Review: Paco’s Tacos

Sometimes finding a gas station taco is pure serendipity. Today was one of those times.

We were driving around Salt Lake City finding ways to spend some time getting to know the city and decided we should really go see Salt Lake. With our navigation system loaded with the address to a state park, we went on our way. But I wasn’t paying detailed attention to the navigation turns and didn’t notice that the system wasn’t having me get on I-80, but wanted me to get on a service drive. So, I missed the service drive and headed six miles out of our way. Without the slight miss, I would have never discovered a pretty decent gas station taco place at a Chevron in Toole, Utah.

I wasn’t too hungry after having an amazing biscuit breakfast at Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade in Salt Lake City earlier that day. There was an extensive menu at Paco’s. After Googling the name of the taqueria, I discovered Paco’s Tacos has a few locations around Salt Lake City which is likely why the menu is so extensive. It’s likely just a lift from their other locations.

I ordered a carnitas and an adobada taco. The tacos said on the menu they come with guacamole and pico which I usually avoid, but I like to try tacos the way the place prefers to make them, so I went with the tacos as-is.

Adobada is something I don’t see often. It’s pork marinated in a red chili sauce with vinegar and oregano. The meat had a nice charcoaled look to them and was perfectly cooked. The deep red color was beautiful and tasted as good as it looked. I didn’t even mind the guac and pico that came with it, though it was a lot of filling. Meaning it was quite messy if you were to get a couple tacos and then hit the road while eating – something I wouldn’t recommend.

The carnitas was nicely flavored too with some crunchy bits mixed in. The tacos came with a red picante salsa and a green avocado based salsa, both were good though I preferred the red salsa. It had a nice kick, but not too spicy.

The tortillas were doubled for each taco which was very necessary with so much in each one. Unfortunately, the tortillas were not homemade though they were decent packaged tortillas and I did spend a moment on the griddle.

Overall, it was a welcome serendipitous moment. If you are ever near the Great Salt Lake National Park off I-80 freeway in Utah, don’t miss out on some great tacos or try out one of the other thirty items on the menu.

Gas Station: Chevron

Address: 8793 N Hwy, 8793 UT-36, Tooele, UT 84074

Rating (4 out of 5):