EL CHARRITO: MOBILE, GENERALLY IN FRONT OF BEAMERS/JACKIE ROBINSON PARK OF FAME
9/24/2009
Last week, a reader named Adam commented on my latest/recycled post about Casa Villa and contested my claim that they have the best tacos in town. [Check out his super-informative taco entries: here]
Nevertheless, I stand by my assertion regarding Casa Villa – though I will concede that he is correct in that the al pastor there is not “true” al pastor. You aren’t going to find pork roasted on a shawarma-style spit anywhere in Stamford.
This brings up El Charrito, the city’s lone taco truck. While nothing like the grand mobile vendors to be found in just about every city on the West Coast, it does have its charm. You know, as charming as something parked in front of a strip club can be.
At Adam’s suggestion, I tried the huaraches and was pleasantly surprised. A oblong piece of masa is fried, topped with refried black beans, the protein of your choosing [in my case, tinga: shredded chicken with sauteed onions and chipotle] and topped with lettuce and sour cream. And let’s not forget their hot sauce, which is mildly reminiscent of the La Vic’ Orange Sauce of my youth and packs a nice kick.
The tacos at El Charrito are too big and overstuffed and the pork in the al pastor is not as crispy and spicy as Casa Villa, but I’m pretty OK with some of the other meat choices.
It’ll take me a while to work through the menu here, tostadas are up next.
THE RECOMMENDATION: Check it out while the weather is still nice.
-CP
I had their taco de pescado a la diabla (spicy fish taco) today and it was awesome! I can’t wait to try some of their burritos.