Mi Tienda Supermarket – The Dollar Taco Lives!
This may not be a revelatory statement, but food can be expensive in the Bay Area. This is why when I heard that Mi Tienda Supermarket on San Mateo’s 25th Avenue was offering a quality taco for a dollar as a temporary promotion, I left a Dan-shaped hole in the wall as I sprinted out to catch the ECR heading northbound. 25th Ave., located right off El Camino Real, has long been a hidden gem for food, with a diverse array of cuisines laid out in front of St. Gregory’s. Their location has seen a few different smaller grocery stores in the past, but the food they were slinging in the back quickly made a good impression.
There was a short line in front of us when we arrived shortly before noon, but it moved through quickly enough as we scanned the menu. Sadly, they were out of chicharron and hadn’t yet set up the trompo for the day, but I ordered three tacos with lengua, carnitas and al pastor and turned my attention to the aguas frescas. I went with cantaloupe and was impressed by the more than a half dozen options available. I grabbed my tacos as my number was called out and dressed them on the salsa bar, realizing too late that I picked the one with the conventional red, green and orange salsas and not the one with the fire-roasted tomato and guacamole options. Thankfully, after sitting down, I realized that I had nonetheless made an excellent series of decisions.
We grabbed a picnic table outside and quickly realized that the angle of the table required careful drink placement to avoid disaster. After a brief mopping up of an orange soda, we dove into our assorted tacos. The first thing I noticed was the corn tortillas, which were tasty and pliable. I started with the lengua, which was quite tender and juicy, and in larger pieces than I normally expect. The carnitas avoided the curse of being too dry, offering a nice meaty heft. The pastor had a nice char on it and was similarly juicy and well-seasoned. While I didn’t partake in the pollo or carne asada, both received equally positive reviews.
So, if you’re on the ECR and looking for a tasty lunch that won’t break the bank, San Mateo beckons and Mi Tienda delivers. Hope to see you there next time!