I am not a California person. I have family there, and I enjoy visiting them, but the thought of living constantly on the freeway, strip-malls, and with people desperate for fame chills me to the core. However after reading Roy Choi’s book, I’ve come to be jealous of one California staple that has yet to make its foundation in Vancouver: tacos.
Yes we do have a nascent taco culture with places like La Taqueria, Sal Y Limon, Tacofino, Los Cuervos, and whatnot. These places all serve great tacos. Yet, it still seems very foreign to Vancouver. It’s not like Chinese, Vietnamese, or Japanese food, which have had time to establish their roots in the city. Thus, while I do love a good taco, price points often seem a little more expensive than they should be due to a lack of competition brought by ubiquity. This is further exacerbated by the fact that authentic (such a dirty, but necessary word) Mexican food is expanding at the same time as hipster-attempting-Mexican food. This environment creates a bit of a buzz that sometimes breaks the bank when one wants to eat some carne asada.
With that being said, I went south of the border on Sunday, and had a delightful food adventure. For those who are familiar with the Aldergrove Border Crossing, it takes you the Guide Meridian Rd, which takes you through Lynden and Bellingham. Scattered along this stretch are a number of food trucks serving tacos. I was able to try some great food from one such truck named Tacos Tecalitlan.
The truck is parked on a dirt lot next to a pub. It seems like the truck is permanently there, as they have expanded their space to include a patio and some seating.
Here’s me playing with some filters for the Instagram.
One of the first things you will notice is that the food is stupidly cheap by Vancouverite standards. I know that we are going through a low dollar period, but I’m pretty sure that even when we had a high dollar these prices were the same. Tacos are $1.50, tamales are $2, quesadillas are $5, and everything else is at an accessible price. When have you ever seen a Vancouver food truck charge such low prices? I know you have to calculate cost of business and whatnot, but come on this is so cheap.
Sorry about the napkin in the way of the photo. I was snapping photos real fast so we could eat.
My mother had a tamale. We both thought that it was tasty, and again filling considering the $2 price. For some reason I kept on thinking that it was like Filipino sticky rice in regards to the texture, and that fact that it was wrapped in some sort of husk/leaf.
My brother had a quesadilla. Often quesadillas have a thin layer of cheese and meat between the tortillas, but this was packed with meat and cheese to the point of overflowing. I’m getting this with a side of tacos next time I’m here.
My other brother and I had tacos. I would post a picture of the tacos he ate, but he had pork and beef tacos which I also had.
I had beef, beef cheek, chicken, and pork. I loved them all, but the standout was the cheek. The meat was almost buttery in texture, and melted when bitten. It was quite a joy.
So, while some of you are going to Bellingham to cop some good deals, try replacing those $5 twenty piece McNuggets with some good Mexican food. You won’t be disappointed, and it’ll be a cheap and good preparation for your adventures in the Vancouver taco scene.
Cheers,
D
blandcouver 