Type: Classic Mexican
Price: $11.99
If you are craving a taco that emulates authentic Mexican street food, look no further than El Taco Macho.
Owner Ricardo Leon has made it his mission to bring that distinct authentic flavor to this Painesville taco spot, doing so by using recipes from taco trucks and carts that he frequents during his annual trips to Mexico. Nothing on the El Taco Macho menu accomplishes that mission quite like the poblano taco.
Preparation for these tacos begins the night before by placing thinly sliced steak in a 12-hour marinade made with guajillo chile peppers, fresh garlic, vinegar, mesquite seasoning, sour orange and salt. The steak is then grilled to order with chopped mild poblano peppers and red onion before it is topped with queso Chihuahua, a cheese that originated in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Once the cheese melts, it’s all placed on a flour tortilla and served with a mix of guacamole and salsa. You’d be hard-pressed to find another taco like this one nearby, as Leon notes he pulls his recipe directly from his friends’ taco carts.
“This restaurant is represented by street food,” says Leon. “This is something right from Mexico, from the street.” 1613 Mentor Ave., Painesville, 440-350-8226, eltacomacho.com
