Top 5 Series: KCK Taco Trail
In case you haven’t heard - Kansas City, Kansas launched their Taco Trail last month. Featuring 50+ Taquerias in KCK, the trail allows you to check in and earn prizes as you check each place off your list. I put together a list of my top 5 favorite tacos at 5 spots on the list - for directions on how to sign up for the trail, click here. Let me know if I missed any of your faves on the list below!
-El Menudazo - Birria Tacos. These tacos are the reason they call the owner of El Menudazo the hangover doctor and they have a cult like following in KC. A line starts to form every Sunday morning at 7am full of people desperate for a cure to being overserved the night before. And for good reason! The meat for Birria tacos (beef or lamb) is cooked for hours to tenderize the meat and produce a rich juice from the marinade/seasonings. The tacos are pretty simple - slow roasted beef or lamb and the creamiest cheese you've ever had, all wrapped up and fried in a homemade tortilla. They are good plain, but the real pros dress theirs in cilantro and onion and dip it in the juice from the cooking process. Instant hangover cure!
-El Camino Real - Poblano Tacos. As a regular meat eater, I was skeptical about these meatless tacos. But I couldn't have been more wrong! These tacos are filled with sautéed poblanos, onions and covered in cilantro. The spices used in the cooking process make the peppers and onions so rich and flavorful that you don't find yourself missing the meat at all. All tacos at El Camino Real are great, but I am constantly adding at least one poblano taco to my order because the flavor is so distinct - you can't get these anywhere else!
-Bonito Michoacán - Tacos Al Pastor. The phrase "Al Pastor" references the style of cooking and the tacos are cooked as a tribute to how they cooked pork on the farmland in Mexico. Seasoned pork is slowly spit roasted - often with a pineapple on top to flavor the meat with a sweetness as it's cooked. Topped with cilantro, onion and a squeeze of lime, these are truly as authentic as it gets.
-Slap's BBQ - Burnt End Street Tacos. This concoction is what happens with a BBQ big shot shares a neighborhood with some of the best street tacos in the city. Served only on Tuesday, these tacos are filled with deep fried burnt ends, sautéed peppers and onions, and topped with cilantro, onion, and Slap's taco sauce. These are a must try for all KC BBQ fanatics.
-El Torito - Asada Tacos. Part supermarket, part restaurant, El Torito feels like a quick trip to Mexico for the afternoon. All the food here is phenomenal, but the showstopper has to be the asada tacos. These tacos are made with marinated and grilled steak and topped with the classic cilantro and onion combo and are one of the most authentic tacos you can try this side of the border. After you fill up on tacos, be sure to check out the supermarket. The shelves are filled with Mexican treats and they always seem to have perfect avocados by the register year-round. It's a perfect way to spend the afternoon.
