Taqueria El Rey Del Taco, Doraville, GA...100th BLOG

100th post!  Started this little bad boy last July.  We have gone on many adventures, this is our 100th post, so I want to start by thanking everyone for reading, I hope that y'all have enjoyed the adventures as much as I have!

Had a very adventurous trip so far, it now comes to an end as I head back to the City of Angels tomorrow early morning.  Can't think of a better way to wrap this trip up than a great adventure with a great friend and fellow Tacotter, Forrensy.  Fo and I have Tacoteered in a few states and have gone on some great adventures.  Today's did not disappoint.  Nino the KM recommended this spot, and he did well my friends, he did well.  It was a bit of a drive, traffic was horrendous, but it was perfect.  It gave us time to catch up, tell stories, talk about future restaurant openings and taco adventures.

This was our chariot.  Fo's Jeep.  There he is pumping his power!  It was a great ride to and from the Taqueria.  We really did enjoy our time catching up.  It was raining, pretty hard, which I enjoyed.  I have not seen rain in a while.  I live in Los Angeles, we are in a drought, there is not much rain, not much rain at all.

I really appreciate their hours of operation.  They are not afraid to be open and serve delicious food.  Fo said that he has been here in some of the later hours and that the food is just as good and the service is just as great.  Really love what they are doing.

The kitchen is simple and perfect.  They just happily crank the food out and the people working there were great.  All so nice, all so attentive.  It was a really cool experience.  It is amazing how much nicer the experience can be when the people working there are great and don't act like total punks.  I will say that my company was unbelievable.  Fo is a great friend and a great guy.  Fo and I met about a year ago and have done multiple restaurant openings.  We have become quite close and with our good friend Josh Razana lead a great core of trainers to open restaurants.  The Counter is as lucky to have us as we are to have The Counter.  We enjoy working long 12-15 hour days and then enjoy grabbing tacos wherever in the world we might be.  It really helps make the trips most excellent.

I wanted to send this picture of Fo's phone.  OK, not really, that just happens to be in the shot.  They come to your table with three delicious salsas, chips and a cup of limes.  I don't know if there is a better set-up for Tacoteers.  This was perfect.  The chips were good, they did not fry them there, but they did not taste cheap or stale, they were really damn good.  It was nice.  Lets get to it!
RATINGS:
BUCHE: 2, this was not very good.  It was not cooked very well.  The seasoning was pretty solid, but the cooking of it sucked.  It was boiled, not grilled or sauteed afterwards.  It did not get the time and attention needed.
BARBACOA: 3, not too bad.  It was solid.  Seasoned well, not overdone, shredded nicely.  Some small bones in it, but that really doesn't faze me, good barbacoa should still have some small bones.
SUADERO: 3, oh this is so close to a 4.  It is good, but I think back to Tacos el Gordo in Chula Vista and it makes this a 3.  I would order it again, it is good, tender and cut nicely.
LENGUA: 4, this was tender goodness.  I really like this.  I would recommend this to any lengua lover.  It is really good stuff.  Not too much seasoning, you really get to taste the meat and it is good.  Texture was on point.
ASADA: 4, on flippin point!  This was good.  Tender, tasty, seasoned nicely.  This was very well taken care of.  They got good meat, the did not over season it, but they did season it enough.  I was a big fan and if you like asada, are looking for a great starter taco if you are young in your Tacoteering, this might be the perfect taco for you.
PASTOR: 4, holy goodness, this was close to a 5.  Really close.  This is almost RT good.  Perfectly seasoned, crispy but not hard, sweet but not too sweet.  There was more than just a light hint of pineapple, but it was perfection on that point.  It really made me smile.
TABLE SALSA: 4, this was so good.  Might be a little, just slightly spicy for the average eater, but so damn good, I couldn't get enough!
JALEPENO SALSA: 4, this is not as good as mine, but really tasty.  Their texture was perfect, they need to boil it a little longer, not add so much milk and this could be a 5.  Really good.  I loved it mixed with the table salsa on my chips, try it, you'll be happy!!!
HABENERO SALSA: 4, this was good.  Not my cup of tea so to speak, but a balanced salsa with great flavors, I approve, and we all know that is important.

The grilled onions on top were stellar.  Not too much, not overdone, but so damn tasty.  The tortillas were made in the restaurant.  They would fall slightly apart, but they were so tasty.  They were some of the best tortillas that I have.  They were not as good as Chef Zadi's, but if I were to rate, his were a 5, theirs are a 4.  Very nicely done and it really made the tacos that much better.  The tacos were also huge.  You could get the store tortilla tacos for $1.10 or the handmade tacos which were huge for $2.  LOVE IT!  Totally worth it.

Very special thanks to Forrensy.  He is a great guy, great friend and one hell of a Tacoteer.  This was a stellar adventure, not just because of the tacos, but because I got to see a great friend.  We missed Josh, but still had fun.  I'm the lucky one, I get to see Josh often, I'll see him before the week is out!

Thank you to everyone for reading, re-posting and re-tweeting.  I'm shocked an humbled by how this thing has grown in the last year.  It really is awesome and makes it even better for me everyday.  Thank you so much.

Today's goodbye photo is of Fo and my bringing out the sillier side of Tacoteering.  If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen the photo, but here it is, us toasting the 100th blog and a great adventure with smiles!

STAY EXCELLENT!!!!!!

Taqueria Taquito Express, Roswell, GA

Yeah, this is a quickie, you know you all like them.  I was just picking up some bananas and apples from a gas station.  I'm on the road, don't judge.  I had dinner.  I was not hungry.  I saw this and could not say no.  My Taco Destiny brought me to this BP.  Anyways, it was what it was.  I am a fan of the car wash/gas station taco.  Anyways.  I had to get two.  They recommended pastor and asada.

This is the entire operation.  You are seeing it all.  Promising, right?  Here's the reality.  Salty.  They just cover up everything with sodium, no thanks.  They both get a 2.  The salsas are a three.  You are getting a quick short blog.  I do these often and don't write about it, but feel compelled to let you know that this happens if you don't know.

Here's the spread.  Yeah, that is it.  They put the right stuff on there.  I'm back in my hotel room, but wow.  I'm sad.  I couldn't finish that much salt.  The tortillas were not too good.  I'm excited.  Tomorrow I'm going out with the great Fo!  Fo and I are hitting a place that I'm told is fantastic and legendary.  Here's the thing, tacos are everywhere.  Search them out.  I do.  I'll let you know where to go.  Thanks for reading!

Stay Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!

SAN PANCHO, Roswell, GA

Well, what a day.  You know how it goes.  It is just long and full of unnecessary stress.  I was just done.  I mean the 15 hour day after a long day of travel was what it was.  I had one thing on my mind.  Taco Mac.  If you’ve never been to Atlanta or stopped by their location in Chattanooga, TN, you are missing out.  This place is a treat.  It is truly Buffalo Wild Wings gone WILD!  I just wanted some spicy wings and a cold IPA.  If you are unfamiliar, Taco Mac has that name because it was either remodel the kitchen of a closed Mexican restaurant in Atlanta or change the sign.  FYI, great call by those Buffalo transplants.  Wings are great; atmosphere is a bit loud for me, but fun.  Beer is always awesome.  So, I get there and there is a line out the door, I figure there is just me, I can sneak into a spot at the bar which is where I’m planning on sitting anyways.  Well, that just wasn’t going to happen.  Braves are playing and the Falcons were playing a preseason game.  Four deep at the bar after the past few days, no thanks, I’m out.  I head towards where I think my hotel is and make a right turn.  This finds me somewhere on Alpharetta Drive in beautiful Roswell, GA.  Needless to say, I am just looking for somewhere to stop.  I spot this place, San Pancho and figure, yeah, I guess I could eat some tacos.

So it begins.  I walk in and the place is a neat little taqueria.  Guy at the counter is not too personable, but I’m coming to expect this in Atlanta area taquerias.  I order and sit down.  Neat little salsa bar, I dig it.  I really like the onions.   They have dried chilies and carrots shredded in there.  Yeah, that is for sure in my future.  They have a verde, rojo and a spicy jalapeno salsa.  I size the salsa up, grab some onion mix and head to the table.  Lots of employees just hanging out in the back, needless to say, food is pretty quick, I’m pleased by this.

RATINGS:

PASTOR: 2, I really am convinced this is a three or a four if it was not so burned.  I mean burnt to a crisp.  It was so charred it crunched when I bit down.  I’m not looking for that in Pastor.  Give me the juicy goodness that was created in the 1960’s by Lebanese and Greek immigrants in Mexico, thanks.

ASADA:  2, Once again, turn the flame down dude!  Burnt to a charred crisp.  I honestly did not even get close to finishing.  Stuff was junk.

POLLO GUISADO: 3, What?  Am I on a Guisado kick lately?  Yeah, fair assessment.  Stuff was ok.  It was no Guisado’s in Boyle Heights for sure.  I don’t even think they were related, but this stuff will stand up to a lot of what I’ve found in San Antonio and other parts of Texas.  It was pretty good, cooked properly, not overdone (shocked) and had all the flavors that you would be looking for.

ADOBADA:  2, This was a low blow for me.  I’m a huge fan when Adobada is made correctly.  I mean it is a pastor-esque treat that I really enjoy.  I’ll be totally honest, I don’t know if they know what adobada is. 

VERDE: 2, just not very good.  Too sweet, way too sweet.  I couldn’t enjoy it at all.

ROJO:  3, It was good.  Bit of spice, they put some love into this.  For sure more then they did with many of the other things that they were willing to serve.

JALAPENO SALSA: 1, this runny snot was one of the worst things to hit this tongue.  I considered making a rating of zero just to point out how this stuff tasted.  I don’t think it belonged on the salsa bar.  I don’t think “salsa” should ever be in the same sentence. 

ONION MIX: 4, Why is this even on here right?  I just had to find a redeeming part of this journey and the onion mix was it.

Yeah, avoid.  Avoid this place at pretty much all costs.  They had some other things on the menu.  It is surrounded by a bunch of places to eat.  Go up about two miles on Alpharetta and you will run into Mi Mexico and you can get a great meal.  Oh, and the tacos are only $.25 more at Mi Mexico!  The onion mix was solid.   I will steal that recipe and make it better, I’m sure. 

Here is the thing.  The place was bad, but the journey to get there was great.  Nice trip to Atlanta, sorry it was short and I missed some of the great friends and people that I know in the area.  I’m sure that I’ll be back, whether or not I want to!  Well, off to Miami, my plane is about to board.  Thanks for reading everyone, Stay Excellent!

Mi Mexico Taqueria, Roswell, GA

What a crazy day.  My flight was delayed, I witnessed the idiot that drove me nuts on the plane break the door and shut down the train at the Atlanta Airport.  I mean, come on!  I finally get to my rental car and it is a Ford Festiva, not quite my size or speed.  My hotel was a mess.  I had to change rooms three times, yeah, I know, living the dream.  Needless to say, I was starving by the time I got to work.  You'd think this would be a good thing as I work in a restaurant, but no, I wanted tacos.  So tacos I should have.  I did a walk through, spoke to the crew and asked them where to go.  I don't think they really understood that I write a taco blog, yes, I did tell them over and over.  They pointed me towards this little gem.

Mi Mexico Taqueria....this place is great.  It is a grocery store in a strip mall a little North of downtown Roswell, GA.  I walk in and take a look around.  I can dig it.  Pretty normal family owned grocery store.  Place was sort of clean, looked fun.  I'd shop there, I'd just lie to my wife about it.  Good thing she doesn't always read the blog, she might find out where I go grocery shopping.  I walk to the back and there is three sort of tables and a little counter.  I walk up and am not too sure if this is a guy or a girl who is staring at me with an insane amount of hatred.  I stuck with my strengths, played stupid and began to order in English with a Southern accent.  It then tells me that they had no lengua and it seemed shocked that lengua was the first thing that I tried to order.  It said back, "no, we no have no no tongue for today or maybe tomorrow."  I nodded and continued my order.  Everything looked pretty solid.  This individual then makes my order.  I watched as the tortillas were pressed out by hand.  The meat was cut and put on the grill.  When they were short, they went over to the meat counter and grabbed what was needed.  I loved it.

Food is done and individual actually walked it right by me as I was standing there and put in on the table and looked at me and pointed to the food.  I then noticed a small stitching on the apron that said "Stephanie."  I thanked Stephanie for bringing the food out.  She scowled at me and shook her head.  I think it was her apron, I mean, she was wearing it and I'm a taco lover, not a mind reader!  I sit down to eat.  Holy delicious taco, she knew what she was doing!  Food was great.  Made a bit different then I'm use to, but legit.  I wouldn't be embarrassed to take people that I like in here.

RATINGS:
Tortilla: 4, this is no Guisados or Los Cincos Puntos, it is not even that car wash in Birmingham that I still dream of, but they are above average tortillas.
Chicharron: 1, please crisp it a little.  When it tastes like slime, I just don't love it.  I really think that you need to make this stuff edible.  It is like eating a raw jellyfish, and no one wants that.
Carnitas: 3, this is a borderline 4.  I really liked what she had going here.  Stuff was moist, juicy, delightful, but it just didn't push me over the edge.
Pastor: 3, ugh, I really wanted to post a 4 here.  The stuff is cooked then finished on the flat top with onions and pineapple that were so amazing.  They were cooked to where they were almost burnt, but pulled off in time.  Sadly, there was zero salt and Pastor needs it.  With the use of the chilies, it craves salt, sorry, you stay a 3.
Barbacoa: 3, so psyched to see this on the menu and it is made with goat, like it should be.  This slow cooked goodness was stewing on her sort of steam table.  I really was happy with it, but again, lacked some salt and pepper.  They did do a nice job overall.
Asada: 5, what?  A 4 on Asada, isn't that against the rules of the Order of the Taco?  I know, but this stuff was something really special.  It was good.  Grilled over an open flame with salt, pepper, lime, red wine vinegar, cilantro and garlic, then finished on a flat top.  Holy amazing Asada, forget it, I'm changing this to a 5 but am not rewriting everything, you get the point, it was stellar.
Red Salsa: 3, not a true rojo, but delicious.  Solid all the way through.  I though the flavors were pronounced and nice.
Green Salsa: 4, I know a solid four at that!  Had some avocado chunks and was darn spicy.  I really liked this stuff.  It complimented everything and was great by itself.

So, one of the rudest people that I've ever encountered, I'd go back in a heartbeat.  It was so over the top and hard to understand that it just made the experience better.  I would say go, go whenever you are in the Atlanta greater area.  Place is totally worth it.  The two folks that were working the market seemed really cool.  The meat looked great and I love the support of the local business.  Go see Stephanie, if that is her name and if that is a her, she is worth the price of admission.  Tacos were only $1.50 each, and were huge.  I couldn't finish the five I ordered and that's not just because the chicharron was horrible.

I can't say enough thank yous to anyone and everyone for reading.  I really do appreciate it.  As always, please tell your friends, foes and strangers and Stay Excellent!