Category Archives: Tacos

Walking in Bourdain’s Footsteps…. in East Austin

by Hannah Thornby Posted on October 11, 2012
What would Anthony Bourdain Do? Go to El Taco Rico

Sometimes you have to work for your food: the quail was boney, but it was good.

Today was supposed to be Meat Day – my friend and I were going to go to JMueller’s BBQ and celebrate the long weekend with delicious ribs and brisket. However, meat was apparently not in the cards for us today and JMueller’s was tragically closed.

Devastated, heartbroken, and hungry, we frantically racked our brains for somewhere we could get lunch and have a meal that could come close to being as special as a JMueller meat plate. And naturally, in our moment of need, we turned to foodie hero Anthony Bourdain. What would he do? Well, because we had both seen his episode to Austin from a couple weeks ago, we knew what he would do: go to El Taco Rico.

How Bourdain found El Taco Rico, I will never know. Situated next to a laundromat in East Austin, it looks just like a million other tiny taco shacks in Austin. After only a little trouble interpreting the menu and talking with the non-English speaking woman behind the counter, I ordered a chicken and fajita taco while Max ordered what we think was a quail enchilada.

The tortillas of my tacos – I ordered both corn and flour – were hot and fresh tasting although I have had better homemade tortillas from taco trucks. Both my tacos were rather simple with only cilantro and onion seasoning the meat, but still delightful.

Max’s enchilada was quite a sight and a plate I was not expecting from such a small truck. On top of a bed of cabbage, avocado, corn tortillas, tomatoes, radishes, and cheese was a crispy little quail. It took Max a while to get a grip on how bony the quail was, but he did. I will let you listen to him on this post’s podcast for more on his enchilada.

In the end, tacos are always a good backup and you can always trust Tony in moments of need.

As for JMueller’s, we shall return soon and there shall be a blog post on it. So stay tuned.

Posted in Anthony Bourdain Was Here, Eating Through Austin, Podcast, Tacos | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Tacos and Hippies: Gospel Brunch in ATX

by Hannah Thornby Posted on September 27, 2012

One of my favorite taco joints in Austin is Maria’s Taco Xpress on South Lamar. Tacos are cheap and a plenty and the salsa/condiment bar is more than satisfactory. Plus, the place just feels and looks like a Texmex Disneyland the way that it is decorated. My friends and I have being going to Maria’s for some time, but until last weekend we had never beheld their claim to fame – their famous Sunday morning Gospel Brunch. To say the least, it was a uniquely Austin experience.

We have seen live music before at Maria’s – mostly cowboy crooners – but nothing we had seen could prepare us for Gospel Brunch. The band playing when we made our way to Maria’s last Sunday was all about soul and funk and living the music. Alternating between gospel music and Stevie Wonder covers, the band jammed out to eight minute songs, dancing almost as much as they were playing their instruments. But that’s not all. On the dance stage in front of the band could be found what seemed like all of the elderly hippies of Austin. Draped in tie-dye and sporting long flowy white hair, about a dozen hippies over 60 were dancing up a storm, shaking their arms and closing their eyes with the music.

It was a sight to behold and a perfect complement to my migas taco breakfast.

So, if you ever have a rough Saturday night and need some good vibes and good food, go to Maria’s. They’ll make all your problems go away with breakfast tacos, soul music, and hippie hugs.

Posted in Austin Institutions, Eating Through Austin, Tacos | Tagged | 1 Comment

Juan in a Whoa

by Hannah Thornby Posted on September 20, 2012

I have never met a breakfast I didn’t like. Never. I am actually of the thinking that those responsible for brainstorming breakfast foods must know everything.

Growing up on the west coast, I have a long-running history with breakfast burritos. Eggs, some cheese, some sausage, and whatever else we had in the fridge all wrapped up in a hot tortilla always seemed like the perfect way to start the day back home. The breakfast burritos my dad made for me before I trudged off to high school will always have a special place in my heart.

However when I moved to Austin last year, I fell in love with the breakfast taco. It’s true the two may not be that different and both uphold eggs in a gloriously Hispanic way, but I prefer holding a taco and how breakfast tacos more readily take tasty salsas. Also, I adore the way that Austinites esteem breakfast taco – as some kind of miracle food that goes perfect with the active Austin lifestyle and should be found at every coffee shop. I do have some qualms over the fact that coffee, my other great love, tastes terribly alongside breakfast tacos, but no one can have it all, I guess.

I have been hearing for months that the breakfast tacos of Juan in a Million in East Austin are legendary. I finally made it there last week. All I can say is whoa. Whoa.

Don’t mistake me, my tacos were delicious and I think Juan in a Million is totally worthy of buzz. I can’t pronounce it, but I love a good machado and all the ingredients in my other taco – tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cheese – were all delicious and did wonders alongside the eggs and tortillas. The salsas that came free with the chips were also surprisingly (in a good way) spicy.

But I was a wimp – I didn’t order the “legendary” dish – the Don Juan. My friend did however. It was a monster. I can’t even guess how many eggs were plopped on top of that pile of tortillas. It was insane. I learned later it was actually a meal worthy of the Man vs. Eats, the Travel Channel show where Adam Richman eats ridiculously portioned meals.

To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel. Sure it’s a lot of food for $5, but the beauty and simplicity of the breakfast taco seemed to be lost in the Don Juan. The dish was more about the heap of ingredients and not the marrying of eggs with careful ingredients. Plus, I like sampling different, reasonably sized tacos. And the way that an eater had to approach the Don Juan and coordinate tortillas with the waitress was crazy.

I’ll probably be back at Juan in a Million, but I don’t know if I’ll be ordering the Don Juan.

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