646090 Thu Aug 20 07:31:26 -0700 2009 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4961954 I'm driving down to Socal this afternoon from Marin County and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a good Taqueria/Taco Truck (or anything else worth a stop) between San Francisco and Gilroy that is relatively close to the freeway. While I'm usually willing to drive all over heck for great chow, I'd rather keep my driving time down since I'm going all the way to LA. My preferred route is to take 280 south to 17 then 85 then 101. Thanks. Thu Aug 20 07:31:26 -0700 2009 251110 foodtroy 1 4962203 if you can hold out another 20 min from Gilroy, Salinas is Taco Truck Heaven. Tacos El Grullense is parked on Kern St, a pebble toss from the northbound lanes of 101. Melanie Wong describes it so well... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/379614 Thu Aug 20 08:38:53 -0700 2009 4961954 11234 toodie jane 1 4962516 Taco trucks in Salinas seems like a worthy adventure with good possibilities. But if you get hungry earlier, there are a bunch of decent, if not spectacular, places along your route in SJ that are close to the freeway. * Gochi Fusion Tapas (Japanese Izakaya), 19980 E. Homestead in Cupertino between Wolfe and Sunnyvale-Saratoga. They close between lunch and dinner, so time it accordingly if you go there. * Dia de Pesca (creative ambience, specializing in seafood tacos, but other Mexican dishes, too. pretty good, but you might be better off trying the trucks or another spot in Salinas for Mexican) on Bascom just north of San Carlos. * Gulzaar (clean, tasty, home cooked, Halal Pakistani style, very limited menu) 1880 W. San Carlos, a bit toward downtown from Bascom, has been discussed here. * Falafel Drive In on San Carlos between Bascom and 880/17 (I've never been there, but it's sort of an institution and lots of people like it) * Zeni (SJ's most popular Ethiopian, good, if not my personal fave) in a funky strip mall at Saratoga and Payne, maybe a mile south of 280. It's worth keeping in mind that there was recently a teff shortage, so if that's still going on, the injera will use substitute grains and the overall flavor of the meal will be different and somewhat for the worse. * Tanto (Izakaya), in the same strip mall as Zeni. I think they close between lunch and dinner. * Blue Mango, (OK Thai) on Stevens Creek near Lawrence, probably more noteworthy for being across the street from Barefoot Coffee Roasters, SJ's hippest coffee place that I know of, than for the food. You could always have coffee at Barefoot, then eat in Salinas. :-) There is a lot of other Indian food and Pho, but the places I know are a bit off of your path. Pho is everywhere in SJ, though. You can't avoid stumbling upon it. Speaking of your path, if you're not stopping in SJ to eat, why not just take 85 from 280 and bypass the Hwy 17 part? It's easier and you'll save a few minutes. Thu Aug 20 09:51:45 -0700 2009 4961954 109657 maigre 2 4963266 ditto the 280 to 85--it's 17 minutes @70mph from Sandhill Rd in PAlo Alto to 101. You are then south of the 101 Pho corridor, though. Thu Aug 20 13:14:18 -0700 2009 4962516 11234 toodie jane 1 4962792 El Grullense, Woodside Road, Redwood City. Thu Aug 20 11:08:00 -0700 2009 4961954 12224 Jeni Bean 2 4966322 I would not recommend this to anyone. They are very unsanitary, they also use tons of I can't believe it's not butter when heating the tortillas. People know it as "El Greaso". However Redwood City has great options for tacos, but you will find most on Middlefield Ave. El Grullo is a good one. Fri Aug 21 13:20:04 -0700 2009 4962792 1101541 Aseret