Wedged between a carwash and a window-tinting shop just east of the intersection of Grant and Country Club roads is where Mexico City Kitchen is found. It serves some of the more gourmet and unique street food I’ve had the pleasure of sampling, and the guy I talked to today says he’s just getting started.
Most of the Mexican street food you find around Tucson is Sonoran-style, says Hebert Perez, who is from Mexico City. He says he’s trying to represent his hometown flavor, while giving roadside diners as close to a gourmet experience as he can summon out of his tiny food trailer.
Here is how Perez treated me today. First he asked me if I wanted a hot dog or something more specific to Mexico City. After talking about the food for a bit, he told me to sit down and said he would be out in a moment with a fajita plate that was “not commercial, you know, authentic Mexico City food.”
He arrived a short time later with a plate of tender steak, ham, bacon, bell peppers, cheese and onions, all of which was topped with sprigs of fresh cilantro. Accompanying it was a flour tortilla and a small dish of plum-habanero salsa. He left, and came back a moment later with a tiny Serrano pepper stuffed with bacon and cheese.
“This fajita dish is called alambre, it’s very authentic Mexico City food,” explains Perez. “I try to stay close to that, but I also want to give people gourmet food, something that they can really enjoy without having to go to a restaurant, you know?”
All of the ingredients were fresh and crisp, and the flavors played a delicious game of Twister with my tongue. One wonders what Perez will be up to next. I will definitely be back to find out.
Perez also serves hot dogs, but they are topped with mango relish and poblano-garlic-cilantro aioli and served with delicious hand-cut French fries. His green-chile hamburgers served on specially made buns and accompanied by a Bordelaise dipping sauce are expected to be available next week when the full menu is finalized.
The hours are a little iffy right now, but he opens around 11 a.m. every day. You can follow the truck on Facebook over here.
This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2011.
Well Adam, thanks, I have lunch plans for tomorrow now.
Mango relish goes great with hot dogs. Call before you go to make sure they’re open.
Yum. Heading that way real soon!
Link to this page fixed — thank you!
I had lunch there today, it was delicious! Great customer service! I will definitely recommend to my friends and family! Two thumbs up!
I’m so very glad you enjoyed your lunch there. More Food Truck Diaries are on the way in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
I had the chicken tacos today. Handcut chicken breast, cooked to order with that delicious mango salsa. The little stuffed pepper was really good too. Can’t wait to try the fajitas.
I just went, man is this guy cool as hell.
I ordered the fajitas, a caramelo and a hot dog.
First he brought us papas with that wonderful aioli (for free)
Then our food came and it was excellent and he even brought us an extra caramelo (for free)
then came the poppers, with cheese, bacon, tempura flakes all tucked neatly in a firey jalapeno (for free, and my favorite)
Then to top it off he brings us a half torta to sample (for free)
The torta was good, but man was I stuffed.
Tip this guy, cause he makes a great food truck dining experience as if you were in a restaurant in the foothills