Last week, City Cast Boise audio producer Evelyn Avitia and friend of the show Rebecca DeLeón sat down with host Emma Arnold to talk tacos.
One of Nampa’s most popular taco trucks, Birrieria Garnacha Que Apapacha, is moving to Boise, which is undeniably a big win for Boise.
DeLeón explained that back when she was a reporter, white people often viewed taco trucks as “dirty” and “nefarious,” and she wanted to complicate that perspective. She found that out of all restaurants, taco trucks typically have far fewer food safety violations than other establishments, so, as expected, the mistreatment and disrespect toward the taco scene mostly boiled down to racism, despite the obstacles taco truck owners face.
“I think taco trucks kind of started as a way for people to survive here,” DeLeón said. “Especially a lot of people who come here, they don’t have status or work documentation, so they become entrepreneurs to survive.”
And that’s some of why they say Boise’s taco scene is so meager compared to the 2C’s.
“I have never in my life gone to Boise to eat tacos, and honestly, I don’t plan on it,” Avitia said.
DeLeón said that in Canyon County, there aren’t just Mexican tacos, but Honduran, Peruvian, and other cuisines as well.
Here are where they recommend getting tacos:
- Tacos Colima in Caldwell
- AMANO and La Cocina (for the restaurant experience)
- Andrade’s on Overland
- Enrique’s in Kuna
- Adelita’s in Boise
- Cocoman’s on Fairview Avenue
- And ask a trusted friend where they go — like DeLeón said, sometimes you don’t know what a place’s name is, just where it is.
And here are a few more bits of wisdom for seeking your next taco:
- “It can’t be made at a white-person institution.”
- “If your tortilla sucks, the taco’s going to suck.”
- “I just don’t want to feel like I’m eating a steak that is super, super well-done.”
And she's right! (@juliagreenillo / Twitter)
