Chito’s Tacos, Merced

Chito’s Tacos

Truck Info:

1220 W 9th St, Merced, CA 95340

209-489-6297

Insta: @chitos.tacos

Metrics:

Tortilla Type: Handmade flour tortillas, thick and pillowy

Garnishes: Lemon, onion, cilantro, sliced radishes, very caramelized onions, roasted serrano

Salsa: Green: very floral, fresh and fruity, very tomatillo forward

Meats: Asada, Pastor, Pollo, Carnitas, Cabeza, Chorizo

Spice Level: 2/5, not too much spice

Payment types: Cash

Chito's Tacos This truck is located on 9th and S st in Merced California, and is a definite hidden gem. I've recommended it to so many people who had never even heard of it, and for each of them I had to suggest the same starting item: their carnitas tacos.

The carnitas taco at Chito's is a really good case study in how many little decisions go into designing an optimal bite. I've definitely spoken about this multiple times before, but it would be a disservice not to properly analyze this taco.

The carnitas is pull apart tender, crisped up very lightly to give a bit if nice browned flavor on the ends of the meat without drying it out at all. Its topped with a very fresh and acidic tomatillo sauce that is really necessary to cut through the rich fatty meat.

Now with both the healthy serving of salsa, and the residual fat from the meat, most thinner flour tortillas would get soggy and fall apart. But the tortillas at Chito's are made by hand, and the extra pillowy thickness soaks up those flavorful juices while maintaining structural integrity on the bottom. This taco would not work if one of these 3 major aspects was changed, but with all 3 as they are designed, it all comes together in beautiful harmony.

The only thing better than the carnitas taco? Their carnitas quesdillas hechos a mano. But that’s a whole different discussion.

Please go try them if you haven't yet, you are missing out otherwise.

Date Visited: A lot

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