There are only a few things that will stop me in my tracks: anything that has Snoopy on it, if I saw Tyler the Creator in person and trompos.
The giant spit with a mountain of pork spinning around is so mesmerizing, I have no choice but to stop and check it out. A trompo is truly a sign that youβre about to have some of the best tacos youβve ever tasted.
Thatβs exactly what happened the other night when I stopped by the signless taco stand at the corner of East 22nd Street and South Craycroft Road. The stand first popped up three weeks ago. It has no name and no social media.Β
The mysterious stand first got on my radar from my editor Gloria, who drove by on a Sunday night and noticed a long line surrounding the glowing trompo. That was enough to get her attention and she pulled over to grab a quick bite.
I was hooked as soon as she mentioned al pastor. If a taco stand has cabeza, al pastor or birria, you donβt have try very hard to convince me to check it out.
With an extreme craving for al pastor, I went to find the taco stand on Wednesday night. In front of a CheckSmart building, two men were hard at work getting their setup ready for business. I watched as they lit the fire beneath the trompo, preparing it for hungry customers.
Despite being nameless, this taco stand has already made a name for itself.
As I patiently waited for the stand to open, more and more cars started to fill the parking lot. Customers were standing outside their trucks and forming a line already, waiting for the stand to officially open for business. I also noticed cars drive by slowly to get a glimpse of what was going on in the CheckSmart parking lot. (As I said before, you canβt help but stare at a trompo.)
When the stand opened around 6:40 p.m., I stood in line and ordered two al pastor tacos complete with slices of fresh pineapple. I stood under their string lights and watched as they shaved the pork off the trompo and loaded up my tacos.
Aside from the trompo, the stand also has a salsa bar with four different homemade options to choose from. Buckets of chopped-up onions and cabbage also sit on the table, along with two giant jugs of aguas frescas.
I even noticed the cooks preparing fresh chorizo; it seemed like they were dedicated to making the freshest, most flavorful food possible. There's no written menu but the stand also serves up carne asada, chicken and tripa, in addition to quesadillas. Bring cash!
I packaged up a salsa to go, grabbed my tacos and raced home. As soon as I brought out my taco plate, my dog was up and sniffing around. He knew he smelled something good. (He does NOT do that when I cook dinner, lol.)
I didnβt even have to take a bite of the first taco to know I was about to eat something amazing. The tacos come with double corn tortillas to ensure they donβt break underneath all the pork. To finish it off, a slice of pineapple laid on top as I poured my salsa.
The pork was thinly shaved and had a limey kick to it, making it a flavorful experience with every bite.Β
One bite of pork had solidified it: these are some of the best al pastor tacos Iβve ever had. The pork is thinly shaved and packed with flavor. Each bite was so tender and juicy, with a limey kick that made the tacos 10 times more amazing.
Many people strongly feel that putting pineapple on pizza is the worst thing someone can do, but when it comes to al pastor, it is a necessary addition. The sweetness of the pineapple chunks mixed with the savory pork complement each other perfectly, elevating each bite from your average taco.
While I am a baby about spice, you HAVE to top your al pastor tacos with some heat to counter the sweetness. The salsa on top of the tacos truly tied everything together.
After eating, the only regret I had was not getting three more tacos.
You can find the taco stand on the northwest corner of East 22nd Street and South Craycroft RoadΒ from 6:30 p.m. to midnight daily. On Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open until 1 a.m. Make sure to bring cash!
