Wherever I go in the U.S., if the opportunity presents itself I am always eager to try local Mexican fare, particularly if the chow is more of the street taco scene vs. Tex-Mex fare, the latter which I find tedious and somewhat uninteresting.
So imagine my surprise finding this little gas station gem (aren't so many great taco joints inside gas stations???) out in the country miles and miles from anything like it. I've sampled multiple taco joints in Green Bay and Manitowoc, fairly large cities with good Hispanic populations and for my money, the tacos I had here today were probably the best I've had in the region.
Upon entering four men were waiting for their orders. I was asked if I was ready to order by the man I assumed was the owner with his wife, also behind plexiglass and masked. When I said it was my first visit and I needed to look over the menu all four enthusiastically chimed in that everything was good.
So, two cabeza tacos, two pastor. This area of the state, one of the big hot spots of the pandemic at the moment there was no way I was dining in with the gas station employees (not related to the taqueria) clearly of the anti-mask crowd. Once in the car the aroma absolutely filled the space, making a 15 minute drive back to my stay a very long one. They did not disappoint, double wrapped, plenty of cilantro and raw onion and a white sauce with a bit of heat made in-house, and a fine meal it was.
Yea, this place has it going, and from now on every time I'm in the area I'll definitely be making a stop here because the next closest street tacos are at least a 30-40 minute drive away. And yet, on an empty corner with only a gas station and convenience store, affordable goodness has arrived here. Bravo, El Taco Loco! read more