Tacos Mexicali

This was the taco window on the side of restaurant El Cachanilla. Tacos Mexicali referred to the region where the owner was from. Anyways, this place is now CLOSED.
This window service was the predecessor of places like Little Skillet, Kitchenette, American Box, and Nopalito para Llevar.

One day. Four taco trucks/​stands. I don’t know why. Maybe this fantastic city/​neighborhood provide the opportunity to go to four different taco trucks/​stands within a few blocks. Or maybe because I wanted an adventure. Wouldn’t be the first time.
The plan:
Chicken taco at each location. See what customizing can be done. Sample a bit of each. Rank ‘em. Save the rest and mix everything together for a massive burrito for dinner. Give away some as a replate. Post same Unilocal for all four to give context.
The verdict:
1. Tonayense. Average cost at $ 1.75. Way above average flavor. Black beans were a huge bonus, loved the mild green sauce and oil was minimal. This was easily my favorite.
2. Mexicali. Second cheapest at $ 1.50. Tasty. Bonus points for having a bell you ring to get their attention, as well as giving me the opportunity to use a little spanish from 8^th grade/​Taco Bell to ask for lechuga (lettuce). The friendly lady obliged. More good stuff with the guy who wanted to pay with an ATM card. Didn’t work. The lady working and me chipped in to cover his taco. I hope that karma pays off.
3. Gallo Giro. Incredibly cheap at $ 1.25. Bit on the spicy side. Oil content seemed standard.
4. Cachanilla. Most expensive at $ 2.00. Tasty. Made in the same building but different prep area than Mexicali. I give them credit for being up front saying if I order at the window (Mexicali) it’s $ 1.50, and inside it’s $ 2.00. I paid an extra $ 0.50 just for the experience.

I am guessing this place is autentico, because they have organ meats (which sorry, I don’t eat) but it is very cheap and pretty good. However, I fell victim to an important cultural difference: to dominican people, chicharrones are deep fried, always. Here, they were stewed and chewy. Not cool, people.
Tacos are cheap & good & 1.50 as they should be. Will help to speak some espanol. Don’t be a tool about the language barrier, please — anyone working in a taqueria has it way harder than you, so be nice.

I thought this place was El Cachanilla, but the taco window is actually called Tacos Mexicali – it is operated by the same people. Came here per recommendation of a friend from college… she told me to look for the «eye tacos» in the Mission.
eye taco – no hard eye ball texture… just fatty, flavorful meat.
fish taco – a bit dry and tough.
al pastor taco – love the flavor. not as tart so better than El Castillito’s
tripas taco – have actual tubes of guts. slight crisp outside and chewy insides. really good flavor.
chicharron – not crunchy, but really juicy and flavorful. my 2^nd favorite of the 5 that I ordered.
was able to try the lengua meat from el g’s taco. it didn’t even «feel» like tongue, and looked more like pulled beef meat. it was also good.
all at $ 1.50 each.
you can put your own fixings: chopped onions, chopped cilantro, limes, 3 different salsas.
i kept it simple with just the cebollas, cilantro, y limon.
you order from the window.
the meats were already stewing in their respective heating vessels, and all the taco lady does is chop it up and put it on warmed corn tortillas (very similar to how they do it in tacos el gordo)
they accept cash or plastic for payment, which makes it convenient for people like me who initially wanted to pay with a $ 10 roll of quarters.
will come back here again to try the barbacoa, chicken, and carnitas.
(|)

I am actually from Mexicali, so i was instantly drawn. Cheap, very tasty and authentic. Salsas are amazing and their guacamole is yay! This is what the mission is all about not all the dressed up taquerias making steroid looking tacos and super burritos for white people who want everything super sized. If you want great tacos and no fuss come here.

I’ve been sampling the wares here for several years, the food is consistent and authentic. Maybe a little *too* authentic for some; The Boyfriend was a little put off by the primitive «more than a truck but less than a restaurant» feel of this place, which is OK because then I ate the rest of his tacos, too.