Here’s what I expect from a food truck: good food, packed with flavor, served up fast. It’s usually a short menu, so it’s got to be done right.
So I was ready to find out what to expect from The Skinny Taco.
The bright green and orange food truck has become a staple at local events and food truck festivals, serving up its signature Southwest Blaxican cusine, featuring tacos, bowls and nachos, topped either with turkey or chicken—or you can order a veggie option with black beans and avocado. You can also customize your meal with additional toppings, or order a fresh pineapple and ginger juice, if it’s available.
MORE: New squatter law now in effect in Georgia
I’d been sampling food all afternoon at a local event before I happened on The Skinny Taco. The owner—with a grin—was pointing to the sauces on the high-top table next to the truck—“That’s my grandfather’s sauce,” he said proudly. I was in.
My husband and I ordered the nachos and the bowl, each with seasoned turkey, to share. It took a few minutes, but it wasn’t terribly long before we were taking our orders to a shady spot to dive in.
They were similar, both featuring the seasoned turkey, black beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese and queso shot (I’d asked to add avocado to my bowl). The bowl serves the food truck’s signature homemade, flaky chips on the side, while the toppings are piled on the chips for the nachos. We also got a cup or two of the famous sauce.
I loved how the meals were presented, with plenty of greens as a garnish. The bowl was very much like a bowl of chili, with the seasoned meat, black beans, plenty of creamy cheese and the sweetness and freshness of the tomato, greens and avocado. It was fun scooping up bites with crisp chips. (Our only observation with the nachos is that the toppings soak the chips, so if you like crisp chips, the bowl is definitely the way to go!)
The grandfather’s sauce added a warm heat that was about a 4 to my taste—zingy and sharp at first, with a gentle heat that lingers on the tongue. The entire meal was rich and creamy and filling—but for all that, it also tasted so fresh and light. Even though the turkey had a beefiness to it thanks to the seasonings, it was definitely lighter fare, and there were plenty of veggies to balance out the cheese.
Afterwards, I confided to my husband, “That was one of the best food truck meals I’ve ever had.” And I didn’t say it lightly. By their nature, food trucks have to be a little more nimble than their rooted restaurant counterparts, with fresh inventive flavors to keep folks flocking to their new locations. For me, The Skinny Taco checks all those boxes.
Make Your Reservation
The Skinny Taco food truck
Various locations around Augusta
www.facebook.com/theskinnytacos
Entrée cost: $13 to $18
