At last, I discovered the taco bus at Forest and Maryland gloriously open. Well, “gloriously open” is a bit of an overstatement, it would have been tough to tell were it not for the smattering of cowboys hanging out in the parking lot doing more whiling the afternoon away than consuming street meat. Even so, it was a personal rush for me to take that taco through the window and pay the lady my paltry buck fifty. The bus is only open on weekends—Friday through Sunday, and they’re serving simple Mexican street fare with a short menu of tacos, burritos, elote (corn on the cob with mayo, chile, lime and cheese) pupusas (a thick tortilla stuffed with cheese or meat) and some tropical fruit juices.

My simple double corn tortilla taco came filled with al pastor (think of the conical gyro meat only instead of lamb, its pork) lettuce, cilantro, onion, cheese and crema. Beef or chicken is also an option. Would I say it’s a taco worth driving across town for? Probably not. But it’s the kind of thing that makes my dream of the day when we all get a taco truck down the street seem more like a delicious reality.



Cross the Robert Street bridge, and you can have dessert, Mexican street style. While La Chiquita Helados y Paletas (ice cream & popsicles) isn’t technically street food, chef/ owner Raul Saud (pictured in the doorway) takes his inspiration from ice vendors found in the street all over Mexico. His tiny but charming one-man operation on the west sides District del Sol cranks out 27 varieties of handmade popsicles and about a dozen ice cream flavors. He’s also got licensing for pushcarts, so keep your eyeballs peeled for him during street festivals and up and down Snelling during the state fair.



A tequila popsicle was the solid incarnation of a Cuervo margarita complete with a worm embedded inside (only in this version, it's a red and yellow gummy) and yes, I caught a buzz off of it. Pineapple with chile is sweet at the outset, with a spicy burn at the end, and a rice with milk (inspired by a popular Mexican street beverage) was an all around favorite. I’ve just gotta try the pico de gallo. 



They’ve also got a small selection of other street snacks—fruit with chile, chicharron (pork rinds,) and liquados (milk shakes) but I say go for the popsicles, stay for the ice cream, and return for the obvious love that goes into every bite. I’m officially addicted.