Saturday, April 25, 2009
Teresa Gubbins found a taqueria in Arlington
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ARLINGTON Perhaps you've heard that I don't eat tacos. Well, I guess you can't always believe what you hear. I was on my way to grab one at Fuzzy's Taco Shop on Abram in Arlington, the newest branch of the gringo-friendly taqueria chain, when another one on Collins caught my eye: Taqueria Mexicana.
Something about it seemed authentic; maybe it was the fact that it had "Mexicana" right there in the name? I parked my car in the lot, thanking my lucky stars I wasn't in one of your dicier areas where you have to worry about getting your car broken into, and hustled inside.
I pointed to what I wanted on the menu and made grunting noises, but it turned out that the entire staff spoke English. I ordered two soft tacos: "asada" -- beef ($1.49), and "pastor" -- marinated pork ($1.35), both topped with slivers of grilled onion and fresh chopped cilantro. The beef had a nice, firm chew. The pork was tender, with occasional remnants of fat; its rust-tinted marinade was pert and citrusy, and warm on the lips.
But the best thing was the corn tortillas, small, slightly thick rounds which appeared to have been made on the spot, and which were used also to make the chips. Two different, unrelated tables of Mexican laborers were eating those chips with bowls of soup. (There were five soups on the menu, including a seafood version with squid, shrimp, and whitefish; plus a BIG selection of torta sandwiches.)
Spotting a colorful mural on the wall of a Mexican cowboy, I quietly congratulated myself for coming across such a nifty find.
But here's the kicker: This place is located right across the street from a brand new stadium, being built by Jerry Jones for the Cowboys. Guess I don't get out to Arlington too often. Boy, it was something else! The cashier said that Taqueria Mexicana was originally located on the grounds of the stadium but had to move across the street when they started construction.
Anyway, after this experience, I think it's safe to say that Taqueria Mexicana has the best soft tacos in all of Arlington, if not the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. What do you think? Have you been there? What did you have? Did you like it? Would you go again? What's your social security number? Do you have another favorite taco place you like better? Or burgers, how about burgers? That'll get comments, right? Got a favorite burger?
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Comments
luniz Anonymous
lol you are over the top.
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
Why don't any of these damn pastor tacos have pineapple in them?! AAARGH!
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Oudekerk Anonymous
Do they serve pot au feu fish tacos? The ones for which savvy chefs boil 100 pounds of ox tails and reduce them to two quarts of delectable broth drizzled sparingly around the edges of the rice?
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Teresa Gubbins Staff
Oudekerk, i see that you are a man about town, a well-read fellow, just like Luniz
Jesus, is there anyone locally who does pastor topped with pineapple?
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
La Michoacan near Maple and Knight Street makes the pastor with pineapple. The other taquerias we really like are La Paisanita on Maple withe the $1.19 tacos and La Hechizera at Maple and Inwood.
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
ch0 Anonymous
I've wondered if that place was any good. Now I'll have to go check em out... it's a heckuva lot closer than Fuel City! Thanks TG.
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Billusa99 Anonymous
If I heard you grunt, TG, I'd switch to English too... ;-)
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Teresa Gubbins Staff
cho, i look forward to your feedback
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
There better be local people who like it with pineapple.
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Nancy Nichols Verified
I like it with pineapple! Must! be! because! I lived in LA!
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
Simmer down over there, Jesus! That's the only way some us folk have the pastor tacos.
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
luniz Anonymous
The problem with regards to al pastor is some of the places that use the pineapple also serve it in crappy tortillas. .
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
nina_chawla Anonymous
I heart Fuel City!
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Nancy Nichols Verified
Your wheelhouse, baby: http://eatsblog.guidelive.com/archive...
6 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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