This month, two Town Crier interns are talkin’ tacos, making their case for which local eatery makes the best ones.
Michelle Jacob – Mi Tierra Market
If there’s one thing California has an unreasonably high number of, it’s taco spots.
For me and my family, our go-to is Mi Tierra Market and Taqueria in Mountain View. As the name suggests, it’s both a grocery store and a taqueria, making it more of a no-frills spot than a traditional restaurant.
The ambience leaves a little to be desired; it’s just off Highway 101 and the rush of cars whizzing by is impossible to ignore from the few outdoor tables available to eat at. But don’t worry, the sounds of the highway will be drowned out as soon as you take a bite of what might be the best taco of your life.
I always reach for the super carne asada taco. Each component is nothing revolutionary, but the execution blows me away every time.
To start, I love a taco with structural integrity. The warm flour tortilla is perfect. It holds the flavorful grilled beef, fresh guacamole, salsa and sour cream without getting soggy. Looking back, I may have scarfed them down too fast for them to ever get soggy. I guess we’ll never know.
But more than that, the beauty is in the balance. The cilantro and lime in the guacamole cut through the saltiness of the meat, paired perfectly with the crunchy tomato and onion salsa. And as the No. 1 sour cream fanatic in the world (my deepest condolences to the lactose intolerant), the generous dollop truly brings me tears of joy.
Other than the super carne asada, the arrachera (skirt steak taco) is great as well, as long as you like a little more chew to your food. Blindly spinning a wheel to pick your order would probably also work, since everything I’ve tried has been great.
In Spanish, Mi Tierra means “my land.” Given how often I go, I’d say the name fits.
Mi Tierra Market and Taqueria is located at 889 Leong Drive, Mountain View.
Kate Rose – Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan
Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan has been on Main Street for two years, yet it already seems like a historical landmark in our little Los Altos. Out of respect for our town’s sacred history, I spent my evening eating three Tacos al Vapor tacos, and now feel qualified to tell you why it’s such a fan favorite.
The name, which literally translates to “steamed tacos,” is a testament to its signature method for cooking tortillas: gently heating them using steam. A departure from your typical griddled or fried tacos, it gives the tortillas a pliable texture instead of a crunchy bite. If you’ve ever had a hazardously jagged shard of taco shell wedged in your throat, you’ll understand how exciting this is for those of us with sensitive esophagi.
I usually stick to three carne asada tacos. They’re tiny and simple, but still fresh and fulfilling – a true modern mystery. The flavor itself is rich and cohesive, blending savory, juicy meat with raw onions. They also provide complimentary cooked carrots, so you can smugly show off to passersby, pretending you picked the vegetable by choice.
Even after you’ve eaten more than you thought possible, you might be tempted to stock up, considering each taco is only $4. A single lunch quickly extends into dinner, yielding leftovers you can throw into your thermos for the next day. Just try to eat them before 3 p.m. (speaking for a friend).
And saving the best for last, there’s a sidebar offering unlimited free chips and a plethora of salsas to mix and match! When I’m combining five different ones together, I feel like I’m back in chemistry class… except this time I don’t get yelled at for drinking the mysterious orange liquid.
So, if you’re interested in one or two tacos (OK, maybe a ton more), give Tacos Al Vapor a visit.
Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan is located at 131 Main St., Los Altos.
