Tacos El Rey #2

An associate and I went to T.E.R. #2 last night and had adobada tortas that were delicious. It was about 20 degrees but we discovered T.E.R. #2 has an indoor eating area. We took our food home anyway, but it is nice to know that on these frigid nights eating at a truck is not out of the question.
I ordered a champurrado and realized that it is different than hot chocolate. Champurrado is a thick, chocolate drink made with masa farina (hominy flour), piloncillo, water or milk and occasionally containing anise seed and or vanilla bean (tasting somewhat like a thick chai tea). Atole drinks are whipped up using a wooden whisk called a molinillo (or, a blender). The whisk is held between the palms of the hands, then moved back and forth in the mixture until it is aerated and frothy. I remember getting a molinillo for Christmas one year - a year with a 1 and a 9 in it. There was probably an 8 and then one more number like a 3 or 4. All I was told is that it was for stirring chocolate. But I did not understand why chocolate needed to be stirred and if it did why it required such a specialized stirrer. Now it makes sense.

Piloncillo are small bricks of sugar cane.
Atole drinks are hot drinks with corn starch or masa farina.

This truck is in Garden City on 42nd and Chinden blvd a few blocks East of El Torito. It is open until 10 pm.

Car or bike

Tacos Aguililla

Tacos Aguililla does not take credit cards and for that reason the Kewpie Dolls cry.

But the tacos are good and they are served with a roasted jalapeno. I love roasted jalapenos.

I tend to order a lengua taco at each truck I visit and I did so this time but none of them looked or tasted like lengua. Whatever the odd man out was, it was good.
This truck is parked at the corner of 1st and eleventh in Nampa.

Directions by bike
Directions by car

Hot or Not?

Tacos El Rey #6

Not too hot. We were asked if we liked them hot but alas, they were mild. Mild and delicious. I had a lengua, carne asada and adobada taco. The lengua and the adobada were great but the asada, like the El Rey truck on Chinden in Garden City, was made up of really small peices of meat, so small in fact that if it weren't for the tortilla chewing would be optional.




Update: I forgot to mention that this truck is in a Pennzoil oil change parking lot so next time you get your oil changed you might want to chose your changer based on its proximity to tacos.

Biking Direction
Driving Directions

El Torito

in Garden City is serving hot chocolate.

I think this truck is called Primo Tacos

Do you have any idea how many taco trucks there are in western Idaho? Me neither. But if I were to venture an guess I would say, roughly, a whole lot. And they are for the most part pretty similar, which is not a bad thing because they are all good (so far). There are some little things that distinguish one from another like price and free re-fills of horchata, but location is perhaps the number one consideration. So, as an advocate, I think the best I can do is tell you were they park. The truck in the above photo parks in the parking lot of a Vietnamese restaurant called, Vietnamese Restaurant at the corner of Franklin and Curtis. The truck faces Curtis. The tacos are $1.
Note: aesthetically, I have decided to link to maps instead of posting the maps.
Directions by car.
Directions by bike.

Updated, April 2010. Primo's updated menu.

Chilangos

Chilangos truck parked in the restaurant lot

I have eaten from a Chilangos truck, honest. It was parked in front of the rec center at Boise State. But ever since that time I've been trying in vain to hunt one down to photograph. Today one of my Taco Truck operatives (TTOs) called to clue me in on the location of a Chilangos truck but it was gone by the time I arrive. Not to be defeated, I, along with an associate drove to the Chilangos restaurant. One of the best things I can say about it is that it stays put. I had a pork torta. It was good but not quite as good as tortas I've eaten from Idaho trucks. I have had their tacos and they are pretty good. Let's just say that I would eat at Chilangos often if I lived in the neighborhood or if I did not want to eat outside. Otherwise I would chose one of the many trucks in Southwestern Idaho.
The tomales look good.
Bonus: while eating at Chilangos you will be treated to random animal noises, like an elephant trumpeting.

Car map:


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Bike Map:


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Once Again

I tried again the next day (see previous post) and still not truck. But on the bright side, I heard from a reliable source that the truck was indeed on the Boise State Campus. It had moved to a different part of University Avenue. When I find it, I will report.

Missing

As you can see in the above photo, there is a conspicuously absent taco truck. I'm worried. This truck was conveniently located for those of you who live or work near Boise State University. I have eaten there once and it was good and tacos were $1. I had planned on photographing the truck and ordering some tacos today so I could write about it but to my dismay it wasn't there. Adding to my dismay was my unfortunate choice to get sushi from the Student Union. The sushi was fine but at $8.00 it was a poor substitute for one dollar tacos.
I will let you know if the truck reappears.

Directions by car or bike:


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"Carne asada is not a crime."

It would make lunch difficult if your taco truck had to move every hour.

This story was brought to my attention by a loyal reader from Chicago. Thanks.

Taco Velos

This taco truck should appeal to the taco eating cyclist if only because of its name, Velos. Having eaten quite a few tacos of late, I opted for a torta even though the prices looked too high. The carnitas torta I ate was $5; less than I expected because there are many in the $6-8 price range. The sandwich consisted of a large, soft roll with mayo, meat, cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, tomato, and avocado. Some people make tortas with beans and I am allergic to beans. Yes. Allergic.
The best torta I've had in a long time, which is unfortunately meaningless because I have not had a torta in a long time. But even so, it was good and I will go back.

I am trying different mapping options. I think the map below is a tad big. Maybe next time I will chose the link button option so you'll only see the map if when you want it.



Car Map:


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The photo above is close to what you should see when you arrive but now there is a taco truck parked there. Click to see the map.

Estrellita

Soon to be satisfied customers.

If you find yourself in Mountain Home, Idaho on a Saturday or Sunday (correct me if I'm wrong but I think they are only open weekends), eat at Taqueria La Estrellita. Today, on my way to Boise from Battle Mountain, Nevada, I sampled three delicious tacos. The plate on the left was my plate and the tacos, from left right, are al pastor, carne asada and lengua. The lengua was the tastiest of the three and the al pastor was, although quite fine, came in third. Tacos cost $1 at Taqueria Estrellita.
On the way out of town one of my associates spotted another taco truck not far from the truck featured today. That truck will have to wait until the next trip to Mountain Home.

A note on the maps: In cases where I have not ridden my bike, the instructions are google maps suggestions and therefore not guaranteed my the editors of Taco Truck or it's affiliates.


By Bike:


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By car:


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Jalapeno's

If you find yourself driving through Boise on I84 between 11:45am and 6:00pm on a weekday, Jalapino's is a convenient and delicious option that wont take you to far out of your way. Tacos are $1. If you want tripe or lengua, add .50. I’ve been there once and sampled both carne asada and al pastor tacos - very good. Two corn tortillas, cilantro and onions. I can think of no negatives. This truck also offers tamales and I tried to buy some to take home for dinner but they were sold out. I’ll take that as a good sign. Tortas are $5.00 and someday I’ll try one.

This afternoon there were several young girls in the truck helping out. One of them was saying, "I should be doing my homework." Good kid.

The photos were taken from across Broadway and I think they give an accurate feel for the location. The truck is right next to an emissions testing camper. For some reason emission testers are often camping trailers in Idaho. This one is painted orange and blue in support of the Boise State Broncos.

If you go by bike, the Federal Way part of the ride is on a pleasant bike path.

Location:
Federal Way at Broadway Ave.

Map from downtown Boise YMCA by bike:

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Map from downtown Boise YMCA by car:


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El Torito

As you might have noticed, I did not get out of my car to take this picture. I am a bit shy about asking if I may tomo un photo. One reason is that I am not sure if that is the correct way to ask and another is I'd rather avoid explaining why I want a photo of someone's mobile restaurant. One tactic would be to photograph the restaurant when it is closed, which I did in Emmett. Unfortunately it was closed so I did not have a chance to taste the food, but I'll save the photo for when I do get back to Emmett to sample the tacos.

In general I plan to review only taquerias in Idaho and near the borders of neighboring states and provinces. Also I will only write about restaurants that I would eat at again. It may not be the best taco I've ever had but it may be the best taco for miles.

El Torito is in Garden City, Idaho. The tacos are good and they cost $1.25 unless you want tripe for an extra .25. I've tried the carne asada and the pastor. Both are good but greasier than average. I might suggest avoiding El Torito on a cold day, as the grease will solidify on your paper plate before you are done and that might be unappetizing. Tacos are served with two corn tortillas per taco, which is my preference because the single tortilla taco often falls apart. El Torito sells tortas, and I love tortas. When I get a chance to eat one I will report back. I do know that they cost $4.00. The horchata is delicious, $1.50 including one free refill.
The service is friendly and pretty quick depending on how busy they are.

Location:
46th and Chinden, Garden City, Idaho behind El Torito Market.

Directions by bike or on foot from downtown Boise (Dawson's)


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Directions by car:



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