Get authentic Mexican eats at Taqueria el Vaquero
Taqueria el Vaquero is part of a larger building with multiple store fronts in Provo. As seen on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
The 99 cent tacos and the $4.99 quesadilla, which can be ordered choosing from ten different meat choices, are two of the specials at Taqueria el Vaquero in Provo. As seen on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
Because this is the way my brain works, I can’t think of the name of Taqueria el Vaquero in Provo without hearing it in the voice of Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story 3” after Buzz gets switched to “Spanish mode.” When Spanish Buzz thinks that Woody might be about to steal Jesse away from him, he spitefully huffs, “El vaquero!” See what I mean? Now you’re thinking it, too.
(Besides, how awesome is Spanish Buzz? “Mi nave? Le encontrarse? Excelente!” Excelente, indeed.)
Because this is the way my mouth works, I can’t bite into a good taco without wanting another one. Before I’ve even finished the one I just bit into. (It’s crazy, right? Don’t worry, there’s no such thing as Tacoholics Anonymous.) (I mean, why would I even know about that?) So there’s always a danger in going to review a Mexican restaurant that I’ll eat myself into a taco coronary, or at least get a bad case of the taco sweats.
I survived our recent visit to Taqueria el Vaquero, but only because I handcuffed myself to the salsa bar. (No, not really.) Let’s just say that I exercised great restraint and still probably ate nearly as much as everyone else in the group (three other adults) put together.
Don’t go to Taqueria el Vaquero for the decor or ambience, unless, er, “low key” is your thing. There’s a large flatscreen TV that faces the dining area that probably cost more than all of the other furnishings combined. The TV was tuned to a soccer match when we showed up on a Saturday afternoon, though online chatter suggests that on most afternoons, it’s telenovelas.
Honestly? Look, there are tables, chairs and the aforementioned salsa bar. And that’s all anyone will notice or care about once the food shows up. Taqueria el Vaquero has the reputation of being the most authentic Mexican taco shop in Utah Valley, and while I’ve never lived in Mexico or Central America and can’t really speak to the authenticity claim, I know the tacos are seriously good and seriously affordable.
On the taco front, you can order just about every kind of cooked meat that’s ever been spooned into a warm corn tortilla. Which is how they roll at Taqueria el Vaquero, incidentally: You get two small corn tortillas per taco, along with enough meat that you can more than satisfactorily turn each 99-cent taco into two 49.5-cent tacos.
Back to the meats: We tried chorizo, carnitas, carne asada, chicken, fish and even lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head) on our tacos, and we could have added even more variety than that. All of the meats were good, though the chorizo and carnitas are especially flavorful.
The salsa bar is excellent, with wonderful mild, medium and hot sauce, and good, basic taco shop fresh fixings: mixed shredded cabbage and diced tomatoes, diced onions, radishes, cilantro and fresh limes.
The Taqueria el Vaquero menu doesn’t stop at tacos, however, and neither did we. The shredded beef torta, a sort of taco sandwich served on thick, hearty bread, was a big favorite with everyone in our group. We also enjoyed the sopes, a tostada-like flatbread dish; and plowed through a seriously large chicken quesadilla. And I polished off most of the chorizo burrito myself.
And even with all of that good eatin’, we still found room to share three large drinks, one each of jamaica, tamarindo and horchata. Because authentic Mexican tacos, as everybody knows, are best washed down with authentic Mexican beverages.
Between the super affordable prices and the excellent food, I’m sorely tempted to tell you to tear up this review and bang your head against a wall until you forget I ever wrote it. I’d much rather keep Taqueria el Vaquero to myself. Spanish Buzz would surely approve.
Taqueria el Vaquero
Where: 286 N. 100 West, Provo
Prices: $0.99 for tacos; other entrees $4.99 or $5.99
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Info: (801) 607-2149