Food Review! El Camioncito del Sabor
Simply the best
By Carlos Aranibar

El Camioncito del Sabor serving fresh burritos, tacos, tortas and gorditas.

This may be the easiest food review I’ve written to date. El Camioncito del Sabor on Columbus’ west side simply has the best and most authentic Mexican food in town. It’s not fancy, it’s not expensive, but it’s extremely good. The simplicity of this entrepreneurial venture by Demetrio Hernández to buy a motor home modified into a kitchen on wheels has created one of the busiest and most popular parking lots in the area. If that sounds strange to you, let me explain. After migrating from Mexico to Chicago, Hernández worked in various restaurants in the Windy City, as many migrants have in the past and will continue to do. He learned the ropes, and soon decided to own his piece of the Latin American Dream. His dream came true in the form of his “little truck of flavor,” the English translation of the restaurant-on-wheels’ name. El Camioncito is parked in the parking spaces Hernandez rents from a local business owner in a strip mall. The menu is short, the prices are unbelievably cheap, the open-air dining is ideal for the warm weather, and the food just can’t be beaten.

As I mentioned, the menu has all the essential a-la-carte items. Burritos ($3), tacos ($1.25), tortas ($5.00), and gorditas ($2). That’s it. No fancy chicken with mole sauce or camarones a la tampiqueña, just the bare necessities at the right price. I had the torta, one of my all-time favorite dishes from home. I couldn’t believe how big it was. Half of this Mexican-style sandwich is enough to satisfy just about anyone. The contents include your choice of meat (I recommend al pastor), lettuce, slices of tomato and avocado, mayonnaise, all between a soft roll of telera bread. Because the size may be too much for one person with a normal appetite, sharing this with a friend, along with a taco for each person, is a great meal. The gorditas, or “chubbies,” are a small, thick tortilla that is sliced open and stuffed with your choice of beans and cheese, or meat, beans, and cheese. The tacos are exactly what they should be: two small, round tortillas wrapped around flavorful meat, onions, cilantro, and topped with salsa. The burritos are your basic large flour tortilla filled with your choice of meat, lettuce, tomato, and salsa. Again, everything on the menu is top notch. Make sure to try the natural juice drinks they have to offer. The list includes pineapple juice and horchata. They also have an assortment of canned pop.

As I mentioned earlier, this business is operated out of a modified motor home and serves its customer from a parking lot. There are no tables at which to sit, but most customers prefer to eat while standing or in their cars. You can also sit on a patch of grass in the shade of a tree nearby. This is the perfect spot for an afternoon break, a family meal after church, or a late night meal to satisfy the munchies. If you do decide to make the trek to El Camioncito del Sabor, come with two expectations: it’s not fancy, but the food is amazing.