Hidalgos Tacos Merced
Hidalgos Tacos
Truck Info:
In the parking lot of Merced Liquor near the Yosemite Parkway 99 Onramp
209-756-6607
Operating Hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30am-9:00pm, Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm
Instagram: @hidalgostacos209
Metrics:
Tortilla Type: Corn, fried off rather crispy
Garnishes: Very caramelized onions, lemon wedges, pickled jalapeño, onion and cilantro
Salsa: Green, very bright and acidic
Meats: Asada, Pastor, Buche, Carnitas, Tripas, Cabeza, Lengua, Birria
Spice Level: 2/5, not too spicy
Payment types: Cash, Card, Apple pay
Hidalgos Tacos are a main stay in Merced. Due to this fascination of taco trucks I have, I’ve asked many, many people in this area their favorite truck, and Hidalgos is a name that comes up each time, accompanied by a hearty recommendation that “you have to try it”. And to be honest, I can understand their enthusiasm.
These tacos are above all else, very bright and fresh. Their biggest flavor profile is that of fresh citrus, and it tastes like it runs through the marinade of the asada itself, the vibrant salsa verde, and of course that last splash of lemon you add before eating. The asada is browned off intensely concentrating all of its flavor, yet it is far from overly crispy. The meat stays incredibly tender to the point you could crush it between your fingers with little pressure. I would like to know how they get the best of both worlds, as many trucks often end up going overly crispy for this level of browning, but no such mistake is made here.
In case you’re worried this sounds like a bit too much citrus and acidity, these tacos come with a very generous helping of very caramelized onions. The sweetness rounds out the meal wonderfully and balances all the flavors very well.
The tortillas wrap up the entire show. They are fried off very crisp, leaving a very satisfying crunch with each bite, and holding up under the plentiful amounts of salsa dolloped onto each taco. Each taco is a little smaller than you might find at other trucks, but they are packed full of meat and are portioned optimally to make each bite consistently delicious.
If it hasn’t been recommended enough already, I will add my recommendation to try this truck. It is a Merced mainstay for a reason.
Date visited: 9/20/22
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