We’re talking true Mexican fast food here.
I always hear this from everyone once they realize I am a chef: Where do you eat?
You might also like
Here is a simple answer. I eat everywhere. I am a huge believer in trying it all. It’s prepared in many ways by many people. You will never try the same dish the same way twice. People are just too different, so give it a shot. You will also get inspired by kitchen preparations AND you will create memorable stories about those dishes, and the people behind them. My curiosity is beyond what my husband would like to experiment with sometimes, but he does it. He sometimes finds himself loving something he thought he would be put off and sometimes he says, that’s enough baby! Either way, it’s okay. I love buche (pig stomach – confit style) I love it with a touch of lime and pickled jalapenos. But not everyone’s mouth waters when they think of that. Mine absolutely does!!
San Jose Del Cabo has so many places that had me taking detours in the morning and hoping for just a bite to get my workout in. I mean they are everywhere. I tried to ignore them but they just kept popping up. Hence the pop-up cars, tents and even the guys walking around. There is just food everywhere and you need to get in on that.
I discovered a couple of ladies at both ends of the Pescador Plaza. The one with the red car has daily specials like taquitos, birria and sopes. The silver car has straight-up tacos! Once I get past Moonlight Spa, there are people walking towards me with white plates that are covered in plastic. I mean, I just thought people were packing their lunches that way. But once you get past that and go into the Pescador Plaza you see the cars.
The lady in the red car had taquitos with a side of roasted red rice, crema, tomatillo sauce and lettuce. She woke up super early to fry those little suckers because they were super crunchy. She’s so nice and she’s set up as early as 6:30 am. There is nowhere to sit around and eat but you will always find a spot when you are hungry. She’s not there all the time so if that’s your jam, go to that corner first. If she’s not there walk to the other side and find the silver car. The silver car is there every morning.
As you approach the car, you will see a crowd around it just licking their fingers with smiling. The menu is written on an erase board and she crosses items off as she runs out. You will have to catch her early because she’s sometimes gone by the time I come around. I would love to hang out with these ladies in their kitchens and see them in action. The tortillas are nicely steamed and filled with the goodness of your choice with toppings to make it even better and give it texture. Both of these ladies’ sauces are on point with a good spice kick to them or a mild flavor for those that don’t dare. I decided on an egg and potato taco. It’s not your typical scrambled egg taco. It’s a boiled egg left whole for you to break up with the potatoes that are cooked with onions and bell peppers. Some straight up impactful flavor so I see why the crowds are there. It seems like a simple taco, but let me tell you, it’s not. I added her avocado sauce and her chile de arbol sauce and it left me speechless. I was one of those people finally smiling around a car eating a taco. It did give me the energy to finish my morning walk.
On my walk, I come across a lot of the same people every morning. We say our hellos and move on. Sometimes I stop and say something other than hello because I feel like they have become a buddy I cross paths with each morning. The vendors tried to sell me things but I finally had to give it to them straight. I will come to them when I want to do something. Otherwise, I have to say no every single day. It’s lovely to see your daily “friends”. As I walk towards the tax company, there is a lady and her son that set up their pop-up of fresh fruit and vegetables along with other pickings like chips, water and candies. I have said hello to her every morning but decided one day that I would just get some fruit to take to the beach. She washes everything clean and cuts it beautifully in any style you want. I usually get thick sticks with fresh lime, tajin and Valentina hot sauce. When you cut this style and get it in a cup, it allows for that extra lime tajin mix to reach the bottom so you can continue to dip each bite into it. My favorite is the mix of cucumber spears, jicama, watermelon and mango. Eat it as you walk or take it to the beach but you will love the freshness of these fruits and vegetables. Of course, she prepares what’s in season. She’s under a mango tree so you can just imagine how great those will be when those are ripe and pop out!
Right around the corner from her, there is a tent behind the Fire Fighter Station. You will see the tent go up only during the week with tables and stools. You choose from corn or flour homemade tortillas then the choices of toppings. They will finish it off with shredded cabbage, salsa, hot sauces and some other surprises and bring it to your table.
The biggest thing with these pop-ups is that everything is made to sell that day. They stay there until they sell it unless it’s a slow day. Their menu is on the banner but they also have specials they will let you know about. I had the bean and bacon on a flour tortilla. The love that goes into beans is so important. I grew up with a mother who cooked those beans to perfection, whole or refried, so I am a brat when it comes to beans. The crunchy bacon in the creamy bean situation was just what I craved. My husband tried the others and I think he inhaled them faster than I could eat my one taco.
