Maybe I suffer from a little bit of xenophobia, or maybe it’s because I have a terrible fear of doing something for the first time and looking like a total goon, but I’ve walked by this Mexican market on Nicollet a bajillion times, and have never gone in.
The other day, during my constant questioning of coworkers and customers about the various hidden location for exceptional tacos, I was informed that said Mexican market had a lovely little taco counter, where one could procure delicious and inexpensive tacos.
Witness the holy land.
O.M.G., friends. This heroic stranger was not telling tales out of school.
I took my new (and fabulously talented) friend,
Megan, with me on my taco adventure, and we had a great, belly filling time.
Before we dove into our feast, we took a stroll through the mercado and were totally overwhelmed by all the delicious eats. I wish I had taken pictures of the market. They had these GIANT pink marshmallows for sale, and tons of delicious beverages, and even some awesome looking apples in syrup that came in a huge jar.
I bought this bottle of non-alcoholic sangria, which is becoming one of my favorite sugary beverages.
On the menu at El Mariachi there are about eight varieties of tacos– everything from pollo, carnitas, and al pastor to linguas (tongue), cabeza (head), and cachete (cheek) tacos. The most expensive taco on the menu was carnitas, which would set you back just $2.00 per taco, with all the others only running up a bill of $1.50/taco.
I decided to branch out a little, and instead of only getting steak or chicken I chose an al pastor, and a chorizo taco (in addition to one fecking unbelievable steak taco).
Although the tacos were a little smaller than I would have expected, it didn’t matter, because they were so so so so so good, and pretty filling.
I don’t know if I can go on in my search for a better taco, because I don’t think there is one.
But I must continue, I must.
Mercado Central/El Mariachi/Marissa’s Bakery is located at the corner of 28th and Nicollet on the West siiiieeed.
