Taqueria Puebla: Authentic Setting, Forgettable Food

First Impression

Ok my readers, if you can’t tell, I have a soft spot for taco trucks. It may in fact be on a quest to try every single one of them in Henderson County, though this may be an impossible task given their prevalence.

Taqueria Puebla sits tucked beside a car repair shop just off Asheville Highway, not far from I-26. The location feels a little sketchy: the seating area carries the unmistakable waft of oil and vulcanized rubber that clings to mechanic shops, and scattered mechanical debris reinforces the gritty vibe. The truck itself has a small covered patio with benches, a modest attempt to carve out comfort from an otherwise industrial setting.

Atmosphere and Service

Even by the casual standards of a food truck—where I expect to grab my food and bus my own tray—the service here felt a little standoffish. I don’t mind ordering in Spanish, but there wasn’t much warmth in the interaction. It wasn’t rude, just not especially welcoming.

That said, the space itself tries to make up for it. Taqueria Puebla has a small covered patio with benches, and there’s some charm in the details. Splashes of color and decorative touches brighten up what could otherwise feel like a pretty gritty setting beside the car shop. It’s not polished, but it does carry its own character.

Food

The essence of a good taco truck is authenticity and flavor. I love fine dining and creative cuisine—see my upcoming review of Book and Bee—but food trucks don’t need frills. They just need to deliver on the basics. Sadly, Taqueria Puebla missed that mark.

Dish One: Taco de Lengua

As I discussed in an earlier entry, tongue is one of the finest possible proteins for tacos. Soft, tender, fatty enough to spread around the spices, it really can showcase the fundamental charm of most mexican food. That was not the case here, the tongue was underseasoned, perhaps even unseasoned, mushy and not at all pleasant. The tortillas were uninspired, simple Maseca store bought. The only highlight of the dish was the red sauce, but that can’t be enough. You don’t eat fries for the ketchup, and you can’t recommend a taco for the salsa.

Dish Two: Taco de Pastor

Traditionally pastor refers to a method of cooking rather than a specific set of flavorings for a dish. Inherited from Lebanese immigrants, it is cooked on a trompo - a vertical spit - in a style similar to schwarma. I saw no such spit in evidence, but it could have been delivered precut, which if it were the case would explain the well-seasoned but very dry texture of the meat. Overall, it tasted fine, but it was not good.

Dish Three: Taco de Asada

So while I am eating these meals, I try to keep good notes about the dishes I try. I scribble on a little pad or write a note in my phone. For this dish, my powers have failed me. It left no imprint on my memory, now only a few days old, and in my notes is one hastily written note, “overcooked.” From this, I must surmise that this dish must have been somehow even more entirely unremarkable than the rest of the meal.

Dish Four: Taco de Longaniza

Longaniza is a Spanish-style sausage similar to chorizo, though it tends to be more heavily spiced and coarser ground, which gives it a bit more bite as a taco meat. Of all the dishes, the flavor of this one was by far the best. It was still dry, the ubiquity of which perhaps speaks to a larger issue in this place. Otherwise, it was the finest of the four tacos I sampled. With all the other accompaniments, it came to a pretty solid taco.

Value

Sadly for both this review and my taxes, I didn’t record clearly the cost of these tacos, but I do remember that these four plus a large Mexican coke cost right around $20 with tip, which means the food is priced comparably to other trucks in the area. The tacos are somewhere between $3-$4.

Final Verdict

I am not a food snob. I enjoy nearly everything and try my hardest to judge food according to what it tries to be not by some arbitrary standard. Food trucks are not fine dining, but they should strive to be good at what they do. The small space and opportunity for a tight menu gives them the opportunity to focus on their craft. Unfortunately based on

Unfortunately, based on my visit, Taqueria Puebla doesn’t seem to be living up to that potential. None of the tacos rose above average, and a couple fell well below. While the longaniza offered a glimpse of what could be, the overall experience left me wishing for more attention to seasoning, texture, and execution. In an area blessed with so many excellent taco trucks, this one simply doesn’t make the cut.

If you’re nearby and hungry, you won’t go wrong grabbing a bite here—but with so many stronger options around Henderson County, Taqueria Puebla isn’t one I’d put on your must-try list.