Pacific Ave Taco Truck Food Court: Yuma

Recently, readers of mmm-yoso have been in Japan with Kirk and in Pasadena with Cathy, but today you get to come over to Yuma with Ed for tacos and more.

It is the fall, the time trees turn color and lose leaves, birds (including snowbirds) head for warmer climes, traffic thickens in town, and Yuma's taco trucks flourish.

Way back around November 2005, Kirk came to Yuma and sampled our taco truck cuisine and dubbed a cluster of trucks in an empty lot "a food court." In the fall of 2013, the newest taco court opened on a large concrete pad in a previously empty lot on the west side of Pacific Avenue just about a block south of 16th St. – not really very far from Yuma Palms shopping center:

There are a lot of parking places and tables and chairs:

And currently at least four different taco purveyors:

Let me apologize here for the limitations of this post.  Some of the photos are lousy, and they are the best I had because of bad lighting and unskilled photographer. On top ot that, Tina and I have visited these trucks several times when I had no camera with me. So this post is more of a shout out than a report.

On our most recent visit, we tried Blancurri’s, one of the smaller vendors:

The special that evening was $1 pollo asado tacos:

Pretty good, but a little dry. Our favorite taco that night was what's called the mix chilada taco, a flavorful and spicy combination of carne asada and red chile chicharrones (sorry for the lousy picture):

The adobada torta was good as well, the tender pork chunks slightly spicy and the bolillo roll nicely grilled.

Arianna’s, which has been here since the marketplace area first opened, anchors the north side of the lot:

Tina and I have enjoyed the wide range of tacos here – including pastor and chicharones:

Or tripas and asada:

Tina especially enjoyed the nutty earthy flavor of the tripas and we both liked the chicharrones with red chile.

The hot dogs are another specialty, bacon wrapped, nicely grilled, and served in a hot bun with the full range of condiments:

The Monster truck is located at the other end of the food court:

It features a somewhat different menu including some unusual choices:

For most of Monster's dishes, you get to choose between asada, pollo, or pastor, but the pellizcadas includes all three meats, whole beans, cabbage, and onion on a large soft thick corn tortilla:

Tina and I both enjoy the vampires here, the toasted corn tortillas adding crunch to the meats and condiments. Here is one with asada:

The pastor is also excellent:

The monster taco has a soft tortilla, abundant roasted green chili, and your choice of protein and condiments:

The tortas (in this case with chicken) are extra-large here:

But the true monster on the menu is the hotdog:

The extra-large bacon wrapped wiener is slathered with condiments and coupled with a grilled guero pepper and abundant grilled onions. Truly outstanding dog.

In any case, this is a convenient cluster of interesting mobile eateries, which allows folks to wander around and try different dishes. They all have excellent aguasfrescas. Most of the trucks seem open every evening (if not sooner), and we've enjoyed every visit. Take advantage of our nice weather, try some things here, and let us know what you liked.

Guzmán Marketplace (this seems to be the official name of the foodcourt), 1628 S. Pacific Ave., Yuma, Arizona.

Comments

[Kirk]

Man has it been 9 years already Ed? Geez, I need to get back to Yuma one of these days.

[Nhbilly]

Taco porn! Happy Holidays.

[Ed (from Yuma)]

Yeh, 9 years Kirk. Thanks billy, but porn is usually better photographed.

[Nhbilly]

Lol

[caninecologne]

I didn't realize how "close" Yuma is to San Diego. Your posts are definitely a great reason to visit Ed.

[Ed (from Yuma)]

Depending on Border Patrol checkpoints, cc, a fast driver can make the trip in less than 2 1/2 hours. But San Diego has some pretty great Mexican food. However, the Somerton Tamale Festival is happening this year in downtown Somerton on December 20. If you love tamales and don't mind crowds, that would be worth a 3 hr drive:
http://www.somertontamalefestival.com/

[Cathy]

At first, I couldn't understand how I missed this post, then saw the date...What a great place! Your photos aren't bad...especially after reading the menu and descriptions.