We've been on a quest to find our favorite taco spot in Austin, and I think that search is now over. A stationary white bus has won. Parked in an enclosed space, the Veracruz All Natural "food truck" (a revamped school bus, really) serves up not only the town's favorite food (tacos) but also an assortment of fresh juices and housemade salsas. All of their attention to ingredient details make for the great bites they produce. If you're going to find your way to this stellar spot, make sure you also grab yourself a refreshing huge cup of their aguas frescas!


The restaurant itself has a brick-and-mortar up north but are visited mostly where they started - on East Cesar Chavez. What started off in 2008 as a small trailer slinging cold drinks and smoothies grew into a beloved operation that touted noteworthy tacos. Once the food came, so did the salsas and housemade tortilla chips. They've set up a welcoming space for themselves undoubtedly; we were drawn in by the ample seating and laid-back attitude of everyone around. We were all here to enjoy some good eats and relax.


Veracruz makes it easy after all. If you aren't going for any of the many natural drinks and smoothies they have, you could always supplement your taco order with a tall 32 oz cup of Aguas Frescas ($4.00 - mango, canteloupe, orange, pineapple, strawberry, strawberry banana, watermelon, or cucumber). Of the many variations they offer, we've had their mango, pineapple, and strawberry ones. The mango was a popular choice and ran out at least one of our visits there; it is thick and sweet like a whole mango would be. The pineapple is very refreshing and balances the line between tart and sweet. The strawberry is refreshing and so satisfying if you just want a bit of sugariness with each swallow. As a whole, these are just fantastic for being mainly the fruits themselves rather than a lot of additives.

Though only three tacos are pictured below, we've tasted quite a few items on the menu. One of their famous tacos is the Migas ($3.50 - eggs, tortilla chips, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese), a savory breakfast taco that takes care of your need for something savory, crunchy, and cheesy. I'd guess this could be a hangover favorite. The Chicken Fajita taco ($3.00 - chicken, cilantro, onions, queso fresco, avocado) carried the characteristic fajita "char" throughout, making for a smoky, hefty taco. If you are into some sauciness, you might want to check out the Al Pastor ($3.00 - pork marinated in pineapple juice and chile guajillo, cilantro, onions, queso fresco, avocado) for its tender juiciness and flavorful marinate. Ah, and the housemade tortilla chips previously mentioned? Get them in the Chips and Guacamole ($5.00 - avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, lime, salt) for a generous amount of chip and dip.


On our very first visit, we went for the Vegetarian ($3.50 - spinach, avocado, carrots, mushrooms, red bell pepper, queso fresco, pico de gallo), Chicken Mole ($3.25 - onions, queso fresco), and Fish ($3.75 - grilled tilapia, cabbage, mango pico, avocado, Monterey Jack cheese, chipotle mayo salsa) tacos. If you are not the carnivorous type, you'd likely be happy with the vegetarian option at Veracruz because they do not skimp on filling up the tortilla with plenty of grilled goodness. The mushrooms were plentiful and bell peppers just a tad caramelized. The only thing to be warned about with this one though is to keep your foil beneath your tortilla because the small pieces may fall out.

The chicken mole taco was rich and hefty. Two of those would probably be enough to keep you full for the day because of how savory the mole was and how much chicken was included. I liked the inclusion of onions too to add a little texture to each bite and also cut through the inherent smoky sweetness of the mole. This one is on Duc's top tacos list BUT the absolute favorite for both of us (and other Veracruz lovers we've talked to) is their fish taco. It tastes fresh and is piled high with healthful ingredients. The mango pico adds great bursts of brightness, the avocado helps meld every component together, and the chipotle mayo salsa adds a zippiness that I think seafood always needs a touch of. It is a given that I'll order this one every time.

If you need to taste the tacos that have won us over, find them over on 1704 E Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78702, visible streetside. There will likely be a line but it will be worth your time. Maybe just grab an aguas frescas for the wait!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

Austin loves its tacos, and we love how you can eat all the pieces of your meal, tortilla and all. What's a better way to clean up than to eat the very thing holding your food together? Alright, well, that is usually the case unless you're snagging a tasty bite from the Pueblo Viejo food truck. You can certainly still eat the tortilla but considering just how much of their perfectly cooked meat they give you per taco, you'll likely need a knife and fork to get you through everything. Of all the tacos we've had anywhere so far, Pueblo Viejo by far has impressed us the most with its expertise in handling all its proteins; throw in one of the best horchatas as well and you have a favorite taco spot in our books.


Like most great finds, this stationary food truck is hard to find and unassuming at first. You enter an expansive area on 6th street where there are several other food trucks parked around a multitude of brightly colored picnic tables. There in the far back right is Pueblo Viejo which has been opened since 2010 and focuses on traditional, fresh Mexican flavors. They serve more than just tacos and have some addictive housemade sauces you can douse your meals in. In addition, they're just good company; we had friendly service from order to pick-up, complete with suggestions and warmth.


Our eyes went wide when we got our loaded trays of overflowing tacos. Yes, utensils, please. The aroma was tantalizing and the colors brilliantly tempting. How do you make a taco beautiful while still making it look edible? We had picked up these three as part of "taco tour" day where we'd be trying out several establishments but with how generous each serving was, it was likely our last stop. When it came to our choices, because of the grilling we smelled and saw in the truck, we had gone with meat-heavy orders. The first, Taco Nes ($3.50 - steak, chorizo and lots of grilled onion served with fresh cilantro and lime), made good on the promise of meat. The vibrant, signature orange color of chorizo was enhanced by fresh chopped cilantro and brightened by citrus bursts of lime. The steak was utterly tender and complemented very well by grilled onions that had caramelized edges. A perfect start.

Then, we of course had to try out a namesake item so the Pueblo Viejo Style ($3.90 - steak, mushrooms, cheese, lettuce, tomato and avocado) taco was next. The balance of heavy savoriness from the steak and mushrooms with the freshness of many vegetables and fat slices of avocado made for hearty, healthy bites. It never felt overwhelming despite how much umami there was per chew because the crunchy lettuce and juicy tomato cut through it all.

My favorite of the three, though, was their Chicharron Salsa Verde ($3.00 - pork rinds with green sauce, onion and cilantro) taco which was a very pleasant surprise. Who knew that pork rinds would make for a good taco? These were tossed in a tangy salsa verde while maintaining their internal crisp so there was fun play between saucy zippiness and fatty crunchiness. In addition, there was the accent of finely diced onion and generous amounts of cilantro. I loved how light the whole taco felt in my mouth despite being very filling.

If you like your meats done well where they are well-seasoned, tender, and complemented very well with accompanying chopped herbs and vegetables, you'll want to seek out Pueblo Viejo at 1606 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 and get ahold of their tasty tacos. We're adding them to our list of places to visit over and over again and are just excited to see what more they could impress us with. Enjoy!

Photography by Duc Duong.

66-472 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Cajun, Creole

Cajun food?! Count me in! Food truck wrangle? Sounds intriguing. After an awesome skydiving adventure off the North Shore on Oahu, we were huuuuungry. The search for shrimp truck gatherings was on after we had heard how fantastic they were. On our way to another section of the North Shore, we came upon a large parking area where several trucks were set up. Surveying the scene, we were curious about all of the garlic shrimp dishes but what ended up really catching our eye was Dat Cajun Guy because it boasted New Orleans fare. It had been a long time since I had been to NOLA, and Duc had never had a proper po'boy before so we had to give this truck a try. I'm so glad we did.

Taco Maria, Orange, CA  92867
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Mexican
www.tacomaria.com

I first saw Taco Maria at the Farm to Food Truck Challenge III at the SoCo Farmers' Market back in June 2012 and saw the beautiful dish that was plated for that event. I could definitely tell that care was taken for the dish and knew that would be universal across their offerings, so I was excited to give them a try sometime. It wasn't until I recently came back to the SoCo Farmers' Market that I did order some of their fare, and that was a fabulous decision.


The thing that caught Duc's eye was their version of grilled corn (sweet corn with garlic butter, queso cotija, chile allepo, & dried lime - $5). With a healthy heaping of sweet corn that was lightly tossed in butter before being topped with the queso and chile, the bowl was divine in itself. Adding some freshly squeezed lime on top gave a nice citrus burst to the fresh flavors of the bowl. I'm craving it again as I type now. We went home that night and bought some groceries to recreate the dish even.


Our "entree" was the aracherra tacos (grilled marinated beef hanger, charred onions, roasted chiles, & applewood bacon - 2 tacos for $7). The tender juicy beef was a treat already but coupled with the sweetness of roasted chiles and the occasional saltiness from the soft bacon, the tacos in their fresh tortillas were a great snack (we each had one). I need more Taco Maria in my life now.

1116 N Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92801
Pricing - $ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Food Truck, Potato
www.mytornadopotato.com

At an event like the Great Park's 7th Anniversary celebration, it helps to have a product which is pleasing to the eye. Sure, there were nearly 30 other food trucks there that day but who else has a spiral of crispy potato to tantalize the senses? I doubt it was just me who felt this need to have one after seeing people walk around with sticks of tornadoed potatoes. I gravitated toward the truck and was pulled into the whirlwind of excitement.


So there are actually several types of the snack including a zucchini version. Some have meat additions and sauces. We opted for the original type with the one free flavoring so we got sour cream & onion and garlic Parmesan. For $5.50 though, it's quite a cost for a single potato, though presented in a fun way.


I quite enjoyed the potatoes I had. They were wonderfully and evenly crisp, a feat worthy of praising. I took the sour cream & onion one while my younger brother snagged the garlic Parmesan. Both were prominently potato in taste which I appreciated a lot. I don't like eating things that are overly flavored so much that they mask the true ingredient's flavor. The slices peeled off easily from their sticks and were like thick, homemade potato chips. My compliments to the creators as their products were very good.

BACON MANia - Food Truck, Orange County, CA
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - American
http://baconmaniatruck.com/live/ 

[You can read my first review here.] Oh BACONMANia, you oinkin' crazy truck. Everyone has been in a huge bacon craze the past few years it seems so it was only natural for a bacon-focused food truck to sprout up. So anyhow, the truck was one of the many at the Great Park's 7th Anniversary celebration, and since Duc hadn't been there before, we had to get something from them.


Unfortunately they were out of their mac'n bacon fries which both Duc and my younger brother wanted. However, there were Piggy Fries left so we opted to share that. It was seasoned fries topped with pulled pork, bacon, slaw, and spicy chipayo smothered in bacon bbq sauce. Sounds epic right? It was fairly indulgent indeed but man, it was really salty too! I mean, bacon in itself is salty but that should have been accounted for with the other ingredients. I liked how saucy it all was but perhaps a reduction on seasoning on the fries before dousing on so much other salty goodness would have worked out better. Maybe I'm not really a bacon fan after all? We'll see after tomorrow's tackling of the all-bacon burger at Slater's 50/50...

902 W McFadden Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92707 (Office)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - To Go | Cuisine - Mexican
www.sohotaco.com

[You can read my first review here.] My previous experience with Soho Taco had been through an event I attended where they catered. Their attention to their ingredients then was great to see and the food delicious. I managed to catch up with the food truck at the past Santa Ana Art Walk and was very happy to see them there.


So to refresh my memory, I got one of every kind offered except their pollo. I had the carne asada, camarones (shrimp), and the vegetarian which I had never had before. It was written on the chalkboard menu that it was a Yelp favorite so I was excited to give it a shot. Uh, excellent! The shrimp was just as succulent and flavorful as I had remembered it being. The carne asada had a whole bunch of delicious, meaty flavor (perfect for the carnivore I am). You could tell that the meat was well-tended and seasoned. The veggie was very interesting as it was mainly roasted vegetables that were heavy on mushrooms (I love mushrooms!). I'd actually have to say it came in second behind the shrimp tacos on my favorites list from the truck as it was surprisingly hearty, filling, and savory (for being vegetables, that is).

I thoroughly enjoyed their food and was happy to have met Rico, one of the managers and co-owners. I could tell right away that he was a giving soul and upon shaking his hand, I knew he was a very sweet man. I learned about how their Angus beef was purchased at high quality and stored in the same methods that restaurants use. I also heard about how there were three specific women who worked with the truck in ensuring that the tortillas were perfect - their word was law. They prepare the fresh dough and have to make sure that conditions are ideal to start rolling out tortillas. My compliments to everyone who works there and works to ensure that the best ingredients are used to make their amazing food. Thanks for the great eats!
**My appreciation goes out to Soho Taco for posting about this write-up on their blog here!

17280 Newhope St, Ste 9, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Pricing - $ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Asian Fusion
www.doschinosfood.com

It's about time I got some food from Dos Chinos. I've only been following them for so long on Twitter and wondering when I'd get to taste an Asian-Latin bowl or taco or whatever. I finally did at the SoCo Farmers' Market as they were there.


So I went back to my roots. I ordered the Garden Grove, bowl style. I think that they really captured "Garden Grove" in their concoction. It was Korean bbq with a Latin twist atop rice and cheese. There were plenty of greens and spice. It was pretty good and an accurate representation of the mix that is Garden Grove (though the addition of cheese was a little strange). I'll have to check out more of their dishes.

Barcelona OntheGo, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Pricing - $ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Spanish
www.barcelonaonthego.com

I came across the Barcelona OntheGo truck at the SoCo Farmers' Market last weekend. For some reason, Duc felt a strong calling to it so we decided to get a quick bite from there. Because I was too busy watching the chefs cook for the Farm to Food Truck Challenge III that day, he ran off to get our food.


He came back with shrimp tacos (with chipotle sauce) and some bacon-wrapped dates. Of course there would be some bacon in his choices. It was like a child running back to me after spending money and saying, "I do good?" Yes, you did somewhat good. The shrimp in the shrimp tacos were pretty tasty but I wasn't too impressed with it all. The sauce was a tad weak to be honest. As for the dates, I thought them to be good but missing something. With the saltiness of the bacon being overpowered by the sweet dates, I felt like a little bit of salty cheese stuffed in the dates would've made them much better. Good shot there but it just wasn't my thing. If only I had gotten to eat what they entered in the compeition though...man that looked tasty (and they got 3rd place too!).

Orange County, CA
Pricing - $ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Hot Dogs, Food Truck
www.dogzillahotdogs.com

I had the opportunity to try some of the food from the Dogzilla Truck at an open house last week. They had their three typical dogs available: the Dogzilla, the Furikake, and the Yakisoba. Not feeling noodle-y, I opted for the first two which they kindly cut in half for me since I was sharing with Duc. It was funny because the guy taking the order asked for my name which a lot of people misspell anyhow; when he heard it, he turned to Duc and was like, "what's your name instead?" He was a fun guy - I saw him walking around the open house event looking for people to give their orders to instead of just standing by his truck waiting for them to come back.


Anyhow, the Dogzilla was an "all beef frank topped with avocado, grilled onions, bacon bits, Furikake seasoning, Japanese mayo, and teriyaki sauce" while the Furikake was a "spicy hot link topped with grilled onions, spicy Japanese mayo blend, teriyaki sauce, Furikake seasoning, [and] Nori strips." First of all, I love their logo - it's so awesome. I had to take the picture with the business card next to the hot dogs. Alright so the Dogzilla was fairly good but I was having a bit of trouble getting used to the fact that the bun was that sweet Asian bread instead of what I think of when I imagine a hot dog bun. It didn't do it for me BUT the Furikake was fantastic. While the hot link itself wasn't all that spicy, the spicy mayo brought a kick to the mouth. I loved the mix of the mayo with teriyaki sauce because I then had a savory but fiesty sauce coating my huge weiner (ba dum tsh!). The perfectly grilled onions gave the overall dog a sweetness that made the spiciness bearable. Loved it. I guess I'll have to try the Yakisoba next time!

Orange County, CA
Pricing - $ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Filipino, Food Truck
http://www.thepogiboytruck.com

I had the opportunity to try some of the food from the Pogi Boy Truck at an open house last week. They didn't have every single one of their normal offerings but it was pretty much a lot of their foods. I ended up getting a few things (why not? it was free!). By the way, their website is adorable.


The first one was the chicken adobo taco ("topped with pea sprouts, creamy coleslaw, cotija cheese, and signature Pogi sauce"). I really enjoyed the sauce and greenery but the chicken adobo was a tad salty for my taste. The second was by the order-taker's suggestion of the beefsteak taco ("topped with bean sprouts, crema fresca and green onions") and was, I think, the better of the two. The fresh bean sprouts were a tad out of place but the beef was well cooked and seasoned.


Last was their Little Man Slider ("savory ground pork sliders topped with creamy coleslaw, signature Pogi Boy sauce, and a butter pickle") which reminded me of a Vietnamese dish. The ground pork was quite good but nothing absolutely special. Overall, everything was alright but nothing super extraordinary.