Oakland: Tacos Mi Rancho Taco Truck near Lake Merritt – anyone tried the birria?

[rworange]

They list birria (chivo/res mix … goat/beef). I ordered that and got a vegetarian taco, covered with rice beans and salsa fresca. No sides, just the taco.

I ate it and went back and said that was a nice vegetarian taco, but what about birria? The guy said they didn’t have it today and would have it maybe next Tuesday and was sorry he misunderstood me.

Hmmm … When I ordered he repeated birria a number of times and said the same word when he said it would be available Tuesday. Maybe the gringo-factor was in play and he thought I didn’t know what birria is.

Looking at a few past posts one poster said “Definitely not as good as the Fruitvale trucks … but since there's nothing comparable in the area it's a convenient option”

I wonder if they even make birria. A poster said that while tripitas and cabeza were listed on the menu, the guy said that they never bother preparing those meats.

The most positive mentions were for the al pastor though there wasn’t universal praise. Fans said “fabulous”, “a bit greasy/stringy, but the flavor was good.” One poster said it was “merely ok”.

Same mixed reports on the lengua which is also either merely ok or very good. Carne asada and chicken were favorably mentioned.

Do you have to ask for the pickled jalapenos & carrots. Do they still make grilled onions?

Burritos were reported as nothing special, and may have too much rice/bean filling but you can ask to have them left out. In fact that is what one woman who ordered a burrito asked for … burrito with no beans/rice.

Only bottled drinks were available.

Anymore more opinions on this truck? What about that birria?

Previous reports:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/29257
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/34715
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/41270...

Formal address on the truck though it is located just past the end of International on 1st Avenue

Taqueria Los Plebes
5927 International Avenue
510-395-2527

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Tacos Mi Rancho Taco Truck
1st Ave and 1st Ave Pl, Oakland, CA 94606

[Lori SF]

rworange- maybe he thought you were asking for something else-in some parts of Mexico Birra is slang for a bad liquor or drink.

I know that taco truck though it's been a while since I have tried it but thought it was pretty average.

[The Chowhound Team]

The discovery of a taco truck in El Norteno was split into its own thread, here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/44966...