582962 Fri Dec 26 16:44:16 -0800 2008 28 12 Boston Area 0 4274770 I'm planning a taco truck tour this summer and wonder if there are any taco trucks in the Boston area? We also often pass through the area, but know of none; the closest being in Manchester, NH. A brief review and the address please. Thanking you in advance. Fri Dec 26 16:44:16 -0800 2008 93538 Passadumkeg 1 4274942 This seems ripe for a board-sponsored crawl. Fri Dec 26 18:41:18 -0800 2008 4274770 25941 enhF94 1 4275078 There is a truck at MIT (Jose's) that serves various types of tacos and burritos, but it sucks. Fri Dec 26 20:13:26 -0800 2008 4274770 10607 Luther 2 4275341 Why does it suck? Sat Dec 27 02:44:15 -0800 2008 4275078 93538 Passadumkeg 3 4275452 The meats are poor quality and underseasoned, the salsa is not fresh, etc. It's as good as any of the other trucks, which is to say that it's not any good, but it's close to a lot of people's offices and it's cheap compared to the standard Kendall Square options. Sat Dec 27 06:00:38 -0800 2008 4275341 10607 Luther 4 4275457 What other trucks, please? Sat Dec 27 06:03:13 -0800 2008 4275452 93538 Passadumkeg 5 4275721 Goosebeary's, Jerusalem Cafe, and this new foofy Clover Food Lab thing. As I said, they do a lot of business because there's a lot of desperate people who don't want to walk all the way over to Mass Av to get a burrito at Anna's. The lack of CH-type "cheap ethnic eats" of any significant quality in this area is unfortunate, because there's a good audience for it. http://www.yelp.com/biz/mit-trucks-cambridge http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/ Sat Dec 27 08:46:42 -0800 2008 4275457 10607 Luther 6 4275976 Don't disagree with your assessment of the food trucks in that area, but I think Jose's is actually one of the better options of the lot (at least most consistent and you know what you're going to get). Goosebeary's has a ridiculously long line for some downright nasty food. I've tried about 5 things from their menu,. and I only find one to be edible. I've pretty much tossed out the rest after one or two bites. My dream is for the displaced bahn mi cart from the Chinatown Eatery to set up shop next to these folks. Sat Dec 27 11:02:16 -0800 2008 4275721 13028 kobuta 1 4275730 I can't find it now, but I know someone here had mentioned worthy taco trucks in Chelsea and some nearby communities (maybe Everett?) I would love to pick up that thread again. It has always slightly bugged me that no ones knows of a single good taco truck in Greater Boston. I'm hoping that's just an issue of our not having been relentless enough in uncovering one. As a rule, Chelsea seems to be largely unexplored here; I would love to get some good pointers to worthwhile low-end Chelsea joints (of any cuisine) here. Sat Dec 27 08:49:07 -0800 2008 4274770 10143 MC Slim JB 2 4275758 There is a good Mexican restaurant in Chelsea that I found from an earlier post, Mexican Food Heaven. Cruised the area is sept looking for a diner for my son's last US breakfast before moving to Thailand. Had to settle for DDonuts, but I did notice the heavy Hispanic influence. Sat Dec 27 09:05:33 -0800 2008 4275730 93538 Passadumkeg 1 4277390 (Re-post, modulated!) Passadumkeg - There just ain't trucks in Boston! See http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/540905. (Here's a thread on Boston street food, such as it is:http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/477982) BUT, having said that, here are some more ideas: We had a GREAT crawl in JP (Jamaica Plain, large nbhd in Boston) of Latino food last summer: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/432652. Eastie (East Boston, nbhd) has a ton of taquerias, but the food is just OK. Better: Angela's Cafe in Eastie has a wonderful cook from Puebla, who is known for her mole made from scratch, and she has very good tacos, gorditas, pozole, and so on! Eastie has other great Latino food (non-Mexican), including the best ceviche in town! Chelsea and Lynn are two other working-class, immigrant communities nearby that have great hole in the wall places, but not much in the way of Mexican, specifically. (We'd be happy to do a Crawl, and a couple CHers know this area well.) Waltham, west of Boston, by 128, has some great, sit-down Mexican places that are homey places where everyone (well, almost!) speaks Spanish... Have fun, and let us know if you'd like company! Fredi Sun Dec 28 07:33:07 -0800 2008 4274770 16129 fredid 2 4277718 Passadumkeg - maybe you can sub in a Speed's dog instead of a truck taco? The Speed's dog is pretty much the best wheeled food you'll find in the area. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/537508 Search the board for more thoughts. Sun Dec 28 10:44:35 -0800 2008 4277390 11172 Bob Dobalina 3 4281183 Thanks. Yes, I know of Speeds, are they worth the money? I am a dog hound too. We hit Georges Coney Island Dogs in Worcester and Spikes Junkyard Dogs in Providence when driving through. I went to high school in NJ, arguably the epicenter of the hot dog universe. We love dog wagons. I'm just trying to broadin my horizons! Mon Dec 29 15:57:33 -0800 2008 4277718 93538 Passadumkeg 4 4282405 I think it's definitely worth it, if for nothing else but the experience. Personally, I am more a fan of NY-style dogs for everyday eating, but Speed's is not to be missed, especially if you are passing through on a chow tour. Tue Dec 30 06:25:00 -0800 2008 4281183 11172 Bob Dobalina 4 4282531 Absolutely in my book. I used to go to Spikes a lot when I went to school in Providence, but personally I think Speed's dog is superior. Then again, Spike's strength, to me, was always the choices in toppings, whereas Speed's is just a great, massive dog with a few toppings choices (try asking for everything, it's probably the best way to go but bring a towel). Tue Dec 30 07:15:35 -0800 2008 4281183 23119 TPistrix 5 4283792 Getting all of the toppings is definitely the best way to go unless you absolutely hate something. Tue Dec 30 14:14:25 -0800 2008 4282531 111910 jgg13 1 4277822 Closest thing to a good taco truck taco is the stuff at Tacos Lupita in Somerville, IMHO. Search this board for info. I love the chorizo and the al pastor there. Closest thing to good truck food is indeed Speed's dog. Good stuff. There's also a BBQ truck somewhere in Roxbury that I've driven past once but haven't been able to get to for eating purposes. Anyone? I love the stuff at Clover at MIT, but although it's served in a truck, it's closer to a gourmet fast food store than a "taco truck". Soy BLT and fries FTW. Sun Dec 28 11:35:42 -0800 2008 4274770 155799 wilbanks 2 4277900 The bbq truck is M&M Ribs...addy and ph# are on the flickr site. I don't know about his winter hours so call first. He's a quick bike/car ride from Speeds. http://flickr.com/photos/61246842@N00/sets/72157601986761514/ Sun Dec 28 12:24:39 -0800 2008 4277822 10111 9lives 1 4280504 There's a taco CART inside Back Bay station on the Dartmouth Street side. I'm never there at lunch time, so I can't provide a review. Perhaps someone else can provide more information? The menu lists tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Mon Dec 29 12:38:14 -0800 2008 4274770 107221 steve999 2 4280748 I'd like to hear about that too. Having just returned from the wild West, where there are taco trucks galore (and having a fleeting fantasy of opening my own fish taco truck here) I am so sad we don't have taco trucks in Boston. Seriously guys, don't you think a killer fish taco truck would be like printing money here? Mon Dec 29 13:38:16 -0800 2008 4280504 10232 yumyum 3 4281193 I'll be your first customer! When I visited my daughter last Feb vacation, I ate over 50 tacos in six days; all from taco trucks! Heaven. Mon Dec 29 16:00:34 -0800 2008 4280748 93538 Passadumkeg 4 4285133 My H and I will be you third and fourth customers!! Love fish tacos off taco trunks. Went to San Diego this year. I swear that is fish taco heaven! Can't get enough. Wed Dec 31 06:11:13 -0800 2008 4281193 16991 kate used to be 50 5 4285143 Sorry fourth & fifth. My W is also a fish taco junkie. We found a couplee of places in Costa Rica last April w/ fantastic ones! Tere are even 3 places in Portland (3 1/2 hours away!) to get 'em. Wed Dec 31 06:15:38 -0800 2008 4285133 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4282572 It's not that great. I've gotten one en route to an Amtrak, and it's a hell of a lot better than the fare on the train. It's also better than the other food carts in BB Station and than getting a flatbread monstrosity at Dunkin. But it was pretty bland - I'd rather eat at Chipotle or Qdoba, if that's a reference point, and I'm not a big fan of either of those places compared to Tacos Lupita...now, if the Lupita folks would open a truck at MIT, I'd be in heaven. Tue Dec 30 07:33:21 -0800 2008 4280504 155799 wilbanks 3 4282652 Thanks for the report. Maybe the Lupita folks will partner with me on my taco truck? But then they might have to smile at me. Ever. Tue Dec 30 07:57:54 -0800 2008 4282572 10232 yumyum 1 4283419 In the mid 90’s there was a great little burrito cart in Downtown Crossing that would turn out some pretty decent burritos if I remember. Served in tin foil by to I believe 2 brothers. They would always be in the same area and they would have a decent line, but for under $5 back then it was a meal without sides required. We would get one and head the lawn at MGH to check out the med school “talent”. Are they still in existence? Tue Dec 30 12:15:40 -0800 2008 4274770 216062 River19 2 4283627 That was/is Herrera's. They've got a store on Temple St and a few carts around Downtown Xing. They were very good in their day. I haven't tried them lately but they had gone severely downhill. I keep meaning to retry them. Great in the 90's Tue Dec 30 13:20:13 -0800 2008 4283419 10111 9lives 3 4285028 Thanks for the update. I was wondering if they were still around. I hesitate to ask what happened for them to go downhill, let's be clear here, making a decent burrito isn't exactly like launching the space shuttle. Wed Dec 31 04:46:01 -0800 2008 4283627 216062 River19 4 4285040 When one gets greedy and starts adding rice and beans (or too much beans), the flavors are lost. Made some al pastor pork this week. Had al pastor burritos w/ guacamole, w/ a side of pints for breakfast yesterday. Rico! Suave! Delicioso! Wed Dec 31 05:07:13 -0800 2008 4285028 93538 Passadumkeg