So the other day when I finished up with my classes, I
casually walked ran down to Mimi’s for some Mexican eats at the new trailer.
When I arrived, I quickly realized that Nach Yo Taco was going to be a great
new addition to the San Marcos food scene, with its huge menu boasting interesting
combinations. Plus, who doesn’t love an airstream?
Just as I was eying the menu, I heard my name being called and what an awesome
surprise! My mom came to meet me for lunch. She was pretty pumped about the new
trailer too, apparently.
After some hugs and small talk, we got down to business;
what in the world would we order? My mom settled on the Mexican Cobb Salad
(fresh Mexican greens, cotija cheese, black bean and corn relish, avocado,
bacon, boiled egg and house-made citrus ranch dressing) with chicken.
A cobb salad? From a trailer? I know it sounds crazy but if
that’s not crazy enough, the chef/owner, Toby, clued me in on the fact that he
actually cuts his lettuce TO ORDER… FROM A HYDROPONIC LETTUCE PLANT… THAT HE
GETS FRESH DAILY. I think I actually laughed out loud at the awesomeness that
was going on inside this airstream. I knew this was going to be a good
experience.
After I got over the shock of the lettuce situation, I settled on the Chicken Fajita Taco (chicken fajita meat,
grilled sweet onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cotija cheese, cilantro and citrus
ranch dressing), and the Tequila Shrimp Taco (tequila shrimp, black bean and
corn relish, cilantro and citrus ranch dressing).
After a short wait, my mom’s Cobb salad was ready, but Chef Toby looked sad.
Why so sad? Because he ran clear out of propane. My mom’s awesome looking
chicken was the last thing that was going to be able to be cooked for a while,
but there was light on the horizon. I could come back later on after he got a
refill. Deal.
That didn’t stop my mom and I from enjoying the awesome 82 degree Hill Country day, so we
sat outside while she enjoyed her salad and I got something else to tide me
over. What did she think? Basically, the lettuce was as fresh as fresh can get,
and she really thought it was a perfect base for such a surprisingly delicious
salad. I don't know why I constantly get surprised by the various culinary creations prepared in a trailer. I always do though.
The chicken was cooked perfectly. It was super tender and
completely juicy. The seasoning was not at all over powering, and the citrus
ranch dressing was plain awesome. It was creamy, tangy and uplifting. Each
element was in a nice ratio with the others, so nothing totally took over the
dish. I’d say that this was the single best salad out of a food trailer I’d
ever encountered, and it’s up there with just salads in general. Bold
statement, huh?
Anyway, my mom and I left Mimi’s this afternoon excited
about Nach Yo Taco and what was going on inside that mini-kitchen, and I left
with the promise that I’d be back in a few hours. The anticipation was killing
me! I wanted to try! NOW!
Fast forward to 3:30 p.m. I was back, and the best part was,
so was the chef, and some propane! Score! I went back up to the service window
and re-ordered the Chicken Fajita Taco and the Tequila Shrimp Taco. But I
didn’t stop there. I also ordered the Lemon Pepper Fish Taco (fresh grilled
cod, black bean and corn relish, cilantro and lime jalapeno sauce) and chips and
salsa…. I know, I know. I was hungry! Whatever!
After only a ten-minute wait, I was presented with a brown paper
bag full of hot, crispy chips, a container of the super fresh salsa, and
another brown paper bag stuffed with the three tacos I ordered, and some homemade habanero sauce. Wow. This was a
lot of food. A lot of BEAUTIFUL food, at that.
I first tried the chips with the salsa and holy cow! That
salsa! It was so fresh and it bursted with flavor. If a salsa could be considered refreshing,
this was it. What I really liked about it was that I could taste every single
ingredient that the chef used. From the tomatoes to the cilantro, the onions to the
garlic, it was all there. And that habanero sauce was off the charts too. It wasn't super spicy, since he roasts all the peppers first before doing anything else. The result is a smokey, tangy, kind of sweet and wholly delicious orange bliss.
As I licked some wayward salsa from my arm (don’t ask), I
laid my pretty little tacos up in a row, and played eenie meenie miney moe to
figure out which I’d start with. I landed on the Fajita Chicken taco. This
taco was so bold and bright, just on appearances, with the ruby colored
tomatoes, the bright green, freshly cut lettuce and the snow white, crumbled
Mexican cotija cheese. There was also a nice amount of meat, which I really
appreciated. No skimping here!
WOO this was a good taco. The chicken was super juicy and nicely seasoned. The
freshness of the crazy hydroponic lettuce and veggies added another dimension
that would otherwise have been missed. The textures of the corn and black bean
relish were complimentary to the rest of the compilation, and I must say that
the citrus ranch dressing that the chef uses is amazing. It was a perfect
addition to this taco and I was sad when it was gone. Yep. Annihilated. Wow…
OK! Time to move on to the Lemon Pepper Fish Taco. This was another thing of
beauty, let me tell you. Of all the fish tacos I’ve had in my many years of
eating fish tacos, this one was special. The cod that was used was grilled
lightly, leaving it flaky, tender, juicy, moist, succulent and flat out
awesome. The corn and black bean relish made another appearance in this taco,
and it’s just so… so good. I
decided on impulse to add some of that awesome fresh salsa. WHAM! A punch of
brightness hit me square in the mouth. Yum. Yum. Yum.
Two down, one to go! I left the Tequila Shrimp Taco for the
last because I was most excited about it. I don’t know why, but maybe I was
feeling daring, eating shrimp from a food trailer. Who knows, but what I do
know, is that this was my favorite of the three. The shrimp was cooked so
perfectly, not at all chewy or rubbery. That was my biggest fear, but luckily, Chef
Toby clearly knows what he’s doing back there. The flavors were bold and
brazen, the textures were there again, between the meat, the cabbage and other yummy ingredients. I decided to add some of that habanero sauce. If it could have gotten any better, this is how. The smile on my face was sign enough
that this was a taco to be contended with.
After I finished my three tacos, I sat at my table with a full belly and a happy spirit. What impressed me the most about Nach Yo Taco wasn’t the
lettuce that still astounds me, but it was the fact that I could truly taste
the passion behind the food. This wasn’t just food made to order, it was food
that was prepared with love, excitement and respect. I will for SURE be back
here on a regular basis. In fact… it’s sounding pretty good again right now!
Want to go?
Mimi's Trailer Park Eatery
310 N. Guadalupe
San Marcos, TX 78666
San Marcos, TX 78666
When can you go?
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
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