When I was 15 and we moved to Washington, I fully expected for the entire state to be covered in flannel with blue hair singing along to Kurt Cobain. Instead we moved to Tonasket, which was covered in Wranglers with poofy-hair-sprayed perms singing along to Chattahoochee. However, weekend six hour trips to Seattle fed my grunge expectations. Especially when we ate at Taco Del Mar.
Taco del Mar was founded in Seattle and beyond the fantastic food they served, the employees were peirced in places I had never seen pierced before and the shaved headed young ladies and superbly green hair colored boys were indeed covered in tattoos and plaid flannel.
Fifteen years later and I am taking a drive to the old coffee shop in St. Francis here in Minnesota and I see the home of fish tacos in a strip mall in front of a strip mall next to a Wal Mart. It doesn’t seem right. Could this be the same company that I fell in love with in my youth? The same business that I took a clear blue easy test in to find out that The Max was on the way? The same place my immediate and extended family would gather after church at on Sundays?
It was. I happened to visit the same day the owner of the franchise was working the counter and she explained to me how they found out about the business, when they opened etc.
I bought two soft shelled chicken tacos with sour cream and guac and tomato salsa. I waited to try them until I was inside of my car so that I did not find out that the taste was changed and horrible and so that she did not see my disappointed face after biting into the overflowing shell.
It was terrific. I should have sat there at the counter and let the woman watch my eyes open widely when I embraced the beauty that soon began to spill onto my clean jeans. Tacos always do that, especially the good tasting ones.
So, if you are ever in Coon Rapids (Minneapolis’ equivalent of New Jersey) go to Taco Del Mar. You will be greeted with surf boards on the wall and patio umbrellas trimmed in grass skits. And be brave and try the fish tacos. Enjoy!
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I love fish tacos. The last time I had one was at Rubio’s in San Diego, home of the fish taco. If you are there you have to stop at Rubio’s. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
I think I’ll get a fish taco today.
TACO DEL MAR!!! I looooooooooove Taco Del Mar! I could get anything on their menu and be satisfied all day, although I usually stick w/ my fave: Almost Super Burrito w/ guac & sour cream. *sigh* If I ever move away from Seattle, that is one place I will definitely miss.
Right by my mom’s and I have never eaten there! That will be our next restaurant to try!
ohh man. every time I hear the phrase “fish taco” I can’t gelp but giggle. It’s so bad and juvenile of me, but was (and still is) used in my circle of friends- so hearing it just makes me burst out in giggles.
I hope I don’t have to explain it to you- I had to explain it to my mum once and hope to never explain it again…
*giggles*
no kitty, I get it:)
Ha ha! At least you weren’t saying “Order the Pink Tacos! Those are my fave!” cause then I would be all….”Um, I prefer hot dogs. But that’s just me.”
I work near this Coon Rapids location and now it’s 8:48 a.m. and I want a taco!
dailytri- do it.
Google Alerts tells me when “Tonasket” appears in news or blogs, so I was directed here this morning. There’s a Taco Del Mar in Wenatchee now, and since I get their often, I get my fix regularly. Although the tongue tacos at our local taco wagon in Tonasket are pretty good too, if you like that sort of thing. I wonder if the tacos in Minnesota are crafted to appeal to local taste buds. I’ll never eat Mexican food in New York, for example. It tastes all wrong.
loomis boy. do i know you? also. the Tonsktet taco truck is the greatest fod of all time. no lie.
Oo… I love TONGUE.
I mean.
In food.
Er….
Lengua.
yah.