2. A Taco Tour (in Three Parts)

Part Two.

Otto’s Tacos

As we entered Otto’s Tacos, I quickly realized that our extremely scientific taco taste test methodology was flawed. We did not agree on a standardized taco flavor to try at every spot therefore committing to comparing apples to oranges to chorizo to pollo. Also, the type of taco (sit down restaurant vs fast casual) was also mis-matched. However, I bit my tongue and pushed onwards still excited for the plethora of tacos I had in my future.

At Otto’s we were greeted by Maggie, the cheerful woman behind the counter, who was busy entering take out and delivery orders, much to her chagrin, and by the time she was ready for our order was flustered but appeasing. We wanted to take advantage of the taco + a beer deal, but rather than order a beer, I wanted a horchata. She said she couldn’t do the official swap, but could throw in the Horchata if we tipped her. So #winning.

Maggie!

We ordered the special of the day - a crispy short rib taco and the standard menu carnitas taco. Fearful of an Empellon mistake, we confirmed that these tacos came (by default) on corn tortillas.

Minutes later our tacos were ready and our taste analysis began.

The garnish on the carnitas taco, a tomatillo salsa with cilantro and onion, did not complement the meat well and overpowered the true flavor of the meat in the taco. But that salsa was damn good and I would have eaten it by the spoonful. The crispy short rib taco was not very special. It tasted a bit like General Tso’s Chicken in taco format, but less delicious than what the Chinese restaurant is serving.

As for the tortillas, Harry approved and began to understand my corn is best mentality.

They were a bit crispy, which played well to the resilience of the tortilla, particularly for the saucier carnitas taco, but I felt that there were more tostada-esque than taco-esque. Perhaps there was a tostaquito?

We thanked Otto’s and moved on.

Realizing that there were 3 stops left and our hunger was far behind us, we made a GTD and decided to skip Oaxaca.

On to Chelsea Market and the unofficial defending Champion of our own personal taco tastings, Los Tacos No. 1.