Everyone has their spot. This is mine: Taqueria Pico de Gallo sits in that funky orange building with the cartoon chicken on South Sixth Avenue. It's a cozy place with three little rooms and a counter at the front, which serves some of the best corn tortillas in town.
If it's not too busy, peek around the counter into the kitchen and you might see Elizabeth Terez pressing fresh tortillas from a ball of masa. They are fluffier and bendier than others around town, with a good sear to them that reminds me of a pancake.
It's the tortillas — not necessarily a particular filling — that make Pico de Gallo's tacos outstanding. On my last visit I got a plate with bubbly battered fish, chunky lengua in salsa verde and a fiery carne asada with chopped jalapeños and tomato pico. So many bright flavors, each different, all wrapped in the same hearty blanket of warmed corn that feels just right. After eating all these unique tacos in every corner of town, this my comfort food.
Weird fact: You've gotta check out the episode of "Bizarre Foods," where Andrew Zimmern takes Chris Bianco to Pico de Gallo for some white menudo. In true Zimmern form, he calls it "gamey rectal stomach happiness." (Starts about the 10-minute mark.)
Location: 2618 S. Sixth Ave.
Phone: 520-623-8775
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week
Payment: accepts debit and credit cards
