Tacos? Wagons? Yes you heard it right – one of the newest places for Mexican in town is housed in a wagon of sorts. Well, really it is a small portable building, the kind you might have in your backyard, mounted on a trailer, proclaiming tacos for a buck. So naturally I had to check it out.
Driving up to the taco wagon, the first thing I noticed was the ample parking. The Wagon is currently setup on a large abandoned concrete pad where I’m sure some type of building was located at one time. The Wagon is a walkup type place so you’ll have to leave the comfort of your vehicle and mosey up to the window to place your order. The next thing I noticed as I approached the Wagon was the hum of a small generator providing power. This thing is really portable.
The menu at Taco Wagon is pretty simple and written on a whiteboard next to the ordering window. My selection was 3 tacos ($1 each), one each of pork, chicken and beef and 1 ‘homemade’ shredded beef tamale ($2) for a total of $5 which included the tax. There was a selection of mild, medium and hot sauces available – they put that on for you.
The taco fillings are cooked up fresh so you will wait a few minutes for your order which is delivered on either those really thin paper plates or a paper boat each covered with some foil. I decided to “eat in” – which means I took the plate back to my truck and dined in the parking lot.
The tacos are served open faced on two soft corn tortillas with a small wedge of lime on the side. They are also pretty small and 3 easily fit on the paper plate. The use of 2 tortillas is a structural necessity. I tried to eat one
using a single tortilla and had a hull breach with ingredients exploding through the side – good thing they give you a plastic fork. The fillings were good and fresh, the meat was tender and grilled up with onion and cilantro. I asked for the medium sauce which was green. I wish I had chosen the hot sauce as I found the medium sauce lacking spiciness and flavor. Squeezing the lime over the top is recommended as it helps brighten up the flavor.
I’m still debating with myself about how well I liked the tacos. The fillings, while good on their own, didn’t have enough robustness in the flavor department to make their presence known when you double up on the tortillas. That left me tasting mostly tortilla. They were better with a single tortilla – but then you have that structural issue to deal with. The tortillas themselves were pretty good – so I guess overall I liked them ok. Next time, I’m definitely going for the hot sauce and ask them to put on a bit more than the standard amount.
The tamale was a good basic version of the classic. They get warmed up in the microwave prior to serving.
While I waited for my tacos I took a peek inside the Wagon and saw a very compact, clean and modern kitchen. I also chatted up one of the two ladies working the Wagon and she kept warning me about the tacos being ‘California’ style and not the crispy shell style. She also mentioned that the tamales are made by a Mexican woman somewhere in town.
The Taco Wagon is currently located in an abandoned lot on West Sunshine just west Wal-Mart and West Bypass. Given the mobility factor of the Wagon – it might make appearances in other parts of town.
There isn’t anything else like the Taco Wagon in town. I’ve been to Mexico and the food is very similar to what you might find on the side of the road there – simple, cheap Mexican food.
Location: An empty lot on West Sunshine just west Wal-Mart – No phone.
Driving by again the other day, I noticed that the Wagon has been moved to the back of the empty lot and there is a power pole supplying electricity – so the generator isn’t droning in the background anymore. I guess the Wagon is a bit less mobile now.
I’ve also noticed that they have more signage now, and a phone. They also accept credit cards…but done in an “old fashioned” way, so it’ll take a long time. Just use cash.
Best thing to do is order the tacos and eat them nearly immediately, as in while in your car on the lot. They’re not nearly as good if you wait to take them home and eat them.