Taco truck grub brought right to your table

We were in Portland earlier this summer and each of us ordered lunch from a street cart. Thai, Mexican, Chinese and a burger. Everything tasted amazing and none of it made us sick. In fact, not a single one of us hesitated for a single second when it came to ordering food from a glorified storage shed on the street.

And yet the only food cart I’ve ever had the guts to order from in Spokane is Frank’s Franks, and that’s simply because I’d known tons of people who’d eaten his dogs and lived to tell about it. I’d heard loads of people talking about amazing food they’d had from local parking-lot vendors and I admit I wanted to join that fearless foodie clan, but my better judgment just wouldn’t let me take the leap.

I really don’t know what my hang-up is, but I think it has something to do with being afraid that the local set-ups are fly-by-night operations that pull their kitchens-on-wheels into the nearest empty parking lot and slap food on a plate until the health inspector comes by and shuts them down.

For the record, I have no idea if this is actually true. In fact, upon further consideration, I’m almost positive this couldn’t be true … I’m simply trying to justify my reasons for taking so long to experience the wonder that is Tacos Tumbras. And, since I’m putting all my cards on the table, let me also tell you this: Had Eric not come home from work one afternoon singing the praises of the authentic Mexican food he’d had from a trailer in a parking lot (and had I not watched him like a hawk all night for telltale signs of food poisoning) I’d probably still be clueless. But he did.

And then he told his BFF, Thomas, how awesome it was and then Thomas told him that he’d had that same magic taco truck food at the Tacos Tumbras sit-down restaurant on Sprague. What? Could it be possible? Could I try the seemingly risky parking-lot fare in a traditional restaurant that had to face the food police just like everyone else? Indeed, I could. But I let the guys give it a go first, just to be safe. Report: The restaurant is teriffic, but nothing fancy, Thomas warned. “But there were all kinds of Mexican guys in there eating so you know it has to be good,” Eric concluded. Menu, por favor!

I’ve eaten at the Sprague restaurant twice now. On the first visit I defaulted to my Mexican restaurant standby, carnitas, and they were excellent. But Sunday I was feeling a little more adventurous and ordered three different kinds of tacos – al pastor, marinated pork and onions; tinga, a chicken/chipotle/onions number; and barbacoa, beef with red sauce – all topped with fresh cilantro. And, before you judge too harshly, keep in mind that these are authentic tacos on double-layer 3-inch tortillas without loads of cheese and sour cream, not fully-loaded American-style tacos on 15-inch tortillas. If you order the Tacos Tumbras Meal with rice and beans, you’ll have more than you should eat in one setting. Be sure to order a side of their amazing guacamole – it’s smooth and spicy and the perfect finishing touch.

The next time I have Tacos Tumbras I’m going for it – I’m gonna order from the street, and totally live to tell about it.

You’ll find the Tacos Tumbras restaurants at 9420 E. Sprague in the Valley, and 1325 W. Second downtown; the trucks seem to change locations, but one’s red and one’s silver, and both say Tacos Tumbras on the side. You’ll know ‘em when you find ‘em because the food is awesome!