This Truro-based food truck just opened this year, and its enterprising owners are taking advantage…read moreof their mobile capabilities and setting up shop where I had easier access to it at the New Glasgow farmers' market.
It was a rainy Saturday, and although the narket crowd was a bit lighter than usual, there was a steady line at Chula Vista! Luckily, the overhanginf roof of the market kept everyone (mostly) dry.
When we arrived, they were already sold out of their al pastor and beef items, an impressive feat for just their second time in New Glasgow! I ordered one Baja-style fish taco ($7) and the papas con queso (cheese fries, $8.50) with chicken added (+$6). My wife went for the taco combo $15.50), choosing chicken for both of her tacos, as well nachos for her choice of side (fries and refried beans were the other options).
It was a bit of a wait with how slammed they were and they only had what appeared to be a two-person team, but the buzzer they give out with each order conveniently let us wander the market worry free.
Once we had our food, we cut through the market building to the other side, where the tables were both unoccupied and still sheltered from the precipitation.
My Baja fish taco was a tasty few bites - crisp, beer-battered fish, bright pico de gallo, and added crunch from some shredded cabbage. The house-made corn tortilla held up impressively well and had a nice, subtle flavour, although the chipotle mayo and guac didn't come through. Honestly, there was plenty of good stuff going on already and I feel like they're not even needed.
The papas con queso were a decadent delight, with a Tex-Mex cheese sauce on crisp, skin-on fries, and topped with shredded cheese and wonderfully browned and seasoned hunks of chicken. Check out the crisp bits in my pics! *chef's kiss*
On my second time here, they were even busier, but seemed to have at least another person cooking. If you plan on hitting them up at the New Glasgow farmers' market, definitely order first and then peruse the market, if there's a lineup at the truck.
I went early enough that the whole menu was still available this to e, so I got the two taco combo, mixing and matching the al pastor, and beef and potato tacos, while getting refried beans for my side.
The beef and potato taco said on their menu that potato chunks were part of the taco, which is certainly more traditional, but they may have run out of those, as fries were the potato product in my actual taco. They were definitely second fiddle to a generous heap of juicy, rich, shredded beef. Simply dressed with diced onion and cilantro, it was a great taco.
The al pastor raised the bar even further. While Chula Vista likely doesn't have a rotating spit of pork in the truck, the bits of pork belly were wonderfully crisp, with a great mix of char and unctuous fat. Paired up with sweet bits of pineapple to balance things out, this is easily one of the best tacos that you're going to get in northern Nova Scotia.
Chula Vista is doing great things in their kitchen, and are doing their culinary roots proud, and people are taking notice with good reason.
