Guns and Tacos

Matamoros Meat Market #4

August 16th, 2009 in Tacos! by Jay | one response

The painting above the cooked-food section of the meat market exemplifies a new art movement: Awesomism.

So I’m headed to Job #2 at Top Gun Range Saturday morning, and I realized it has been almost 12 hours since I’ve had a taco.

“Where do I get a taco around here?” I briefly thought to myself. Then I had a secondary thought to myself: “I’m right down the street from Chimney Rock, dumbass”.

Heading south on Chimney Rock, you’ll find somewhat of a taco emporium the moment you cross Highway 59.  Although this street isn’t lined with taco stands like it was a few years ago, you’ll find a lot of great little taquerias. If you shop around on this street late at night, you will find some danger as well as awesome tacos. But danger is good for you, and if you happen upon the taco stand in front of The Corona Club late at night, you’ll have a memorable experience. But that ‘s another story.

I came across two venerable taco establishments next door to one another: Taqueria Mi Ilusion and Matamoros Meat Market #4.

I typed a (proprietary) taco equation into my custom-built device (Thanks, Texas Instruments). Matamoros Meat Market #4 was the answer.

Barbacoa on the left, tripas on the right.

I knew when I walked in that this was exactly what I was looking for. I was in the mood for a huge bowl of menudo, as well as some tacos.

The menudo didn’t look wonderful. I can generally tell how much I’m going to enjoy a bowl of menudo by looking at it. I like a bright red menudo broth, and this was orange.

Although tripas (fastidously prepared bovine intestines) are not normally my first choice, I could tell that this was one of their specialties. It looked amazing.

Also, I couldn’t turn down the barbacoa because you just can’t leave a carniceria without trying their barbacoa or you will probably get in a knifefight with someone.

At the counter, there was a bike horn taped to the counter. That is, a horn that you can honk if no one is attending the meats.

Aside from the standard fare of carnicerias, there was a fine selection of awesome Mexican comic books. If only I wasn’t in such a hurry.

Tripas and Barbacoa.

As I expected, the menudo was pretty lame. Menudo is traditionally only available on weekends, and is best on Saturdays for some reason. This was like getting Sunday menudo on Saturday. This only makes sense to me, I suppose.

However, I’m really glad I picked it up because one of my coworkers had a moderate hangover which was “completely cured” when I served him a cup of this stuff.

The tripas tacos were outstanding, as well as the barbacoa. I was a little disappointed in the red salsa, and the lady behind the checkout counter assured me that there were limes in the bag, although there were none. Altogether, a fantastic breakfast. I ended up spending ten bucks, but only because I was completely overzealous and bought too much food.

Note: Oddly enough, there is a second, semi-famous Matamoros Meat Market #4 in The Heights.