Taco Love Affair

You may be wondering how one has an affair with tacos. Let’s be real: juicy fixings embraced in warm, homemade tortillas are enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But for a girl who punches the clock to sling tacos, I cannot deny my desire for Tacos Gomez, the most underrated food truck in Charlottesville.

If you are reading this, I assume you have traveled through the Pantops area of Charlottesville. Nestled with other food trucks in a parking lot where High Street intersects Route 250, you will find Tacos Gomez. It is always surrounded by customers – people stand in line to order, some pick up food they have ordered by calling ahead, while others enjoy the shade provided by the outdoor seating.

My order: two chori pollo (chorizo and chicken, $3) tacos, one campechano (chorizo and steak, $4) quesadilla, and one birria (braised beef, $4) quesadilla. When ordering birria, remember to request a side of the dipping broth. Also, everybody gets the choice of green or red (spicier) salsa; I prefer green. I arrived and ordered at 1 p.m. on a Monday and received my tacos in 10 minutes. I paid $15.26 plus tip — a great deal when it comes to the authenticity, flavor, and hospitality served at Tacos Gomez. They accept cash and credit.

Aside from tacos and quesadillas, their menu includes tortas (sandwiches), flautas (taquitos topped with deliciousness), alambres (taco bowls with a side of tortillas), and they also have offerings for vegans and vegetarians. Thirsty? They have Jarritos, a popular Mexican soda that comes in flavors like pineapple, tamarind, and grapefruit. 

The quesadillas were piping-hot from the melted cheese that can be seen oozing from the sides, so I ate the chori pollo tacos first. They were topped with fresh onion and cilantro. I added salsa, and, of course, I squeezed my limes. Their homemade tortillas are strong enough to withstand the juicy bits stuffed inside, guaranteeing a satisfying experience from start to finish. I wasn’t worried much about the quesadillas getting cold because I had authentic birria dipping broth. Arguably, the birria quesadilla is the best I’ve had.

So, the next time you are craving authentic Mexican, try Tacos Gomez (open Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Sunday). They’re located at 1348 Long Street. Just don’t tell my boss!