When I first started coming down to RP, we found this little taco shop just north of the baseball stadium that makes the best al pastor I've ever had. We found the place by driving down Benito Juarez and just being mesmerized by the flames coming off the gyro-style spit they use to cook the al pastor.
For those of you unfamiliar with al pastor, its basically a pork schwarma. thin-sliced pork is marinated in red chile and pineapple juice and the slices are stacked on a vertical spit like a gyro. When you order, they crank up the gas flame, crisping up the outside as they shave it off. It's basically a spicy, sweet, bacon taco.
So when we came down last May, my number 1 priority was tacos al pastor. But as we drove into town, we saw the building had been knocked down and they were building something new. I was heart broken. I've spent the last 6 months trying every taco al pastor in Phoenix, trying to find a suitable replacement; and while I've had some damn good tacos, none of the them were the same.
So we come back down in October and I'm driving down Reelection towards Benito Juarez and what do I see? The SPIT!! Flaming up just like I remember it. Turns out they built a new place just across the street, much bigger and nicer. The old spot is now an Oxxo. I was so happy I almost cried (I know it's pathetic, but I can't help it).
We were down for three nights and I ate there three times (tacos al pastor make an excellent "dessert"). They have a deal with three tacos and a soda for 55 pesos (about $4.40). They also do carne asada and you can get the al pastor as a torta.
They're open until midnight and the place is usually packed with locals .. even late. Tacos el Pablano is reason enough to head down to PP all by itself.
For those of you unfamiliar with al pastor, its basically a pork schwarma. thin-sliced pork is marinated in red chile and pineapple juice and the slices are stacked on a vertical spit like a gyro. When you order, they crank up the gas flame, crisping up the outside as they shave it off. It's basically a spicy, sweet, bacon taco.
So when we came down last May, my number 1 priority was tacos al pastor. But as we drove into town, we saw the building had been knocked down and they were building something new. I was heart broken. I've spent the last 6 months trying every taco al pastor in Phoenix, trying to find a suitable replacement; and while I've had some damn good tacos, none of the them were the same.
So we come back down in October and I'm driving down Reelection towards Benito Juarez and what do I see? The SPIT!! Flaming up just like I remember it. Turns out they built a new place just across the street, much bigger and nicer. The old spot is now an Oxxo. I was so happy I almost cried (I know it's pathetic, but I can't help it).
We were down for three nights and I ate there three times (tacos al pastor make an excellent "dessert"). They have a deal with three tacos and a soda for 55 pesos (about $4.40). They also do carne asada and you can get the al pastor as a torta.
They're open until midnight and the place is usually packed with locals .. even late. Tacos el Pablano is reason enough to head down to PP all by itself.
