You may recall that recently Tristan wrote about hipster free tacos. Not long after his Mad Mex experience, I had the good fortune to catch the Mecca of Melbourne movable eateries, or one half at least – the newish Taco Truck.
I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to visit the Taco Truck because it normally frequents a part of town that is sadly quite far from me. However, on this particular really horribly freezing night, for some amazing reason, they broadcast on their Twitter account that they would be at Glenn College at La Trobe University, Bundoora.
There is nothing out this way. Sure, the Bedroom Philosopher has immortalised the number 86 tram (from Bundoora RMIT campus to Spencer Street Station), but Bundoora has very little in the way to celebrate unless you go further north and catch a rare but magic glimpse of the semi-naked all-seasons Mill Park running man. God, I’d love to meet that dude.
So after driving around for half an hour on La Trobe’s grounds and getting directions off strangers (some of whom were kind enough to warn me emphatically not to walk through certain parts of the campus alone…shudder), I made it to the bloody truck. La Trobe, you guys need maps and adequate lighting about your traps. And competent security guards.
I do like that they’d (I assume) trekked out all the way to the outer north because there was a joint Filipino, Indian and Australian art exhibition so luckily for me (as I was dressed very shabbily), there was a distinct dea(r)th of hipsters. In fact, it was quite a friendly sound, hearing some folks speaking my mother’s native tongue Tagalog and folks of all ages queueing up for the food.
I bellowed my order as loudly as I could and waited in line for half an hour (this was only really an issue because it was below 10C. Ordering beer in the meantime was out of the question because it was that cold. A sad state of affairs).
They had a good deal going – $12 for a plate of two tacos and corn chips. You could choose from fish, chicken or potato. I chose fish and chicken. As soon as I got my order (which I suspect they may have forgotten to fill initially), I literally ran back to my car, started it and ate in relative warmth.
Of course when the hipster half of the blog visited where it’s normally placed in Carlton, he got a much prettier picture of his nosh.
The corn chips were great. I’m hoping Clovis, the owner of Mad Mex wasn’t lying when he said that their own corn chips were authentic because if this is the case, then that makes Taco Truck’s ones equally so – they were very, very similar in taste.
I was sceptical at first about the fish in the taco being battered but one bite slayed any such fears I had – the fish taco was divine and my overt carnivore actually preferred that over the chicken taco though that was also flavoursome and fresh. Wish I’d ordered an extra one.
Now, to retry Beatbox Kitchen and judge them outside of Laneway Festival constraints.
I hate to get all hot under the collar, but I went to La Trobe for 5 years, walked around the campus at night many times and was never assaulted or molested. Plus it’s near Kooinda Brewery and not far from the foodie gems on High St, Preston. So there. Good review though, the Taco Truck fish tacos (lol,) beef tacos and breakfast tacos kept me fed and happy at the Boogie festival this year…
I think the professory types I asked for directions were just being over-protective (they were the ones insisting I really shouldn’t venture there *accompanied by flailing of their arms*). I was an Asian woman on a mission: it was cold and I wanted my food and was perfectly prepared to march in darkness to get it!
Truth be told, I had more trouble with the dark driving but that’s just because the roads were unfamiliar to me.
Yeah, High St in Preston is ace. In fact, you’ve just reminded me I have some pics of a place I went to there – should really put them up and blog about it soon. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Saweeeeeeeet. Well worth it Id say. Not a pretty picture is the bastardised version of Mexican foods, but dang its just soooooo tasty.
I guess because we (I might be assuming incorrectly) have such a small Mexican/Latin American community here, bastardisations are all too common and there ain’t no one to hold them up on it! Seems to be changing though – especially as travellers come back and educate us noobs (well, this noob anyway!).
Battered fish in the fish tacos? How curious! Sounds good though. 🙂
Whoops, I just meant the fish pieces are battered 🙂 the batter is delicious!
Haha, I still don’t understand this taco truck concept. I’m imagining people travelling across suburbs to find this truck because it’s ‘cool’ to eat from one?? #taconoob
They don’t move about much – I think their default location on a Fri night is Park & Rathdowne Streets? This one move (not being a music fest one) was most fortuitous.
Ah, I love food trucks. I’m hoping a few more pop up in the area! I’m sure it’ll mean more hipsters but that’s nothing a few elbows can’t fix 🙂
My last experience with the fish taco from the Taco Truck was just like yours. I was in heaven! Even better than the already delish chicken version, as you’ve mentioned.
Yeah, they really were beautiful. May need to travel to get my fix again, I guess Carlton’s not too far… 🙂
i drool over #real cali mexican ala mamasita n happy with cheapo close mad mex. as always AWESOME review… i did like @ashley notice the battered fish… anyway i just wished they had a truck that drove around with mexican battered or not anywhere on bayside.. from elwood to red hill/shoreham! keep kikn it. BB
Yeah, sometimes I think it’d be hard living out as far as you do but THEN I SEE YOUR RED HILL BREWERY TWEETS. We’re even, buddy 😛
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Great review!
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