Gringo-Mex in Wisconsin

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- The Gringo-Mexican Food of Wisconsin

America's favorite faux holiday is around the corner! As always around this time of the year I will feature some of the country's great Gringo-Mex restaurants. In previous trips we've scouted out the American-Mexican food of NW Indiana. As well as the Gringo Tacos of both Illinois and also Iowa. Want to know where to go to get the best crispy tacos in the country? I'll give you a hint it's where we're going today. Wisconsin. One of my all time favorites when it comes to exploring. There continues to be plenty of spots on my radar and today I share with you four more that I crossed off at one point or another. As mentioned the theme is Gringo-Mex by which I mean Mexican food that's mostly made for a Caucasian clientele. It's one of my great guilty pleasures. I love getting the opportunity to take a trip back to a time when Mexican food was just becoming norm in America.

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Little Cancun

Franklin, WI

We start at my favorite of the bunch in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin. First things first if you ever need a shady motel head here to the very street that Little Cancun rests on. You'll find about 15 of them up and down the highway. There's one right behind the restaurant. What a weird area. But it's worth the weird to indulge in some of the best enchiladas in the region. I consider Gringo-Mex to be a different animal than Tex-Mex which is what I would use describe this popular family style spot. It reminds of a place you'd find off the highway in a small Texas town. Though you know you're in Wisco when you go inside as this is a popular spot to watch the Packers. What you also notice right away is the smell of the fresh fried tortilla chips. Along with chunky red salsa a signature of Gringo-Mex.

Fresh Fried Tortilla Strips at Little Cancun 

As some of y'all know I consider there to be a time and a place for Tex-Mex. That time is whenever I'm in Texas. In fact I cant wait to one day go explore San Antonio. That's where the good stuff is at. It's hard to find legit Tex-Mex outside of that area. The dish I think most represents Tex-Mex other than fajitas and breakfast tacos is enchiladas. Specifically ones with red sauce, ground beef, and lots of cheese. The enchiladas at Little Cancun are the best Tex-Mex style enchiladas outside of Texas I've had. In fact I've been here for them on more than one occasion. Not "authentic" but damn tasty.

 Enchiladas at Little Cancun

My other love with Tex-Mex and for that matter Gringo-Mex is crispy tacos. Little Cancun makes a really good one. One of the filling options is "Little Cancun Signature Beef" or something like that. Well it's actually just good old carne guisada which is Texas style stewed beef. The good ones come in a rich brown gravy. That gravy coats the tender beef which goes inside a fresh fried shell.

 Crispy Taco at Little Cancun 

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El Patron

 Edgerton, WI

Located in Rock County is the tiny town of Edgerton. It's a pretty one during the Fall which is when I was there a couple years ago. Located right near the classic downtown area is this place called El Patron. The family has a few locations and are known in the area for good Gringo-Mex. There were a couple of popular items one of which is the chimichanga which I dont do. The other is an item called the "Tostaguac" which is seen below. It's a tostada with meat, beans, and guacamole. Interesting.

 Tostaguac at El Patron 

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Hushers Pub & Grill

 Caledonia, WI

We all know about the Friday Fish Fry, Saturday Night Prime Rib, and even Sunday Broasted Chicken. These are all popular specials found in bars and taverns up and down the state. But there's another nightly special gaining steam and that's Taco Tuesday's. I've been to handfuls of bars that participate in Taco Tuesday and they're always tacos of the gringo variety. Like those at Husher's Pub in Racine County. Every Tuesday they do AYCE tacos but they're also available for individual purchase which is what I did. After all they take a tortilla and drop it in the fryer until just crispy enough to where it can still fold and not crack. In goes some ground beef from the crock pot and on top goes a variety of gringo based taco toppings including lettuce, pickled jalapenos, and sour cream. I have no shame in admitting my love for the crispy taco. Click HERE for another WI bar doing these.

 Taco Tuesday at Hushers Pub

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Conejito's Place

 Milwaukee, WI

Last but not least is the legend that is Conejito's Place in Milwaukee. This my friends is one of the city's finest drinking holes. From the outside it just screams Texas as it lights up the block with neon. Though the property itself is classic Wisconsin tavern. The type of spot that gets packed for Packers.

a peek inside 

I try to stop at least once of not more than once a year. It's the type of place that when it's gone it's gone for good. Started in 1972 by a guy named Jose "Conejito" Garza who wanted a place to call his own so he came to America from Nuevo Leon at the age of 18. Not long after that he moved to Milwaukee and worked as a butcher before buying a tavern and turning in it into his own little taqueria. He had a taco plate special consisting of steak tacos on flour tortillas with lettuce and tomato as a courtesy to his customers. They're still served today but instead of $1.50 they're $4.20

Steak and Bean tacos at Conejito's Place 

How do they keep the prices so cheap? Partly by serving everything on paper plates. Which some people hate. The reviews of this spot can be mean but if you're going in expecting to find the flavors of Mexico City you're the one that needs to be reviewed. This is a classic 1970's Mexican restaurant and it hasn't changed one bit. Drinks are still dirt cheap and the food is too. It's good drinking food and even though I know what real Mexican food is I dont find it offensive that a place serves something like what you see below and calls it Mexican food. It's old school Gringo-Mexican.

Enchiladas Plate at Conejito's Place

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Little Cancun
7273 South 27th Street A
Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 761-6200

El Patron
2 W Fulton St
Edgerton, WI 53534
(608) 561-6400

Husher's Pub & Grill
9002 6 Mile Rd
Caledonia, WI 53108
(262) 835-9795

Conejito's Place
539 W Virginia St
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 278-9106

Especialidad de la Casa Pt. 7

-Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

Time for another installment of 'Specialty of the House' where we feature the feature dishes at Mexican restaurants across the city. Today's round-up is exclusively spots from the Southside. This wasn't planned but the fact of the matter is that is where you'll find the real deal mom and pop stops.

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The Grill on 47th

Archer Heights

First stop up is out by Midway. The Grill on 47th gets it's name from the street it rests on. From the outside this looks like a classic southside diner. At one time it probably was. These days it's still a diner that has all the regular breakfast items as well as what sounds like a good burger etc. But on the weekends it turn into a local pozoleria. According to the signs and the menu they make Pozole estilo Guerrero. Your choices are green, red, or clear for the broth and pork or chicken for the meat. What you see below is a small size pozole verde which is the most popular way of eating this soup in Guerrero. It was one of the best bowls of pozole I've come across and it starts with the rich broth and large chunks of tender pork. The toppings plate served on the side just made it that much better.

Pozole at The Grill 47 

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Yvolina's Tamales

Pilsen

For some of the city's best Oaxacan style tamales head over to Pilsen's 18th street. Located at the end near Halsted is an unassuming spot that kind of hides behind the tree in the summer. It's called Yvolina's and it's a grocery slash restaurant. The namesake is usually found in back where she's making fresh Oaxacan style tamales that come with your choice of wonderful sauces as well as some of the fluffiest Mexican rice I've ate. Not only that but she makes tortillas to order for the tacos. This is by definition a great neighborhood place. She's very popular at the local Taco & Tamale Fest.

Oaxacan Tamale (w/ Rajas) from Yvolina's Tamales

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Taquizas Y Banquetes El Siete

Brighton Park

Here's yet another street food success story. The family behind this place used to make their food exclusively for parties and pop up's. They saved up enough to go brick and mortar and now they still cater with taquizas but also have a location where you can come to them for their locally famous tacos de guisado and also their hot dogs. The tacos are terrific but there's not many spots featuring Mexican Danger Dogs and El Siete makes a really good one. For those who haven't explored the Mexican hot dog it's an absolute heart stopper. Made with a cheap wiener wrapped in bacon they're fried on a flattop with onions which go on top. You'll also get ketchup, mayo, tomato, jalapeno, more.

Mexican Hot Dog aka Mexican Danger Dog at Taquizas Y Banquetes El Siete

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El Campestre

Brighton Park

Next stop takes us to Archer avenue in the Archer Heights / Brighton Park neighborhood. Sometimes you just get a taste for some classic grilled chicken. At least I know I do. When it comes I usually like to go get it from one of the city's many Mexican grilled chicken specialists. Pretty much all of these spots do a bang up job with their grilled chicken and sides. When you get a meal deal you know you're getting enough food for not just one but maybe two meals. El Campestre has a few locations but it's this one I pass by most often. On my visit around lunchtime it was me and about 15 (no joke) members of CPD who were on duty in the neighborhood that day. For just around $10 I got some really good grilled chicken (1/4 meat) with two sides of my choice (rice + beans) along with chips and multiple salsas as well as tortillas. The best chicken tacos are made from the meat, rice/beans and tortillas supplied at the aforementioned grilled chicken specialists. Hits the spot.

Seasoned Grilled Chicken Lunch Plate at El Campestre

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Los Candiles 

Little Village

Our final stop is in Little Village. Right off 26th street you'll find one of the neighborhood's favorite gathering spots. Los Candiles has been a fixture in these parts for a while now. They're only open until 5p so it's popular for both breakfast and lunch. On a recent visit we ran into the alderman so you know this place is popular with locals. One of the things Los Candiles is known for are Enchiladas Huastecas, as well as Enchiladas Potosinas. These are both popular recipes from San Luis Potosi. I did some scouring of the internet for Enchiladas Huastecas recipes and noticed many different variations. All I know for sure about the offering at Candiles is it's well worth your time. Three corn tortillas are rolled in a red chile sauce and stuffed with chicken and then folded before being topped with sauteed carrots, potatoes, lettuce, and cream. Refried black beans and sliced avocado come served on the side. I love a good plate of enchiladas and this is one I'll return for. See y'all next time.

Enchiladas Huastecas at Los Candiles

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Previous Posts from this Series 

Especialidad de la Casa Part 1

Especialidad de la Casa Part 2

Especialidad de la Casa Part 3

Especialidad de la Casa Part 4

Especialidad de la Casa Part 5 

Especialidad de la Casa Part 6

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The Grill on 47th
4359 W 47th St
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 801-1061

Yvolina's Tamales
814 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 731-3167

Taquizas Y Banquetes El Siete
3817 S Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 851-9753

El Campestre
4226 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 927-1333

Los Candiles
2624 S Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60623
(773) 522-8544

Mi Tocaya Antojería

-Grubbing in Chicago
New to the 'Scene'

I'm not letting the cat out of the bag with this but Mi Tocaya is in the running for Chicago's best new restaurant 2017. After going through the rounds of praise from local food media Chef Diana Davila and her team are now making noise on the national level. Just in the last couple weeks publications like Eater and Bon Appetit have featured Mi Tocaya, the latter in an article naming Chicago the 2017 "Restaurant City of the Year" - In short it's been a triumphant return for Davila who first came onto the scene over at the now defunct Cantina 1910 in Andersonville. A dispute with ownership led to her early departure and the place never recovered. Luckily it seems to have all worked out for the better.

Newly Opened in Logan Square

Not only did it work out for Chef Davila and company but it also worked out for me and the rest of Logan Square. Mi Tocaya sits in a space on the corner of California and the Logan Square Boulevard. Directly across the street from a state assisted senior living facility. It's definitely a neighborhood type sport with it's patio which is about double in space of the inside dining room. The menu is made up of plates that Bon Appetit says is "transforming Mexican food in Chicago" - I think quotes like that are for the clicks but there's no denying the quality of the food being served at a more than fair price. Start with the tacos. They might be $4 each but there's places charging $8 these days. On top of that these are some of the best tacos in the neighborhood now. Options like al pastor (recently taken off) and beer can chicken meat have been stellar on my visits in. There's little doubt that their taco campechano (al pastor, steak, chorizo) will be on my best tacos of 2017 list. It's an absolute dandy.

Taco Campechano (mixed with al pastor, steak, chorizo) at Mi Tocaya

Since this is our new neighborhood place we've been a handful of times though more times than not I was getting one of each from the tacos. Sometimes they have a Baja fish option when breaking down the fish for other dishes. Get one if on special. Another good way to go for a starter is the queso fundido mixed with housemade longaniza. Rarely will you find a bad bowl of queso fundido (melted cheese) and rarely will you taste a dud coming from this kitchen which meant this was pretty much guaranteed to be good. Longaniza is different from Chorizo though the two are used interchangeably in many parts of Mexico. Mexican longaniza breaks apart easily like chorizo. The cheese and sausage was also joined by some roasted peppers in the bowl. Each serving comes with a few house tortillas used to scoop up the cheese. My only complaint is a little more cheese would be nice.

Queso Fundido at Mi Tocaya

Moving on they have quite a few options for shared appetizers even though the menu isn't all that big. It's a great place to enjoy multiple plates of food. Another one I can recommend is the Enchiladas Potisinas. These little treats are a common snack in San Luis Potosi Mexico and although called enchiladas they act more like empanadas. The masa for these is seasoned in a red chile sauce making them red. Cheese is then placed inside and the ends are folded over together to prevent the cheese from slipping out. They're then fried and usually served with sour cream and maybe beans.

Enchiladas Potisinas at Mi Tocaya

The most instagrammable dish on the menu right now has to be the Fish Con Mole Verde. It's one of the more visually stunning plates of food I've ate of late. As far as flavors go those were also a hit. This was a perfectly cooked piece of fish with a green mole sauce that like all great moles was both smooth and complex. The green color in the sauce comes from poplar Mexican ingredients like Serrano chiles and tomatillos. I wouldn't mind seeing more green mole dishes around town.

Fish con Mole Verde at Mi Tocaya

One of my favorite Mexican dishes that you dont often see on menus, unless you're at a homestyle cafeteria type place, is fideo. Rice gets most of the pub but noodles are a staple in Mexican homes as well. Fideo is basically broken spaghetti and in most Mexican homes it's just mixed with a red sauce and then served. Mi Tocaya recently switched the fideo recipe to include char grilled cauliflower with the duo being served atop a refreshing yogurt cream sauce. No pics of the drinks but enjoy the daily frozen offering while you can. As different fruits have come to harvest it's switched with them over the past few months. Market strawberry margaritas were my favorite thus far. There's no doubt Mi Tocaya will be in the running for Chicago's best new restaurant in the year of 2017. Glad it's near me.

Fideo with Grilled Cauliflower at Mi Tocaya

Mi Tocaya
2800 W Logan Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
(872) 315-3947
Website

Texican

-Grubbing in Chicago

New to the 'Scene'

Tex-Mex is one of those cuisines that people either love or hate. Nothing but love from me. Despite not traveling to Texas until I met my now wife I've always felt connected to the cuisine. Texas author Robb Walsh is one of my favorite food writers and his book titled 'The Tex-Mex Cookbook' is one of my favorite cookbooks. Up until recently that book was just about the only source of Tex-Mex food in Chicago for me. If I wanted Tex-Mex I had to make it myself. Sorry but Uncle Julio's is trash and frequented by people who grew up going to Chili's with the family. It's bastardized Tex-Mex. 

Newly opened in the Near North Neighborhood 

Enter the Texican. Recently open on a stretch of Larabee that's pretty much entirely new it kind of blends in with the building it sits in. Inside is small and bare but I dont care because tasty Tex-Mex can be found there. These days Tex-Mex is being better received by food snobs as breakfast tacos have recently jumped into the spotlight. Breakfast tacos are a Tex-Mex staple and Texican has "Austin Style" (whatever that means) breakfast tacos on their menu. While there's only two options both are pretty tasty. Starting with the migas this is basically the official taco of Texas. It's eggs mixed with sauteed veggies (onion / bell pepper) and crispy strips of tortilla. Texican does a good job with this simple recipe that most breakfast taco stands in Texas are judged by. Also good is the chorizo and potato with eggs. Salsa comes in hot (red) and mild (green) and both of them are pretty good with the hot giving off good heat. Flour tortillas are store bought but I can live with that. Tacos are $3 each.

Breakfast Tacos 

Next up on the menu for me was the enchiladas. This is imo the best dish on offer when it comes to the cuisine. It's the one dish that I think Tex-Mex does a better job at than Mexican cuisine. Well these are now the best enchiladas in Chicago by default. Cheddar cheese is wrapped into a tortilla which is dipped in 'Salsa Colorado' they might not be as good as my favorite stops in Austin but they certainly remind me of them. Some people just wont like these but if you like Tex-Mex you'll enjoy.

Cheese Enchiladas 

Another item that caught my eye is their Chili Mac. I make this pretty often, although I do something I kind of created called Taco-Mac though the dishes are similar. Here they take their Texas chili and mix it into macaroni and cheese. Throw on some onion and cilantro and you got a big plate of hearty food. The type of dish that the word comfort was made for. I will no doubt be back for this when the taste comes calling and I dont have the time or energy to make my own. It's good to finally have an option when it comes to Tex-Mex food. The menu might be small but the food is pretty damn good.

Texas Chili Mac at Texican 

Texican
869 N Larrabee St
Chicago, IL 60610

(312) 877-5441

Website

Eating BIG in Austin Pt. 4

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- More from The Texas Capitol

In the latest installment of my Austin Chow Guide I combined two trips into one round-up. Reason is that as you may know I was recently married in Austin this past November. So I was down there not just the week of my wedding but also for a weekend a month and half or so before as we had to do a few checkups on the venue and also taste the food for the catering gigs. As I continue to spend time in ATX I continue to love it. I'm always going to be connected having gotten married here but even if that hadn't happened I'd feel connected thru the city's love for good food. I always eat well in Austin.

Greetings from Austin Texas

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Freedman's Barbecue

First things first we needed to make sure the BBQ was what we wanted for the welcoming party on Friday night. Well truth be told we knew it was what we wanted but part of the package was getting to stop in and sample some of the stuff that would be served to our many guests. I featured Freedman's a while back and I knew we were getting the goods. This lunch was about as perfect as you can make a plate of BBQ. Moist brisket, smokey ribs and fat links of Texas sausage were sure to wow. I must've had 10+ people tell me it was the best BBQ they ever ate after the party had ended.

BBQ Plate from Freedman's

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Pieous

Pieous is a place that evaded me for a little bit. Located in a part of Austin that tourists rarely make it to I only knew about this place due to a tip from Twitter. It turned out to be just a 5 minute ride from our wedding venue so I was really excited to try it out. Pieous is known for two things. The first being their real deal scratch-made Neapolitan pizza. The second thing people go crazy for here is the pastrami. Not surprising to find a place in Austin putting out near perfect pastrami. This is Austin after all and Austin smokes more high grade meats than Snoop Dogg smokes high grade trees.

Pastrami Platter

The pastrami platter comes with your choice of fatty / lean / or both. The meat gets placed in the middle of a plate and is surrounded with two types of mustard, bread, pickles, and onion. This pastrami was as good as any I've come across. I wish we had something like it in Chicago.

Pastrami Close-Up

Then there's the pizza which is certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) commission. It's one of only two spots in Texas to hold such a label. The certificate certifies that the pizza at Pieous is made in accordance with the high standards required of traditional pizza-makers in Naples. No idea how this compares to the pizza there but compared to the wood fired pies I've eaten here in the States this is as good as any. Pictured is a housemade Italian Sausage with Caramelized Onions that I've been back for. Pizza and Pastrami might be an odd pair but who cares when each of them is a top shelf product. I'd put this place on any best restaurant in Austin list. Worth ride from downtown.

Italian Sausage / Caramelized Onions

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Juan in a Million

There's tons of Tex-Mex spots on my to-try list and even though I had been to Juan in a Million before, it was only to try the breakfast tacos. The tacos are fine but not my favorite. This trip in I finally got to try the famous 'Con Queso' breakfast plate. It's been a customer favorite for a long time now. Juan in a Million is in it's 37th year of business and on my visit it seemed as though everyone was a regular. The looks and feel of this place are about as old school Austin as it gets these days. Same goes for the famous breakfast plate that includes two eggs served any style with queso, carne guisada, refried beans, potatoes and flour tortillas. It might not be the prettiest plate of food but I cant imagine there being a breakfast that's more Texas than this. I'm lucky I don't live near there.

Con Queso Plate at Juan in a Million

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Enchiladas Y Mas

Now that I've basically crossed off every Austin BBQ spot worthy of a visit I've started to explore the city's Tex-Mex scene. Readers might remember I'm actually a big fan of Tex-Mex and I say this as someone whos favorite cuisine is Mexican food. So trust me when I say I know the difference in the two and that one is not the other but rather an extension of it. My favorite way to enjoy Tex-Mex is via enchiladas. One of my favorite plates of food from any cuisine is a pool of red chile gravy with enchiladas swimming in them below a blanket of cheese and onions. To me it's the quintessential Tex-Mex dish. It's got everything going on that fans of Tex-Mex love and for that matter the same things that detractors of Tex-Mex hate. One of the best places in Austin to find a plate made in this way is the appropriately named Enchiladas Y Mas. Get the beef ranchero and be ready to go to war.

Beef Enchiladas at Enchiladas Y Mas

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Casa Maria Restaurant

Here we have another real deal Tex-Mex type spot. This one located in a strip mall and ran by what seemed like one big family. How many casual places do you find where the manager is there greeting every patron upon their entry. In this case he was doing so in the most Texas outfit possible and thus this place felt about as Texas as it can get. I think I found them through the search for the city's best carne guisada which is one of the many unofficial state foods of Texas. It's slow cooked chunks beef that's seasoned well and cooked until tender. One of the most popular ways to eat it is in between a flour tortilla. It really is a taco that more places outside of Texas should make as it's seasoned so well during the cooking process all it really needs is a tortilla to hold it. Casa Maria makes a good blend. 

Carne Guisada Taco

When ordering the tacos I glanced at the menu and came across a lunchtime special consisting of beef enchiladas. They sounded good and I returned for them the following day. My hunch was right. These were more so the Mexican-American red sauce style than the Tex-Mex chile gravy kind but they were still satisfying. Casa Maria came across as the type of place I would frequent.

Beef Enchiladas at Casa Maria Restaurant

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La Mancha Tex-Mex Tavern

This spot is a new school Tex-Mex joint tucked away in a residential part of town. It lives up to the old school Tex=Mex restuarant billing of having a huge space as there's a big bar, and large indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The menu was talking to me and that's because the enchiladas on offer. They had a nice selection of options and I wanted to try their take on the ranchero kind. Not my style. These were missing a few things including onions on top. But the sauce just wasn't the type I like. Really no flavor of chile at all, just tomatoes while the processed cheese wasn't working with the rest of it like it usually does. Labeled the 'truckers enchiladas' this plate was a bit of a let down.

Truck Stop Enchiladas at La Mancha Tex-Mex Tavern

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Dart Bowl Cafe

Enchiladas in a bowling alley? Dart Bowl is an old school 32 lane bowling alley and it's cafe is known for having fantastic enchiladas. According to Austinites this place is more than a bowling alley. It's a sneak peak back to old Austin and a time before Texas Cowboys were replaced with Brooklyn transplants. Both the bowling alley and the cafe are virtually unchanged since at least the 80's. Word on the web is you need to order your enchiladas inside the cafe and not at the takeout window in order to ensure they aren't made in a microwave. No idea if that's true but I didn't want to find out. I dont think this plate that  fits my description of a perfect plate of enchiladas ever saw a microwave but if it did, well I always thought enchiladas reheated well. Texas Forever.

The Famous Dart Bowl Enchiladas

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Curra's Grill

The wife was feeling tired one night and decided to watch a movie with her friend so I decided to go get a drink. I chose Curra's because I was intrigued by their signature avocado margarita. That and the carne guisada enchiladas sounded pretty good to me. Curra's is a local spot with people from all walks of life dining in on my visit. The namesake enchiladas are rolled with cheese and then topped with carne guisada and more cheese served in between rice and beans. Not bad at all. While I still prefer the traditional red chile gravy variety this plate was a pleaser. Tex-Mex is good comfort food.

Enchiladas Curra's

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Hondoran Food

This generically named trailer is part of Austin's current Honduran boom. As the country of Honduras continues to be unstable many of it's people are fleeing for America. Austin seems to have gotten a large group and many of them are getting by through the city's love for food carts. Most all of the Honduran food one will find in Austin comes from the carts and most all of the carts are in parts of town that tourists, or transplants for that matter, rarely make it to. So to the best of my knowledge these carts are being frequented by mostly Hondurans themselves. The folks that want a taste of home where they eat baleadas aka burritos for breakfast. In a city where they love their breakfast served in a tortilla this little cart is more than capable of hanging with the big boys.

Baleada for Breakfast

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Taste of Honduras

Here's another Honduran food truck I found parked on the side of a gas station. As good as the Honduran baleadas are I am not as fond of Honduran style tacos. I've had a few offerings from a few different trucks and while I liked the ones from a previous post just fine I did not care much for these pictured below. It's just something about the cheese. Not sure if it's Parmesan or just Parmesan like but it's to overpowering of everything else. This "taco" was basically a loaded tostada.

Honuran Taco from Sabor a Honduras

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Texas Honey Ham Company

I spied this place somewhere online and the name caught my eye. I love ham for breakfast and also love tacos for breakfast. Seems like a spot I'd like. Though when visiting I didn't have the appetite I usually have so all I could go in on were a couple tacos as I passed on the signature house sandwich made with their honey ham. The place was packed with young people and families with young people as it's obviously a locals spot considering it's residential location hidden in the middle of a strip mall. The tacos were pretty damn good, specifically the ham, egg, and cheese. I'd go back.

Breakfast Tacos (L: Ham / Egg / Cheese - R: Chorizo / Potato)

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Taco-Mex

Here we have a place that fits the literal description of a "hole in the wall" as it's a walk up window located inside a small strip mall. I heard good things about the tacos from here and wanted to see what that talk was about. Well that talk was real. This remains the best carne guisada taco I've had the pleasure of trying. I'm playing around with my own recipe and this place with it's Nola style roast beef and gravy consistency matched with the flavors of Tex-Mex (cumin) is the place I'm most trying to mimic. A good carne guisada taco needs nothing except the stewed beef and a tortilla to fill it in.

Carne Guisada Taco at Taco-Mex

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Taqueria Mi Trailita

I read good things about this trailer in a gas station in yet another residential part of town. What caught my eye was the fact they were making flour tortillas by hand, in the truck, upon ordering and that's what happened. I had one of the better breakfast tacos I've had from here in the form of a Migas taco. For those unfamiliar the Migas taco is every bit as part of a Texan's diet as smoked brisket is. Made with eggs, tomatoes, jalapenos, and little crispy strips of corn tortilla it's popular with cheese though some like theirs without it. It's a quintessential Texas breakfast and Mi Trailita makes a mean one. Though I did hear from an actual expert that the tortillas were gummy on his visit. But not mine.

Migas Taco at Taqueria Mi Trailita

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La Canaria

Quite a few people eating and taking food to go from this trailer on my visit. This is always a good sign as is handmade tortillas. Word on the block was that the Puerco Guisado was just like grandma used to make. So I went ahead and got us some of them. Not bad at all. Lots of chile up in there and plenty of fresh cilantro to coll it all down. The tortillas are made on site but not that powerful.

Puerco Guisado at La Canaria

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Taqueria Morales

I got a list of taco trucks in Austin and when near one of the spots on that list I like to cross them off by stopping by. This trailer is liked by many and you can now add me to that list. The taco menu has a nice selection of options including a Taco Alambre which is one of my favorites. An alambre taco consists of steak mixed with something both porky and salty which in most cases is bacon. It's mixed with bell peppers and sometimes onions and also lots of melted cheese that stretches when taking a bite of the taco hence the name alambres which means wires in Spanish. Taqueria Morales makes a pretty near flawless version of a taco alambre with lots of crispy bits of meat mixed in.

Taco Alambre

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Capitol Taco

The best taco of this trip came from this little taco trailer named after the street it sits on. Capital Taco shares a lot with a few other food trucks including Brown's BBQ. Since Brown's is one of my favorite stops in all of Austin I knew that the brisket taco at Capitol would be the real deal and it was. They use the brisket made by the Brown's team and stuff a corn tortilla with it. Add on some pickled jalapenos and a fresh slice of avocado and some cheese and you got a fantastic Tex-Mex taco. The brisket in Austin is 2nd to none and Brown's makes some of the best.

Brisket Taco at Capitol Taco

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 Tommy Want Wingy

Lollipop Wings are a thing for me. I love them. So when I saw this new (to me) food trailer that was specializing in them what do you think I did? Tommy Want Wingy (an ode to Chris Farley's Tommy Boy) has a couple handfuls of options as far as sauce. I went with the Sweet Chile and liked them a whole lot. This particular trailer is on the outside patio of a bar on Rainey street which is a popular drinking area with lots of other food trailers scattered about the block. Good pub grub for sure.

Sweet Chile Lollipop Wings

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Paperboy

Here was the place where I enjoyed my last meal as a free man. Paperboy is one of Austin's most hyped trailers and it seemed like a good place to get some grub in me before taking the dive. As to be expected it was busy and my steak chilaquiles took longer than I had anticipated. This gave me plenty of time to thick about what was coming and whether or not I made a major mistake. Haha just kidding I never would've had this great relationship with Austin if not for the wifey. Paperboy is popular for it's breakfast plates with a bit of Texas Flair. The menu is small but all of it sounds good including the steak chilaquiles which also tasted good. The perfect fuel for what was ahead.

Steak Chilaquiles from Paperboy

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Casey's New Orleans Snowballs

Here we have a little piece of Nola chilling in Austin. Considering my love for a good New Orleans style SnoBall I had no choice but to stop. The place feels more like Nola than it tastes but I'll always enjoy a frozen treat in the heat. Its also possible I didn't choose well as far as flavors.

SnowBall from Casey's

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 Jacoby's Restaurant

We stopped into this well liked steakhouse for a bite during happy hour and sat at the bar so I could enjoy the burger. Well I enjoyed it so much i never even bothered to take a snap of it. So instead I'll lead over to the review that put it on my radar. Mike's a much better writer than me and he's probably the foremost authority on food in Austin even with his new job taking him to San Antonio. Check out his review of the burger at Jacoby's HERE. This place sources beef from their family ranch and has  a small but focused menu when it comes to that. An order of Hush puppies is a good way to start.

Hush Puppies at Jacoby's

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Alcomar

Alcomar remains a pretty good place to indulge in Happy Hour. Pretty sure they offer it daily and discounts are given on both food and drinks. I like the frozen margaritas they have on tap with the house special being my favorite.It's spicy but still extra refreshing. On a recent visit during our wedding week we indulged in a plate of cornmeal dusted shrimps, and oysters with pickled vegetables that clicked. I love the brightness inside of the inside and always feel at ease here.

Cornmeal Dusted Shrimps and Oysters with Tabasco Aioli and Veggie Escabeche at Alcomar

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P. Terry's Burger Stand

When riding around Austin you'll come across quite a few P. Terry's locations. The local chains are easily visible due to their large neon signs announcing their presence. This Austin based burger chain is popular for a quick drive thru meal and as a spot to grab a late nite snack. I found myself here a few times during my wedding week. It started when my dad asked me to pick him and my uncle up something to eat and he suggested a quick burger would do the trick. I got burgers for us and ended up liking P. Terry's and went back a couple times after that. Nothing fancy but these are much better than your typical fast food outlet despite being priced in the same range. Dare I say better than the In and Out's around town too.Just my opinion though. not big on I&O.

Cheeseburger from P. Terry's

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Nasha

Seems like pretty much every fusion possible has been combined these days. But that doesn't mean my fusion food loving self has gotten to try them all. When I found out about Nasha the combination of Indian and Tex-Mex really caught my attention. I never thought to put them together but when you think about it the cuisines have some similar traits and ingredients that work with each others. Take for example their enchiladas which come with your choice of meat (go for the goat) which is wrapped in tortillas and covered in masala sauce and a dollop of guacamole. I liked this place for what it was which seemed like a perfect representation of Austin and it's food scene. See ya next time.

Spread at Nasha

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Previous Austin Round-Ups 

Eating BIG in Austin

Eating BIG in Austin Pt. 2

Eating BIG in Austin Pt. 3

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Freedman's Bar
2402 San Gabriel Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 220-0953

Pieous
12005 W Hwy 290
Austin, TX 78737
(512) 394-7041

Juan In a Million
2300 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 472-3872

Enchiladas Y Mas
1911 W Anderson Ln
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 467-7100

Casa Maria
4327 S 1st St # 102
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 444-8861

La Mancha Tex-Mex Tavern
2203 Hancock Dr
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 467-4108

Dart Bowl Cafe
5700 Grover Ave
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 452-2518

Curra's Grill
614 E Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-0012

Honduras Food
7207 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 902-7490

Taste of Honduras
2538 Elmont Dr
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 326-1086

Texas Honey Ham Company
Forum, 3736 Bee Cave Road
6 West Lake Hills, TX 78746
(512) 330-9888

Taco-Mex
2601 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0860

Taqueria Mi Trailita
5301 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 497-9877

La Canaria
& e, Airport Blvd & E 51st St
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 662-2952

Taqueria Morales
1415 W William Cannon Dr
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 906-4933

Capitol Taco
1901 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 457-9992

Tommy Want Wingy
94 Rainey St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 662-8516

Paperboy
1203 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78702

Casey's New Orleans Snowballs
808 E 51st St
Austin, TX 78751

Jacoby's Restaurant
3235 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 366-5808

Alcomar
1816 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 401-3161

P. Terry's Burger Stand
Multiple Locations

Nasha
1614 E 7th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 350-2919