Tacos El Hidalguense #24

Truck Info:

Tacos El Hidalguense #24

4425 Main St, Denair CA 95316

(209) 668-9427

Metrics:

Tortilla Type: Corn

Garnishes: Very caramelized onions, pickled jalapeño, sliced radishes, sliced limes, diced onions and cilantro

Meats: Asada, Pastor, Cabeza, Lengua, Pollo

Spice: Packs some heat, but far from unbearable if you like spicy foods

More Info:

At this point I have been to hundreds of taco trucks in the Central Valley, and the hardest part of this project was figuring out where to start. I decided it had to be the single truck I have probably gone out of my way for the most.

Tacos El Hidalguense has multiple locations, but today I will be talking about the Denair location. Right on the corner of Main Street and Santa Fe in Denair, just a bit up the road from the Amtrak station, you will find a large canopy, some chairs and tables, and two taco trucks right next to each other. Both of these trucks are associated, and both are emblazoned with the lettering “Tacos El Hidalguense”.

In my experience, the carne asada is their stand out meat, and is prepared in a slightly different fashion to many other trucks I’ve been to. Instead of more angular and crispy chunks of meat, this asada is well seasoned and almost has a ground beef texture. This texture works very well to disperse the punchy, fiery salsa they use. The salsa has a great heat level, but may be a bit much for people with sensitive palates. However it is not the type of heat to hit you up front, it instead grows over time, making each bite more and more addicting as the heat builds. Due to the juicy, ground texture of the meat, each bite feels very uniform, meaning each bite can be a perfect bite. The tortillas have a strong corn flavor and are crisped up on the plancha before serving. 

These tacos are adorned with a good helping of diced white onions and cilantro, and served with quartered limes, pickled jalapeño, discs of sliced radish, and most importantly very well caramelized onions. These sugary, jammy onions provide a great complement to the rest of the spice and acidity in the taco, and are an integral part of each “perfect” bite. 

Denair may be a bit out of the way for many of us, but the next time you are near Turlock, or driving up Santa Fe, take a few extra minutes to make the detour. It's worth it.

Date of visit: 8/12/22