Tacos in the ghetto...

It might not always be a pleasant neighborhood, but it’s my neighborhood.

I’m a runner. Trying hard to forsaken the impoverish environment I grew in and end the cycle of generational ignorance; I hide my working poor roots within my boyfriend’s middle class background. However, today is different.

As I walk down the straight and narrow road contains front yards burdened with shady trees bearing walnuts, almonds, peaches, figs and grapes. Why did developers stop planting fruit trees? They chose instead to plant trees that produce flowers that instigate severe allergies in humans and animals. On one road, I have eaten my weight in produce fresher than anything that the supermarket has and gratis. This road so fertile in nourishment and food is now left to decay at the hands of renters, property managers and landlords that could care less about the aesthetics of their cash cow. The road that leads me to...

A taco truck. I’m hungry.



In a city that discourages fresh food trucks, Sacramento’s missing the profits it could be making. Tacos El Sinaloense sits on one of the busiest streets in Sacramento and is popular amongst the Latino workers in the neighborhood. $1.25 per taco, give me a break! Show me a taqueria that has that deal (all day, everyday) and I’ll buy you a beer. Seriously. Tweet me: EatGordaEat

I stood under the shady awning and devoured a taco de cabeza (braised cow's head and cheek) and a taco de carne asada (grilled thin beef). The tacos topped with the most amazing salsa and not that watery and sometimes bland pico de gallo. One picante avocado based salsa that’s perfectly acidic with a slight tropical aftertaste. The other salsa tomato based, with cilantro leaves floating on inner tubes of slices of jalapeno. Tacos come with traditional accountrements: radish, cilantro, onions, pickled carrots and jalapeno and a lime wedge. The cabeza, cooked down into a most tender, and somewhat sticky, shredded roast texture. Unnecessary garnishes pushed aside, no benches to sit down, no accoutrement bar standing next to the stale tortilla chips. Just downright, honest, and affordable tacos.



Walking to my mom’s house from this business, my senses become aware of my surroundings. A cauldron of Southeast Asians, Russians, Ukrainians and Mexicans…they make this neighborhood. When it’s time for the cows to come home and the blue-collared men to walk through the door from a day of busting their tukhus mowing your lawns and picking up your dog’s excrement…it all brings wonderful smells that linger on the horizon. It’s the smell of baked bread, fried potatoes, chorizo, charred chilés, curry, onions, garlic and pride.

Pride in what we create. Pride in how we live our life. As my face is sunbathed in that pre-autumn sunset, I don’t consider all the wrought iron fences on this block barricades anymore. I consider them protectors of childhood memories. Protectors of heirloom recipes. Protectors of a sense of self...a sense of pride.

Yes, this is the ghetto and it might not always be a pleasant neighborhood, but it’s my neighborhood.



Tacos El Sinaloense
Corner of Fruitridge Road and 44th Street
Sacramento, Ca 95824

Sac RT: 61 - front truck service.