Being a Brooklyn transplant, I was soo excited when I heard about a taco truck in Melbourne. The taco soccer fields back in Red Hook used to be my playground in those New York City summers. I would sample the cuisine of south America by hitting a different truck every weekend. That was the life.
Imagine my surprise this Sunday morning when I read that the Melbourne Taco Truck was across the park from my house in Coburg. I had to go. With a fistful of coins and a mug of warm coffee, I walked across Harmony Park to the truck. There was a decent line, but eventually I ordered one fish taco. I was surprised at the price, but I suppose it's only because I'm American. I suppose $6 a taco is on par for Aussie food prices. The 2 tacos with chips platter seems like an okay deal at $12, but I wasn't that hungry.
And then I waited. And I waited. Now, I'm a forgiving person. I admit there was a line of people. The girls cooking had a queue of tickets to deal with. But more time passes, and I'm not the only one waiting. But I'm a patient person, maybe they're new and training. But seriously, if a person like me notices that they are waiting a long time for their food, then it's a bloody long time... outside... in the cold Australian autumn... Ok now I'm just being dramatic.
Finally, my name is called and I am handed one beautiful fish taco. When it comes to tacos I know my stuff. I appreciate authenticity as much as the next food snob, but I also am the type that if authenticity is what I craved, then I would pay the $150 for a flight to cancun from JFK, thumb down a colectivo to Tulum and order real fish tacos from prime riviera maya for mere pesos. But most of the time I am just looking for anything delicious wrapped in a corn tortilla.
And there it was. The most perfect looking piece of fish, dressed up in the most perfect tasting batter, resting on a bed of pickled cabbage beneath a warm blanket of poppyseed mayo. Apply yucoteco brand verde sauce and enjoy.
Verdict: food - incredible
Price - negligible
Service - lacking but worth another try should they return to coburg. read more