A fun, quirky concept that was voted the top food truck in Idaho will unveil its first brick-and-mortar Saturday.
And despite its name, hungry Boiseans might want to run, not walk, to the grand opening.
Walkin Takos plans to debut Saturday at 701 N. Orchard St. The 1,178-square-foot building was the longtime home of Tango’s Empanadas, which recently moved down the street.
Last year, Walkin Takos was voted the Gem State’s top food truck in the annual “Idaho’s Best” awards program.
Walking tacos are a variation of the ubiquitous, tortilla-wrapped Mexican staple that Americans scarf down daily. This version is made by ripping open a single-serving bag of chips — say, Doritos — then piling in meats, cheeses, veggies, sour cream, salsa and other ingredients. (Ever heard of Frito pie? Similar concept.) Cleanup is relatively quick. Portability is key.
The Walkin Takos food trailer has racked up an outstanding 4.9-out-of-5-star rating on both Google and Yelp. There’s no reason to think the restaurant won’t follow the same mouthwatering path.
Serving a variation on Mexican food, Walkin Takos has taken over a small building on Orchard Street. Walkin Takos
“This food truck was an amazing find!” a recent reviewer raved. “The tacos were incredibly fresh, flavorful, and unlike anything I’ve had before. … The unique combinations of flavors made each taco memorable, and everything was served fresh and delicious … and there was plenty of it.”
Instead of building your walking taco with a base layer of warm, housemade tortilla chips — or a bag of Doritos, Fritos, Flamin’ Hot Cheetohs or the like — you can choose a one-pound baked potato. Or french fries or sidewinder fries. A lettuce bowl. Or even tater tots.
“Sooooo GOOD!!!” another Google reviewer raved. “Tater tot meets taco the way you want it! Great portions for the price! Highly recommend!”
Customers choose from six proteins. (Mmm, New Mexican pork chili verde.) And they pick from a whole slew of tasty taco toppings. “And they’re all fresh,” co-owner David Eisenhauer told the Statesman earlier this year. “That’s one of the biggest comments. Fresh ingredients and huge portions.”
Walkin Takos’ will offer some new menu items, Eisenhauer said in a video posted to Facebook. The restaurant also will sell beer and wine.
Don’t be surprised if lunch business comes out of the gate relatively strong. Hours on opening day: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“Not your typical tacos!” a Google review observed. “And that’s a good thing.”
Michael Deeds
Idaho Statesman
Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane.
Dining and Cooking