Tacos Gomez: Authentic Mexican Street Food

As we move into the new year, there is no secret that many communities around the country are experiencing an unprecedented amount of change. One thing that hasn’t changed in the Charlottesville community is Tacos Gomez’s glowing presence. This past weekend, I ordered from Tacos Gomez’s to-go service and came away from the experience pleased with the quality of the customer service and the freshness of the ingredients, as well as the price. The staff gave a friendly greeting and took my order, which was ready within 6-8 minutes. By the time I had sat in my car and listened to one song on Spotify, my order was steaming and ready to go.

Tacos Gomez sets itself apart from the competition due to their diverse range of food options and the authentic feel that is associated with street food. 

The most common order, Four Tacos for $10, is a great value for the price when you consider the freshly made ingredients as well.

Tacos Gomez operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. servicing the local Charlottesville community 7 days a week. 

Tacos Gomez resides at the foothills of the Pantops district in Charlottesville (1348 Long Street). Unlike traditional restaurants, what makes Tacos Gomez’s unique is the fact that they operate out of a stationary food truck. Their street-food identity is precisely what defines the unique experience of dining with Tacos Gomez. While customers await the arrival of their food, it is commonplace to witness back-and-forth banter from a diverse cast of patrons where discussions range from politics, to the weather, or even the latest UVA sports result — often in several different languages. While the customers wait in hopes for a good meal, the area outside of the food-truck functions as an ecosystem for both diversity and a cultural exchange of conversation as customers from all walks of Charlottesville share their stories. I found this to be a particularly comforting element of the Tacos Gomez experience. 

This past weekend, I ordered the Four Tacos deal and opted for Al Pastor (Pork), Chorizo (Beef), Carne Asada (Steak), and Lengua (Cow Tongue) for a grand total of only $10. In my opinion, the protein options were extremely lean and tender, the tortillas were cooked to perfection: both soft and crunchy, and the fresh cut cilantro & onions functioned to balance the overall texture of the meal adding elements of both crunchiness and zest bite after bite. Both lime and sauce options were added although the tacos were adequately seasoned to begin with. 

Overall, I give Taco Gomez five stars. The Tacos Gomez restaurant is a thorough interpretation of what real family-owned authentic Mexican food is supposed to taste like. The food, which has always been good, is guaranteed to be complimented by extraordinary customer service. What also makes Tacos Gomez extremely unique is that while waiting on your order, it is standard to reason a nod, smile, or engage in a friendly back-and-forth with a diverse set of community members; all in this little crevice of a parking-lot East of Downtown Charlottesville.

You can get in touch with Tacos Gomez by calling 434-953-5408, via Instagram (@tacos_gomez) or on Facebook.com.

1348 Long St

Charlottesville, VA