So there I was running low on petrol in City Heights. I decided to stop and fill up at the station on the corner of ECB and Fairmount and what do I see but a mariscos truck! I've passed this corner dozens, maybe hundreds of times and had never seen this truck before.
Since it was almost lunchtime and I was famished, this seemed like the perfect stop.....all the stars were aligned it seemed.
All the standard mariscos offerings were present on the menu posted at the rear of the vehicle. I did find it kind of strange that there were no prices posted, except for fish tacos which were a $1.25.
The woman manning the window looked familiar.....was this truck once one of the Mariscos German fleet? She always seemed a bit gruff before and this time was no different.
The consomme was decent, way too much celery for my liking, but not bad.
I ordered a fish taco and a gobernador, which came out to $6.25.
As fish tacos go, this was ok. All the usual suspects. The crema was mild and the tortilla routine. There was too much batter on the fish, which was on he gummy side. The fish tasted a bit off as well.
I hoped my Gobernador would be an improvement and while not as good as, say the original Mariscos German(no tomatoes), Beyer, or El Pescador, it was not bad.
The shrimp were plump and juicy, though the vegetables were undercooked for my taste. The cheese was perfectly melted and this was super hot, though it could have used more seasoning...oregano, salt, pepper. Still it wasn't too bad.
So I returned the following weekend for another try. Same gruff woman, though she must have a heart of gold as she gave the homeless guy a fish taco......me on the other hand, I just a "yes" as she looked down at me. This time I ordered the tacos de camarones and a taco de marlyn, which cost $7.50 total.
Quite a bit of shrimp in my taco, though this confirmed that I'm not a big fan of the gummy and not especially crisp batter. The tomtoes were green and not very good. The rest was decent.
The taco de marlyn....smoked fish taco was the best item I've had here.
The fish had a nice smokiness to it and while the versions at many places teeters on salty, this one isn't.
Again the peppers, celery, and onions weren't stir-fried long enough, making it them and raw tasting.
It was also a decent sized portion though another customer ordered the same thing while I was leaving and was only charged $6.50. Shades of Vietnam!!!
I'm hoping the pricing was a mistake. I wouldn't want to think the place does random pricing based on customers.
Overall, just ok, not quite in the same league as other trucks I've been too.
Mariscos Alex
In the parking lot of Qwik Corner Service Station
4357 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92105
Nice find Kirk. My friend keeps telling me about one often parked by the skate park at the end of Washington (under the i5 freeway) but I can never seem to catch them.
Posted by: Dennis | Monday, 29 April 2013 at 10:09 PM
This is my local truck and you pretty much hit it right on the head. I'd say 4/5 times I've had the fish tacos they were as you described but then I've had a nicely crisp taco also. I usually stick with the marlyn, picking out most of the celery.
Posted by: Jack | Monday, 29 April 2013 at 10:29 PM
looks like a nice find.
Posted by: kat | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 05:42 AM
Can't stand heavy duty batter myself I end up peeling it off. Should be lite and fluffy crisp.
Posted by: nhbilly | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 06:03 AM
Hi Dennis - I've been told of them as well, but they never seem to be there. Then there's Kiko's truck on Texas street that I always pass.
LOL Jack - I thoguht about picking out the undercooked vegetables too....but that would have been a waste.
Hi Kat - It was kind of a surprise for me since I pass there all the time but had never seen it.
I agree Billy!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 06:26 AM
Man, I HATE green tomato syndrome. It's such an obvious food "ick", and yet they pass it off anyway.
She probably remembered you as one of those blogger wierdos who takes pictures of tacos and used you to subsidize her charity. ;)
Posted by: Janfrederick | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 07:53 AM
I tried that Kiko's truck on Texas a while back. It's just passable and not that great. I found most Kiko's are.
Posted by: Dennis | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 05:51 PM
LOL Jan.......I hope not.
I still need to check them out Dennis. I'm not very hopeful now though.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 30 April 2013 at 06:12 PM
Just down the street from where I work. I'm too afraid to eat there fearing I might see "people I know." Kind of expensive for tacos in ECB.
Posted by: Food detective | Wednesday, 01 May 2013 at 02:23 PM
Not that much more expensive for mariscos TFD....this ain't carne asada street tacos.
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 01 May 2013 at 06:27 PM
There's a Marisco's German truck at the AmVet's near the skate park and it's there everyday! I've never seen one at the skate park itself.
Posted by: Hulacook | Thursday, 02 May 2013 at 08:55 AM
This is the same Mariscos German truck that was originally located on University and 35th. When Mariscos German sold the truck, the new owners renamed it. The prices have were not listed on the truck when it was owned by Mariscos German either.
Posted by: julia | Thursday, 02 May 2013 at 11:54 AM
Hi Hulacook - Thanks for the info.
Hi Julia - The main reason I mentioned the price not being listed was because of the weird situation on my second visit.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 02 May 2013 at 02:24 PM