There is no shortage of taco joints near downtown San Mateo, but some are definitely better than others. Tacos Al Vapor Nueva Italia is a little shop on 4th Avenue heading out towards the highway 101 onramp that is most known for their tacos, but they actually have a very extensive menu of all kinds of combination plates from enchiladas and super nachos to mole de pollo con arroz.
I decided to go with the #2 – Tacos Al Vapor – which seemed like the right thing to do given their name, and had the option of beef cheek or tongue. Of course, I went with both, and decided to also throw in an al pastor taco to round everything out.
Al pastor (above) is grilled pork, and Tacos Al Vapor Nueva Italia’s version had great flavor and just a little heat to it, which, along with the sliced jalapeños and cilantro, created a savory and refreshing experience with each bite. They had two types of unlabeled hot sauce at the table and I added some of the green one, which looked like salsa verde, and that definitely kicked things up a notch, and I’d highly recommend it when you go!
The beef cheek and tongue both had similar flavors, but different textures. The tongue was a little tougher, but that didn’t detract from the taco. The classic combination of meat, cilantro, and onions was delicious, and if you squeeze a little lime on top and a few drops of their red hot sauce, you’ll leave with a happy tummy.
They have a few tables inside, but you can also get everything to-go, and they’re pretty quick in the kitchen so you won’t be waiting long even if you walk in to order takeout. Give them a try sometime!
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