The bright red/orange caught the corner of my eye while driving down San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville. As I walked up, I realized that the name and the truck looked super familiar. It took a moment and I realized that it used to be stationed at a gas station on San Pablo Avenue in North Oakland. The Burrito Truck had been recommended to me, but like food trucks do sometimes, it had mysteriously disappeared from its previous location.
The Burito Truck – EmeryvilleThe Burrito Truck Emeryville Menu
Although the name is The Burrito Truck, as you could guess, I was there for the tacos. On this trip, I got 5 tacos in total: one asada, one chorizo, one chicken, one suadero, and one carnitas. Of the 5, I felt that the chicken and suadero were the best. The chicken was nice and juicy with a subtle sear, while the suadero was super tender and flavorful. I was not as impressed with the chorizo taco. I was expecting a little more heat. With that said, all of the tacos were well prepared and fresh off the griddle. They come served with jalapenos, radish, pickled carrots, and a lime wedge. The food did seem to come out at a pretty smooth pace.
I arrived there just before the lunch rush. There are several warehouses and office buildings within walking distance, so by the time I left there was a steady stream of customers. There are a few small colorful stools near the truck for people to sit outside and enjoy their food. Otherwise, there is no seating.
The Burrito Truck Emeryville
Overall this is a really solid truck. The fillings were super flavorful. The truck is parked right along the Emeryville greenway so you could ride your bike over if you’re in the neighborhood. The truck also accepts debit/credit, which is nice. This seems like a great spot to get your taco (or burrito) fix if you work in the area.
It looks like The Burrito Truck is primarily a Monday – Friday taco spot. They are parked across from 1255 67th Ave from 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday.
The space inside Corners Café is bright and welcoming. Walking in, you definitely get the vibe that this is a community café. Employees from Youth Uprising next door, as well students were there enjoying the atmosphere. Out the windows you could see kids working on their tricks at the skate park and kids playing tag in the grass in front of the building.
Corners Café shares a building with Youth Uprising
There are a lot of things to like about Corners Café. They source local and sustainable ingredients. Aside from tacos, the menu includes breakfast and lunch options such as burgers, salads, etc. Nestled in the corner are nice couches where customers can sit and relax. There are a few tables for seating that would be awesome to order a coffee and relax with a book.
But, let’s make no mistake; I was there for there for the Tacos. ((((HEAD’S UP at the time of this writing, tacos are only available as a special on Tuesdays.)))) As a part of their Taco Tuesdays, there are 4 options: Steak, Chicken, Veggie, and Shrimp. On this visit, I went with 2 steak and 2 chicken. Both the chicken and the steak are served on warmed – almost crispy – white corn tortillas that have melted cheese. They are then topped with a mild red salsa, red onion, and cilantro.
The tacos lean more to the milder side when it comes to heat. The steak is well cooked with a real melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The chicken was moist with some deep, rich flavors that are highlighted by the mix of cilantro, onion, and salsa. Overall, the tacos were great. They are a great value for $1.25 each.
2 Steak, 2 Chicken Tacos
Corners Café is a branch of Youth Uprising’s social enterprises. Youth Uprising is an NGO whose mission is “to transform East Oakland into a healthy and economically robust community by developing the leadership of youth and young adults and improving the systems that impact them.”
