Wade on Birmingham

Birmingham’s Best Eats: Taqueria Pineda and Taqueria Guzman, taco trucks on the town

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Taqueria Guzman

Taqueria Guzman serves corn tortilla tacos in the
Texaco parking lot on West Valley Avenue. Photos by Brad Daly.

By Glenny Brock and Brad Daly

There are tacos, and then there are tacos.

Birmingham's Best EatsFor instance, along Alabama 79 in Tarrant stands a chain restaurant serving the same combination of greasy ground beef, shredded iceberg lettuce and processed orange cheese in crunchy corn shells found in thousands of locations across the nation.

But across the street, Taqueria Pineda, a taqueria on wheels, serves the real deal: asada (beef), carnitas (pork), chorizo (sausage) or pollo (chicken), plus diced onions, fresh cilantro and hot sauce, all piled on to two warm corn tortillas. And those are just the standard offerings: Adventurous eaters can select cabeza (head), sesos (brains) or lengua (tongue) for their tacos.

Taqueria Pineda

The menu at Taqueria Pineda in Tarrant.

It’s one of two taco trucks in the Birmingham area. Like Taqueria Guzman on West Valley Avenue in Homewood, it’s still a best-kept secret, even after 2 years in business.

In addition to tacos, both places serve burritos, ceviche and tortas, the massive Mexican sandwiches with meat, cheese and peppers.

Neither has much in the way of seating, so eating on your feet is just part of the off-the-chain experience.

Taqueria Guzman

Tacos at Taqueria Guzman include
shredded pork, left, beef and chicken.

Taqueria Guzman

The ice-cold drinks at Taqueria Guzman.

Taqueria Guzman

Mural on the side of Taqueria Guzman’s truck.

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Taqueria Pineda

  • In the Marathon station parking lot, 1818 Pinson Valley Pkwy., Tarrant [map]
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Taqueria Guzman

  • In the Texaco station parking lot, 215 West Valley Ave., Homewood [map]
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

• • •

Also:

• • •

Glenny Brock

Brad DalyWriter Glenny Brock (@glennybrock) and photographer Brad Daly (@bwdaly) launched the Birmingham food blog Stay Hungry (@stayhungrybham) in June. He cooks, she writes, and they both eat, thoughtfully.

• • •

Hungry for more? Check out the menu of Birmingham’s Best Eats!

1 Yip for “Birmingham’s Best Eats: Taqueria Pineda and Taqueria Guzman, taco trucks on the town”

  1. Tweets that mention Wade on Birmingham » Birmingham’s Best Eats: Taqueria Pineda and Taqueria Guzman, taco trucks on the town -- Topsy.com
    Thursday, August 12, 2010, 9:53 am
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    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wade Kwon, Dogingham . Dogingham said: RT @WadeOnTweets A tale of 2 taco trucks, by @stayhungrybham. http://itswa.de/bbe-taco-trucks #bhameats <<<<Judy LOVES tacos btw>>>> […]

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