Tacos Oscar ★ 4.4
Tacos Oscar in Oakland's Temescal serves Bib Gourmand tacos from a shipping-container courtyard. Chalkboard menu changes often; vegan and pork plates.
Try: Braised pork shoulder taco
History
Mexican Americans migrated to Oakland from New Mexico, Texas and Colorado for World War II shipyard and railroad work. By the 1960s Fruitvale was a center of the Chicano Movement. Today International Boulevard runs taquerias, pupuserias and tortillerias for thirty blocks, with later waves from Oaxaca and Guerrero deepening the regional range.
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 500g pork shoulder, cubed
- Fresh corn tortillas (24)
- 1 white onion, finely diced
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 2 limes, cut into wedges
- Salsa verde and salsa roja
- Salt, black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Method
- Season pork shoulder with salt, pepper and oregano. Sear in a hot pan until well browned on all sides.
- Reduce heat and cook until tender, about 30 to 40 minutes, turning occasionally.
- Warm corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry pan until pliable and lightly charred.
- Chop the cooked pork. Build each taco with two tortillas, pork, onion, cilantro, salsa and a squeeze of lime.
Tip from the editors. Use fresh masa tortillas from a tortilleria, not a bag of dry corn flour. The difference is everything.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
Where to eat fruitvale taqueria tacos
Fruitvale taqueria tacos in Oakland
Tacos Sinaloa ★ 4.5
Tacos Sinaloa on International Boulevard runs the East Bay's most-loved late-night taco truck. Every night until 1 a.m. Family-run since 1999.
Order: Suadero or adobada tacos at midnight.
Tip: The truck cooks past midnight every night; cash only at the window.
Tacos El Ultimo Baile ★ 4.5
Tacos El Ultimo Baile in Fruitvale Public Market took its taco-truck queues into a brick-and-mortar. Tacos al carbon for ten dollars on flour tortillas.
Order: Tacos al carbon with hand-pressed flour tortillas.
Tip: Sub the corn tortillas; the flour version is what made the truck famous.
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