The Best Tacos in the East Bay
Written by Gethsemany R. ‘27
The Backstory of Tacos
Tacos have a long history going back as far as the 18th century. This delicious food was originally used by gunpowder miners “wrapped in a paper like a “taquito” and inserted into rocks before detonation (Twisted Taco) and evolved into a corn tortilla with spicy fillings. Tacos were starting to gain more attraction and soon were known as food for the working class and miners. It was in 1905 that the taco made its debut in America with Mexican food carts in LA, typically run by women dubbed the “chili queens.” Americans loved this since it was an exotic plate filled with different flavors and uncharacteristically spicy fillings. Tacos gained popularity and adapted to the tastes of people. Instead of organs, it was replaced with ground beef and chicken, making it a Mexican-American fusion. As time passed , new combinations and changes were made until we got the tacos we know and love today.
What Makes a Good Taco?
A good taco is made up of a combination of things: flavor, oiliness, consistency, meat, lots of lemons, and the tortilla, but what makes a great taco is the salsa. According to Tijuana Flats, a great taco has to be “simple yet flavorful.” So, to conduct this review, I went to recommendations that family members and friends suggested; this does not mean that there isn’t a better taco out there I’m just reviewing what I’ve eaten so far. My taco order was three tacos de asada. That being said, these are the top three taco places I would recommend:
1. Tacos Sinaloa:
Location:: 2138 International Blvd, Oakland
Pros: These tacos are one of the best I’ve ever eaten. They were non-oily, and the meat was simple yet flavorful. The salsa was on point. It was not too spicy but had that flavor.
Cons: Not a lot of sliced lemons
Analysis (Extra Comments): The taco truck has a dining area, so you don’t have to worry about where to sit. There is a lot of parking.
2. Mi Grullense:
Location:2925 International Blvd, Oakland
Pros: These tacos were tasty and had flavorful but delicious meat, spicy salsa, a lot of sliced lemons, and extra toppings. Plus, the price was very reasonable.
Cons: Had gordos (fat of the meat), tortillas were a little dryer
Analysis (Extra Comments): The location is next to a shop so you could easily go shopping for something. There is lots of parking, and it closes pretty late.
3. Tacos El Gordo:
Location: 15420 Hesperian Blvd, San Leandro
Pros: This is one of the most delicious tacos I’ve ever been to. They have fabulous tacos, great meat, enough lemons, and flavorful salsa. The tacos were non-oily and just the chef’s kiss.
Cons: I don’t have many complaints.
Analysis: Their location has a lot of space for parking and a shaded outside dining table. It’s very secure, and they have reasonable prices and many options (a variety of Mexican original dishes).\
In conclusion, tacos are a very important part of history, so to appreciate them we need to eat them and see which are the best ones out there. The taco has a long history that is not well known despite its increasing popularity, so knowing the origins helps one see tacos in a different light, a better one. It’s important to know what makes a taco to understand what makes a good taco.
