Tacos Pacos
which covers the Southwest side of Houston. Enjoy! -GunsandTacos
I had just sent GunsandTacos a message asking if he knew of any good trucks by my school. I work at the south end of the energy corridor, so cheap ethnic eats are hard to come by. I set out to explore the area on Highway Six at Eldridge, heading south on Highway Six. No luck. Logans, Chili’s, & Timmy Chan’s was it. There was a new Ostioneria Arandas that I may have to check out.
I headed east on Westheimer back towards my part of town. I had promised to install a new router and wireless card for my mother. My dad had been meaning to get around to it, but he passed away a few weeks ago, so the job was up to me.
I hit the Beltway and then exited Beechnut towards their house in Sharpstown. My buddy Chili Bob’s Houston Eats has scoped out a few trucks on Beechnut. We have both been hitting these trucks lately to see which ones were the best on a strip that stretches along Beechnut from 59 to past Wilcrest. The one I had planned to hit wasn’t open. As I got closer to Gessner, I decided to hit Tacos Pacos, which is right west of Gessner on Beechnut. I had gone past this one many times, as my son had swim lessons in the neighborhood right next to it. He had been amused by the cheery “Porky the Pig” graphics. He is an adventurous 4 year old who hasn’t met a taco truck taquera that wasn’t his friend. His blond hair and blue eyes usually help break the ice.
I pulled in to a quite sketchy parking lot. A guy was on a cell phone at the counter at the stand. Apparently he is the proprietor of the other business in this convenience store parking lot – the business being a roadside market selling soiled mattresses and 1990’s stereo equipment. He told the taquera that I was there, and went back to watch over his wares, his phone stuck in his ear the entire time. Another young lad with a bike walked past me, sized me up and down, and eyed me warily, looking at my truck and the HPROA sticker on it.
I looked at the menu and saw the usual meats, but one item popped out at me – buche. I asked the taquera what it was, and she replied “carne de puerco.” I knew that could mean many things, but I am not afraid of any taco. I ordered that along with some chivo (spicy goat) and a taco al pastor. She set out a big tub of salsa, and a condiment tray of radishes, pickled jalapenos, pickles, and onions.
While I waited for my tacos, the lad with the bike not-so-stealthily completed some sort of transaction with a man in a van that pulled up to meet him. The van pulled up, the passenger door barely opened up, and something was exchanged quickly. I got my tacos and left.
I arrived at my parents’ house and starting looking at the buche. It seemed to have an outer layer that I thought might be very tough, with an inner layer that sure looked tender and fluffy. I was wrong. It was all very tender, and I hate to say it, had a nutty taste at times, sort of like the outside part of dried bean curd. I would definitely try it again. I then typed “buche” into Google. I found a food blog that said it was pork esophagus. I knew I had hit an offal winner.
Beautiful taco de buche.
The taco de chivo was good as was the al pastor. All were good size with plenty of fillings. The onions were past their prime, and the pics are evidence of this. If you are looking for some different meats, a friendly taquera, and some interesting scenery, then Paco’s fits the bill.
You might need your CHL at night.
-Ziggy Smogdust
I want chivo!