radish slices, a thin avocado/cilantro sauce, my favorite smoky charred salsa and lime wedges.

I enjoy eating here. There are a couple vegetarian options, including big burritos and tacos. I never really stray from the tacos because they are chubby, cheap and delicious. The amounts of various ingredients vary a bit depending on the day and location, but they always consist of: two soft warm corn tortillas, pinto beans, Mexican rice, pico de gallo, sour cream, a little shredded cheese, and a line of red taco sauce. They are generally burstingly large, and two tend to make an almost impossibly large meal for me, especially once covered in more pico de gallo and salsa and pickled onions.
Ordering chips is a nice idea, though I rarely do it for one reason or another. They come out hot and lightly salted and are really nice to have along side the variety of salsas.

I guess Tacqueria Guaymas is a chain, but it doesn't have the typical fast food chain (Taco Bell, etc) feel in the slightest. I once brought a Mexican friend to eat here, and he wasn't very impressed with the tacos al pastor, but as far as veggie taco needs are concerned, they provide. And I really do enjoy the charred salsa and other salsa bar delights.

Tacos Guaymas on Urbanspoon

Marination Station

I honestly don't know how it took me so long to visit the Marination Station (it is located upstairs in the QFC complex at Broadway and Pike). I had read about and heard about their "sexy tofu" tacos and finally stopped by to give them a try.

The Marination Station is the brick and mortar sister of the Marination truck, which drive around town selling items from an unusual Korean/Mexican fused menu. The truly vegetarian choices are a little scant (they use shrimp paste in their often used kim chee, so if you don't mind shrimp paste the menu expands). I ordered two sexy tofu tacos (at $2.50 a piece, not quite in the realm of super inexpensive taco truck prices, but they really are in a whole different league), and am here to say that the hype was warrented!

The tofu was well marinated, lightly seared (not deep fried, awesome!), and on fresh warm tortillas with vinegary slaw, pickled jalapenos, onions and a creamy, garlicky, gingery sauce. I could have easilly doubled the size of this order and finished my plate.

The meat menu looked amazing too.

Marination Station on Urbanspoon

Friday, 19 June 2015

Agua Verde

Agua Verde is the super busy Mexican restaurant/Kayak rental combo near the University of Washington that is so popular and well loved that it seems to have become cool recently to give it a good diss. Too busy (true), not as good as "everybody" thinks (hmmm), too many yams (do you know how to read a menu?) etc. Are our egos that fragile?? I guess it is human (or at least hipster) nature to turn against something that too many people like.

With that said, it is really busy. Too busy. Line out the door, take a pager (don't start thinking of the Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory... this little device is necessary here but does feel out of place) and wait for an hour kind of busy. And the kayaks aren't a huge selling point for me either; while kayaking and eating are both nice activities, it's not like Seattle is short of places to find food after kayaking on the lake. But the location is lovely, especially on a sunny day, and the food is healthy, interesting, inexpensive, tasty and fresh and includes quite a nice selection of vegetarian (and vegan) choices.

Fresh sturdy chips with chunky guacamole and cocktails made from housemade juices

I went recently to celebrate a birthday, and after our customary wait (which, by the way, can be passed quite pleasantly at the adjoining park at the lake's edge), we began with drinks. Dining companions ordered margaritas with Mexican lime, and I got a mango margarita. I ordered without full consideration of the menu, and soon wished I had ordered the prickly pear which was served on the rocks instead of the tasty but filling blended smoothie mango.

When eating here I tend to order the "3 sides and 3 tortillas" option because their sides are delicious and vegetarian (rice with chard, chili mashed potatoes, black beans, jicama salsa, red cabbage slaw, etc), but this time decided to order yam tacos, which are one of the two vegetarian taco options (the other variety is portobello).
They weren't a disappointment. The soft corn tortillas came mounded with buttery yam cubes sauteed with onions and chilis, and drizzled in creamy avocado sauce and sprinkled with cotija cheese. The plate also came with black beans and chard rice.

The salsa bar (yes!) tends to have 3 salsas, including one with slightly smoky roasted jalapenos that I find especially delicious.

Something else I really appreciate about this place is that they make a real attempt to be responsible with their food. The following is a statement of their practice and intent taken from their website:

"We strive to use organic, sustainable and eco-friendly food and are proud of our recycling and composting efforts.

What does this mean?

Meat - produced from animals raised on farms (as opposed to factories), given vegetarian feed without growth hormones or antibiotics

Seafood - caught or raised sustainably using eco-friendly techniques

Produce - vegetables and fruit grown organically and obtained from local sources when possible

Drinks - hand made in house juices and margaritas

Coffee - shade-grown produced by small co-ops and specially blended for Agua Verde

Recycling - product packaging is recycled - cardboard, plastic, glass and metal

Composting - food waste is composted and meal packaging is compostable - including to go cups, boxes, and utensils."

I think it's a good place. I love the variety available to vegetarians, the location can't be beat on a sunny evening, and I appreciate the efforts they make towards being an ecologically responsible establishment. And the food just tastes good... fresh, healthy, well figured out. I don't often end up braving the wait, but I do understand why people do.

Agua Verde
(206) 545-8570
University District
1303 NE Boat St
Seattle, WA 98105
www.aguaverde.com

Agua Verde on Urbanspoon

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Senor Moose

Senior Moose has long been on my list of restaurants to try, and I recently, finally, went there with company from out of town. We started with an appetizer of chips and guacamole and it was really outstanding. The chips were thick and salty and so fresh the grease burned our fingers, and their sturdy texture was perfect for the chunky homemade guacamole. In addition to this appetizer, there were other interesting looking starters too, including one particularly intriguing pile of roasted, cheesy corn also served with hot chips.

There were multiple interesting vegetarian dishes to choose from, including enchiladas in some sort of special salsa, and a vegetarian mole made from "25 ingredients". I chose a dish that was made from roasted chilis, roasted corn, potatoes and cream. It came on a plate split down the middle with tasty black beans on the other side, and a plate of warm tortillas wrapped in a cloth for scooping it all up. It was some heavy dense delicious food.

Many of the salads looked awesome too, and I wish we'd had room to try some desserts, including both a regular and a chocolate tres leches cake. Oh my, got to go back!

PS: My one complaint was that they kept the door wide open, likely to vent the kitchen in the small and somewhat crowded restaurant, but it was a nasty, rainy, cold night and I had to eat with my jacket and scarf on. A cozy, steamy, warm room would have much better suited the food!

Señor Moose Café on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Agua Verde

Agua Verde is a real gem located right on the water near the University of Washington.

There are lots of great options: blackened catfish tacos, yam tacos, etc. My favorite thing to do is to order "3 Sides" which comes with 3 hot tortillas. Some of the options are: jalipeno mashed potatos, pozole, cilantro rice, jicama coleslaw and on. In addition, there is a fresh salsa bar which is always brimming with delicious fresh salsa options.

There are plently of good vegetarian options and what look like really good margaritas in addition to the usual non-alcoholic Jamaica, Horchata and lemonades.

Gorditos Healthy Mexican Food

I think Gorditos is best known for the size of their burritos... they range from arm size to presto log size and really are jaw dropping to the unsuspecting. But the main reason that I love Gorditos is their tofu burrito, which completly holds its own rather than being a lame substitute for a meat version. The tofu burrito is full of steamy soft tofu chunks that have been grilled with onions and bellpeppers, whole beans, other good stuff, and then, if you order it wet, slathered with a nice layer of cheese and salsa and then put under a broiler until brown and bubbling.

I also love their salsa, which is served up warm from a heated vat and tastes smoky and charred. They have a salsa bar with all of the usual accompaniments... pickled onions and carrots, jalapenos, salsas... but the burritos are so delicious and saucy on their own a trip is hardly necessary unless there is a surplus of chips around.

The ordering experience can be a little bit chaotic... the place is usually busy and as you stand in line somebody makes their way down the line taking orders. As you slowly walk your way to the register, you pass by the bustle of a half dozen folks in a open cooking frenzy and you can see the magic that makes the food so delicious: lots of fresh ingredients sauteed, broiled, charred... Upon reaching the register, you pay, take a little paper maché donky with his own special name and your basket of hot chips and warm salsa, and find a table and wait for a server with your food to locate your donkey.

My only complaint is that in recent times everything has started to seem a bit too salty... I wonder if recipes have changed a little bit. Either way, the burritos here remain spectacular (a little fresh cool sour cream can soothe the salty tongue), and are really not even related to the refried-bean pupae burritos often available at other lesser establishments.
Gordito's Healthy Mexican Food in Seattle

Sunday, 14 June 2015

Taqueria El Asadero

This is the long-existing taco bus near the Genesee area Safeway on Rainier Ave. This place has its perks. To begin with, they will make vegetarian versions of most of their menu (and even have vegetarian tamales!) I ordered 3 vegetarian tacos and they were packed with rice, refried beans (likely including lard), cheese, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. They tacos were very inexpensive.
Once you get your order, there are a few awesome things in the bus. For starters, Taqueria El Asadero still manages their salsa old-school style: in squeeze bottles scattered around the bus and on the outside tables where you help yourself to all you want. For a salsa lover such as myself, this is a real bonus. Second, the radishes, limes, and pickled jalapenos and carrots also exist in a "serve yourself" style dispensary. I love these additions to the taco, and it is very satisfying to have full access!
Taqueria El Asadero on Urbanspoon

Friday, 12 June 2015

Beloved Mexico

I have raved about Beloved Mexico before here, but wanted to post a little update with another tantalizing picture. As a quick review, Beloved Mexico is a very special taco truck in West Seattle that takes care to use good quality ingredients and makes healthy and satisfying food for both meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.

I recently had the pleasure of eating a full meal at the truck, and was thrilled with what I got. I ordered a vegetarian enchilada meal (with the special request of filling them with pinto beans and veggies instead of the standard vegetarian filling of potatoes and cheese), which came with my choice of two sides.

The enchiladas were delicious... warm corn tortillas filled with tasty fillings and covered in a fresh green enchilada sauce, a little sour cream and a sprinkle of queso and cilantro. I chose sauteed onions and peppers as one side (well seasoned), and a house salad with lime dressing as my second.

I left, as always after a visit to Beloved Mexico, feeling full, healthy and happy!

Beloved Mexico on Urbanspoon

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Bombs Away

Corvallis was surprisingly full of vegetarian friendly restaurants, and we are really well fed while we were there. The last stop of our vegetarian feasting tour took us to Bombs Away Cafe, a mostly Mexican themed restaurant near the University.

In addition to meat items, they have a huge vegetarian menu, including vegetarian tortilla soup, savory tofu burritos, potato enchiladas, green chili cheese tamales, tempeh burritos, tofu enchiladas, etc. It was pretty much everything you could hope for as a vegetarian at a Mexican restaurant.

I ordered the tamale, and it came well stuffed and aside a big pile of black beans and brown rice.
Also ordered was a vegetarian Chimichanga, a menu item that I immensely appreciated. Vegetarians don't always want whole wheat/brown rice/steamed vegetables/non-fat dressing. Sometimes we want our meals made with deep-fried white tortillas drizzled in sour cream. I have to admit, after tasting this, I wished I had ordered it instead of the tamales.
Thanks so much to our knowledgeable hosts for sharing some of their favorite spots. I miss you guys!

Back to Seattle.

Bombs Away Café
2527 NW Monroe Ave
Corvallis, OR 97330
http://www.bombsawaycafe.com/

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Villa Victoria

UPDATE: Villa Victoria has closed its doors. Here is a re-post of Premuim-T´s comment that alerted me to the fact:

Naomi of Villa Victoria has closed her storefront, but she still does fantastic catering. Last fall I attended a wine-tasting dinner that she catered and it was fantastic. She has a blog: http://seattlemexicanfoodblog.typepad.com/

(Thanks T for sharing the unfortunate news!)
________________________________________

Villa Victoria is a cute little tamale shop in Columbia City. It is tiny- just barely enough room to walk in and peruse the case and order, and possibly, if the shop is void of other customers, to sit along the window at a narrow bar. But in general the place is suited for taking your food away.
Delectable glass case
They have plenty of vegetarian options, starting with jalepeno cheese tamales. They are tasty, but heavy on the masa and light on the filling. And as I write this, I just realized that I don't know whether they use meat juice/lard in their masa. Hmm. Going to have to find out.

Another standard item in the case are little cheese and onion enchiladas. They are made from corn tortillas and smothered in an authentic pepper sauce.
One also has the option of ordering outside of the case, which includes giant delicious looking burritos. We saw many being made as we ate, and they were huge and succulent. They have a tofu adobe burrito that I am looking forward to trying one of these days.

The sides at Villa Victoria are excellent. Each of their homemade salsas are delicious, as is their guacamole (both of which can be purchased in larger containers to take home). They also make some super good greens.
For dessert, they have some Mexican wedding cookies, which look good, and Chocolate Truffle Cookies. I bought a chocolate truffle cookie, and was a bit dissapointed to find it to be dry and cake-y and neither rich nor particularly chocolatly. With a name like "truffle cookie," and a deep coco brown color like it had, I would expect a serious chocolate encounter. Oh well. I know some people would prefer it this way.

Villa Victoria
(206) 329-1717
3829 S Edmunds St
Seattle, WA 98118
http://www.villa-victoria.net/

Villa Victoria on Urbanspoon

Tacos Chukis

[UPDATE, 1/21/12: I haven't seen it yet with my own eyes, but it sounds like Tacos Chukis now serves homemade salsa and home-stewed beans for the vegetarians. Has anybody tasted either of these? I'm excited to go and give them a shot!]

There has been quite a little stir recently for Tacos Chukis, the taco shop with a sweet story (the Mexican owner, after finishing a degree at the UW, took a giant bike ride down to Mexico and spent some time investigating all the best street food with the intent of coming back to Seattle and opening a restaurant) and I was eager to give it a try.

Tacos Chukis has a limited menu with a handful of meat options and a vegetarian version of each that uses nopoles, grilled prickly pear cactus pads, in place of the meat. I ordered two nopoles tacos.

While I am not a huge fan of nopoles, these tacos were still pretty good: fresh, hot tortillas, cilantro, onions, lime, guacamole, and a little melted cheese on the tortilla. However, if I could redesign these tacos to fit my personal perfect vision, I would make them with tasty home stewed beans instead of with the cactus.

I was super hungry and found that 2 tacos wasn't quite enough to fill me up (the tacos are inexpensive and can easily be eaten many at a time!). Good to know.

This is such an endearing little taco shop and I love the story and the fact that they have an unusual vegetarian option (even if it isn't my ideal vegetarian option). The one other missing item, far as I'm concerned (aside from some beans), would be some homemade salsa.

On the meat side: I heard rave reviews from my meat eating dining companions about their tacos. I think between the two of them they managed to try just about every meat taco on the menu!

Tacos Chukis on Urbanspoon

Monday, 8 June 2015

Los Potrillos

I had heard good things about the taco truck at Rainier Ave and Graham, and recently, in the pouring rain, checked it out.

Nice horse painting on side of truck

The menu is relatively short. They have tacos, burritos, tostadas, tortas and a variety of plates including seafood. They have all of the various meats cooked all of the various ways, and the captain of the truck informed me that they are willing to make vegetarian tacos, quesadillas, tostadas and burritos, even though they aren't on the menu.

The tacos are $1.10 a piece, and I ordered 2. My meat eating companions ordered chicken tacos, asado tacos and tacos al pastor. It is indeed possible to eat *at* the truck, at the busy intersection in the parking lot of the 76 station in a military-esque canvas tent, but on this extremely rainy day we opted to take our tacos and eat at home.

Turned out that a $1.10 taco is pretty tiny! Should have known it. I had my 2 tacos, and my companions ordered 3 and 4, and we all found ourselves not quite full. I think 3-4 would have done it for me, and the other two speculated they would need 5-6 and 7-8 to make a satisfying meal.

Cute little chicken tacos with beer for scale

The vegetarian tacos were decent. On top of the very cute little corn tortillas was a good smear of refried beans (in retrospect, possibly made with lard? they were awfully savory and delicious...), rice, cheese, chopped tomato, slice of avocado, sour cream. We were each given a little foil packet of lime, radish and carrot (neither of which were as spicy as I would have preferred), and a couple tiny containers of salsa, one green and one red. The salsas were both excellent, but there wasn't enough of either. In the future I think I'll offer to pay for larger quantities of both.

Veggie tacos

The boys reported that their meat tacos were good too. Greasy, savory, richly colored little tiny baby tacos.

Los Potrillos on Urbanspoon