ABOVE: Today’s special, the burrito Chilango, which I’m told is popular with the Stamford PD. (Staff writer Maggie Perez informs me this is a nonsensical name as Chilango is slang for someone from Mexico City and burritos aren’t native to the D.F.)
EL CHARRITO: 201 RICHMOND HILL AVE., STAMFORD
3/1/2010
Lord knows I love the West Side, but I ain’t gonna lie, Stamford’s lone taco truck, El Charrito, could stand to have a better location.
It’s pretty much one-stop shopping over there – you can buy a new toilet, a set of spark plugs and a lap dance – all without losing sight of the bright yellow truck, but dining al fresco at Jackie Robinson Park of Fame isn’t for everybody.
Just pretend you aren’t eating lunch a picnic table not ten yards from five guys getting totally hammered and taking turns urinating on a tree and you could be anywhere.
But it’s almost spring and El Charrito made its 2010 debut on an absolutely beautiful first day of March and I was there to celebrate the sunny weather with tacos.
This year, owner Carlos Terron is tweeting the daily specials (@elcharrito) and soliciting fans on Facebook. He is also expanding the menu; bringing in more soups, featuring lamb on Sundays and serving up tamales on Fridays.
If you think quality tacos are difficult to find around here, just try and find a real tamal – no, not the big, fat Guatemalan kind – you’re going to be hard pressed to come up with one. Suffice it to say, I’ll be back on Friday to find out of El Charrito passes muster in the tamale department, but from the looks of everything else, I’m hopeful.
– CP
POST SCRIPT: Forgive me Alvino for cheating on Casa Villa. I’m sorry, and I will be back soon.
Try Tacos Guadalajara on Atlantic Street. They’ve been here a long time and are about to celebrate their 30th year in business.