It’s been a long time (too long) since I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the non-mainstream, authentic flavors of Pueblo Viejo. My last visit resulted in an outstanding breakfast taco that left me wanting to try everything else on their menu. Well after far too many months I was able to make my way back over to the East Side and get my taco on.
I’ve gotten the urge to do some real scientific, in-your-face, who’s-king-of-the-castle, head-to-head(-to-head) taste tests between some of our favorite trailers. This post is just a preview of what I have on deck. The rules are simple: 1) Each place needs to offer up a similar, nearly identical menu item for a fair competition. 2) The food needs to come from a trailer. That’s it. Let the battle(s)… BEGIN!
As far as food trucks go The Peached Tortilla is on my short-list of best evers. They focus on the highest quality food with new and exciting flavors, all while remembering everyone’s name. Their primary focus is on tacos and sliders made with unique combinations like crunchy catfish or pork belly (banh mi). On yesterday’s visit I went with the intentions of trying one of their new burritos. And let me stop you right there– burritos are not just bigger tacos.
Three months ago I had my first experience with The Peached Tortilla. At the time I was beyond impressed with the BBQ Brisket slider, so-so on the Chicken Satay taco, and undecided on the Banh Mi taco. Shortly after my first visit, Ev and I checked them out again when the truck visited our hood for the Flying Saucer Beer Festival. The food itself is reason enough to keep you coming back, but that’s not what blew me away this time.
Well, kids, the soon-to-be missus and I are heading down over east to Florida for the big day. It’s been a long time since that interrogatory run, and we couldn’t be more excited for December 4th to get here! It’s going to be a jam-packed week full of last-minute planning, prepping, and partying. Sprinkled in between the mayhem (for me at least) will be sleeping, running, and eating. In second-to-last penultimate minute planning, Ev and I skeptically scoped out the SoFla food cart scene in case we do, in fact, find time to eat. Much to our pleasant surprise, it appears to be fairly mobile-eatery abundant.
I’ve talked about hidden gems here before. You know, those places that are nearby that you never knew existed, but if you did, you’d eat there four times a week and gain 12 pounds. Well, this weekend Ev and I stumbled upon a nondescript trailer down in a burgeoning trailer food ‘hood called Pueblo Viejo, and it’s certainly a hidden gem in my book.
Oh. My. God. That’s what Ev and I thought… then whispered… then screamed… as we pulled into the parking lot. But let’s back up. Our original dinner plan this evening was to hit up Conscious Cravings (t.b.b.*), a local, healthy vegetarian trailer that I’ve enjoyed before and that we both had at Gypsy Picnic (with tepid reviews). So why all the Lord’s name in vain business? Because right next door to our vegetarian destination sat the most heavenly sight to behold. The unbearably delicious Salt Lick BBQ has set up shop in an old Air Stream trailer not 5 minutes from our apartment.
I started this post right after my second trip to Chi’Lantro and I’ve been 2 more times since. Rather than write three separate posts for my favorite Korean-Mexican food truck (and yes, there’s more than one in Austin), I thought I’d spare you and combine them all into one superpost. Each visit showcased a new menu item with some good and bad to each, so keeping reading to find out what you should get when you try ’em out.
It’s pretty amazing how many new food trucks and carts have been sprouting up all over Austin. Thanks to Austin Food Carts I’ve been able to keep track of the newest kids on the block. More than anything I enjoy seeing what new niche food style will be on the city menu, like made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, customized funnel cakes, or specialty mega-doughnuts. However, this is actually about the exact opposite, where a new food truck is offering a nearly identical experience to a well-established favorite, or so I thought.
Things that get me through the morning: long showers, doggy kisses from Hazel, lots of coffee, and breakfast tacos. Austin is
a town full of breakfast tacos (maybe the only town full of them…). And with the move to Austin came an obsession with this delicious morning treat. Luckily, in the parking lot next to GSD&M Idea City lies the wonder that is Royito’s. Since our office is so close and they’re only open until 10:30am, the “breakfast taco run?” call comes as a welcome a.m. break.
