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Categories: Convenience Stores, Food Stands [Edit]
801 S Industrial BoulevardMon-Sun. 12:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Just on the outskirts of Dallas City, and on the very fringe of society lies a Mexican mecca of tacos, tucked away inside a gas station. A DJ plays latin mixes while one crazy guy dances in the parking lot. A pool is strategically placed by the drive thru because bikini clad women always attract more business. Fuel City is just a gas station, but has become so much more.
I was so overwhelmed by the experience that it was difficult to objectively rate the tacos based on taste alone. However, after trying all of the tacos (except Barbacoa b/c they're never good), I give Fuel City a solid 4 stars. I think a lot of the 5 star ratings come from people who salivate every time they hear the words "Fuel City", due only to its reputation. These are not the best tacos in Dallas. However, everyone needs to experience Fuel City because it is unlike any other place in Dallas. Roll in on a Saturday night and mingle with people from all walks of life. You will enjoy the tacos, but you will probably enjoy everything else even more.
This past Sunday I talked my friend into going to Fuel City 2 for some tacos. Pulling into the parking lot, we both noticed the "open 24 hours" sign. Cool.
So there's a little window on the outside of the building where you can order or you can order inside too the store too. We opted for outside since that's where we were. We ordered two pastor tacos and one barbacoa. If I remember correctly the three of them cost under $5, but it may have been $6...?
I couldn't help but notice the cart near the door that was selling cups of cooked corn. I'm not even sure what it's called, but I love this stuff. It's mixed with mayonnaise, sour cream, butter, hot sauce and parmesan cheese. I get my cup of corn and our tacos are ready about the same time. I thought I remembered there being a picnic area to sit, but I didn't see it. There is a pool (of all things) next to the drive through of the store, and my friend and I found two chairs to sit at by the pool. We both dived into our pastor tacos. My initial thought was that the taco was good. After the second bite it was apparent that the meat was a little dry. That was surprising after seeing all the grease drip out of the tacos. How can such a greasy little taco be so dry? It was. (I'm pretty sure there's a TWHS said there)
The barbacoa taco was better. I could only eat one bite of it, though, because I was stuffed (I had eaten a big lunch earlier).
The cup of corn was greatness. If I order it again I'll have them go easy on the hot sauce, because after a few bites I wanted to plant my lips into the pool water.
I definitely see myself coming back, especially after seeing the car wash in the back of the parking lot. I could see myself dropping off the car and grabbing some food while I wait for the car to be washed.
quick, cheap and tasty! :) that's all i need!
not a lot of selection to choose from... i ordered one of each- and each was as yummy as the last. they are small- so if you are starving, grab more than you think you need! and at $1.40 each you will not be disappointed! they come with little cups of fresh salsa... get the corn tortillas and ask for extra onions and cilantro- that's the way i like 'em!
something that i didn't notice when i first pulled up, there are 2 ways to get tacos. you can go inside the gas station and turn right to walk up to the order window...or there is a convienent order window that opens to the outside- so there is no need to go inside... unless ya need a beverage or other gas station necessities.
and it is a MUST to grab a cup of corn from the lady with the cart in front of the bulding. it's a deliciuos cup full of corn kernels, butter, spices and some crema and cheese. it's soooo good... and a great accompaniment to the tacos.
i just made myself hungry just typing that! good thing they're open 24 hrs.
I'm not a Mexico native, but I felt like I was back in '92. I was in Mexico City from Monday through Friday on business almost every week. I had plenty of "real" Mexican tacos during that time, and the samples I had here at Fuel City practically took me back there. My companion ordered flour tortillas, but in Mexico City, it's all about the corn. I asked to see their corn tortillas before I ordered, and upon seeing that they were at least made from white corn (though not handmade), I went authentic.
Each of us selected the five taco sampler (Picadillo, Beef Fajita, Chicken Fajita, Barbacoa, and Pastor). Both of us weren't too fond of the chicken nor the one with potato (picadillo?) but the others were sublime. The pastor, in particular, was most tasty. Even though they were small, they were very filling. The accompanying sauces were very tasty as well, in three heat ranges, the hottest being fairly warm. The tortillas were pretty good for machine made; much better than us gringos would normally get from the store.
I must also point out that, during the day, there's a lady with a "street food" style cart parked by the window, serving an awesome "appetizer". She takes a styrofoam cup and fills it almost half full of kernel corn, then adds (what looks to be) Crema Mexicana, your choice of lemon pepper or cayenne, and some grated cheese that I'm guessing was a mix of queso fresco with a little cheddar. The sequence is then repeated to the top. Add a spoon, and you have a delicious treat. She's fascinating to watch as well, as she prepares the dish.
All in all, this is some great and fairly authentic Mexican (no Tex) chow. If the tortillas were handmade and I could see an authentic spit for the pastor, this would be well on it's way to five stars.
My friend brought me here at 4 AM to eat tacos after an evening of indiscretion involving alcohol and hookah. He said that this place had been receiving alot of publicity after it was featured on Nightline (ironically on a story about gas not tacos) and had received excellent word of mouth since then.
There was a fine selection of tacos ranging from beef, chicken, barbacoa and even al pastor (pork). The lady making tacos even wore a shirt that said "As seen on Nightline." Classy.
The convenience store is full of typical convenience store things, beer, chips, and condoms. The beer selection is pretty decent especially if you like Natty Light or Icehouse.
The tacos are basically the same kind of tacos you would find from a Mexican street vendor in Mexico City or Ciudad Juarez, that is they are tiny tacos, smaller than even the 59cent Taco Bell tacos you could buy, but much much tastier (although just as greasy). Each taco is served in a double layer of small warm corn tortilla and served with a grilled onions, lime and either red or green salsa (both pretty spicy) they threw in a roasted whole jalapeno as well. The meat inside the tacos is small but pretty flavorful, I especially liked the al pastor which was was the most seasoned type of taco filling they offered.
The corn is elotes style so its served in a paper cup with lots of butter and cream. Its not gourmet food, it's street food, from a gas station and its open 24 hours!
The only problem though, is really if you think about it, this food isn't that unique or great. Dozens of taqueria's, taco trucks and food stalls outside of Fiesta grocery stores serve this exact same type of food, and its just as good.
However the selling point is you can get gas, you can get beer, you can get condoms and its open 24 hours. And it was a perfect way to fix a case of late night hunger after a night of booze and apple flavored tobacco.
I had to take my out of town friend here for some late night eats after we had dinner at Mia's earlier. She wanted all the Mexican food she could get, and I was prepared to feed and show her as much as I could in a few short days. I should have fasted before she got here because it was a Woman vs. Food Marathon. She loved Fuel City and wants me to ship that goodness to her ;) I would, but I think she'd have a pile of grease on her hands.
The tacos are great here as you've probably read. Picadillo and Pastor are my favorites with plenty of lime. The location however isn't the most convenient for me, so I head this way for my street taco cravings less often than I'd like to. I was excited to take my friend here so I could try them late night for once since they are open 24 hours. I now know I love them day or night. If I worked at the county jail I'd be here every other day. She did get to see Lew Steritt (sp?) on her tour of Dallas.
Get ready for the tasty grease as everyone says. It is true. It's great stuff, and I refer to these tacos as the good for you fat trying to fool myself. I've found very similar tacos without making such an out of the way trip, so the location drops a star for me. Other than that I'd give it 5 for sure as these are so packed full of flavor that most places don't compare. However I can't see the point in going regularly when I can get very similar tacos without all of the grease and feel like I'm eating somewhat healthy at another Taqueria. Okay, a little less bad for you. Fooling myself again. I know damn well I wouldn't like a Taqueria if it was healthy. I can dream though.
These are definitely in my top 5 favorites, very close to 5 stars and a must try if you haven't been. If you are low on cash money, you might have enough in your car for a couple since these divine tacos are cheap!
Having read more than my fair share of both good and bad reviews about Fuel City tacos, I have to say, these are darn good tacos for a gas station. They aren't the best I have ever had, but for the price ($1.40 each) and size (two are just enough to take the hunger pangs away) I would definitely make this a regular stop if I am in the area and jonesin' for a taco.
Along with my al pastor and picadillo taco, I had to give the cup of corn a try.
I thought it was pretty funny when I was treated like a guera (which I am) when I said I wanted my corn all the way, which includes a squirt of bottled margarine, a squirt of crema, and (gasp!) a squirt of hot sauce layered in the middle and on top along with a cap of cheese. Both of the women at the cart raised their eyebrows and one said "it's really spicy" in a way that implied they thought I was treading on dangerous ground with that hot sauce. It must be because I pulled up in a Prius and exuded a north Dallas vibe. You know, I'm just saying....... I think their looks actually made the food taste that much better!
But seriously, the corn put the tacos over the top. Sweet, hot corn, with layers of spicy/creamy/salty flavors....it was like a savory dessert after the tacos.
My advice - don't go here if you are looking for a taco bell experience or designer Mexican fare. This is simple, fresh food, done well, from a gas station. Nothing more. Nothing less.
GET.
SOME FREAKING.
CORN.
And get an extra lime with your tacos to squeeze in there while you're at it.
Holy crap. Just... fuck yeah.
That is all; as you were.
Lisa and Fuel City tacos sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
OMG, seriously??! I LOVE you people for…
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This place is awesome! I've never eaten at a taco shop inside of a gas station, but I decided it was time to change that.
I ordered one of each of the tacos with extra cilantro and they were all amazing! The salsas are awesome too! If you want to save more money, make sure you take drinks with you.
Get a cup of corn too!
Oh, and if you eat them in your car, roll the windows down because your car is sure to smell like Fuel City Tacos for a couple of days. It makes you hungry for them all over again!
Contrary to what Scott L. said, they do have breakfast tacos, but you can't order them in the afternoon.
Yes these are the best Taco's on planet earth. I have had them from a street corner in Mexico City to Uncle Julio's (meh) and Fuel City wins. Needless to say the folks in my party, and my family, basically thought I was a complete idiot taking them to eat at a gas station, but one bite into those delicious manna from heaven and they were sold. We even returned for breakfast tacos on our drive home - needless to say I was upset when I realized they served ALL the tacos 24/7 and I could have had chorizo instead of Egg, however, the breakfast taco's did not disappoint.
If you bother to Yelp, you need to stop at Fuel City.
There are no tacos in Dallas like this. Picadillo, pastor, barbacoa, fajita beef, and chicken are all fantastic! I swear they put crack in these because they're all I think about the next day. You do have to watch out as they leave your car smelling like Mexico the next day. Even better when capping off a night of drinking!
It's Saturday night, and I should be prepping for a night out. Instead, what was I doing? Thinking of tacos. Fuel City 2 tacos to be exact.
I have been looking for the right moment to drag BF out to Industrial for these infamous tacos, so I figured what the hell - let's do it. After putting on a darker shirt (useful advice from Katy C - don't wear white!) and gathering up our crazy dog, we took a trip south.
The first thing I noticed was the big neon TACOS sign, then I started looking for the corn ladies. *Gasp!* I didn't know which one to visit first, so I sent BF to get the tacos, one of every flavor because we couldn't decide, and I got the corn. Multi-tasking people, it's what I do best when I'm hungry.
I really wanted to pick up some cold beer to drink with our lovely grease, but based on the patrol officer's look I didn't want to test my theory that we might not get caught, so I settled on water. About 10 minutes later, we had our layered corn cups and tacos ready to go. I suggested to BF that we move from in front of the store to the side so others could have our spot. All I heard was him mumble, "I'm backing in, in case shit goes down."
Whoa, when others say that those tacos are greasy...they MEAN it. Most of them were dripping with orange liquid; and between the cilantro, onions and lime I was all up in flavor heaven. I scarfed down every bite of my corn cup but it only added to the fire that was going on in my mouth. By the time we finished, I was breathing heavily and waving my hand in front of my mouth trying to cool down. Yikes!
We didn't take the time to pick out which taco was which flavor, so I couldn't tell ya which was my favorite. Looks like I'll be getting all 5 tacos again next time...darn it! I do know that the mixture of corn, sour cream, butter, spicy sauce and cheese was freaking delicious.
By the time we got home, I was sick to my stomach full. I laid on my bed for five straight hours curled up in a ball with the worst stomach ache EVER from eating too much before I finally fell asleep. Shame on me!
Was it worth it? TOTALLY.
Need some gas (no pun intended)?
Why not stop for tacos as well?
Indeed, this is a gas station -- which was initially a surprise when I was looking for good tacos in the Dallas area. However, there is a taco section to this restaurant as well. You can order from outside --or inside -- of the gas station via a window.
The tacos at "Fuel City 2" are good. This is especially true when this place is open 24 hours a day. And at about $1.50 per taco? Certainly, unbeatable!
The tacos are freshly prepared. I recommend the picadillo tacos -- which consist of ground beef and vegetables. Be forewarned: the hot sauce is rather spicy.
Additional Notes:
- Cash only.
- Area is a bit sketchy, especially late at night.
taco's are realy good and simple, and probably the most authentic with the cleanest digs in town
BUT
no vegetarian options and
no breakfast tacos
no where to sit down and eat....either take it to go, or eat in car.
if I ate meat I'd give it 4-5 stars!
this place gets high marks for the ambiance - it's a huge gas station with drag racing constantly on the TVs, a field of longhorn cattle behind it, 24/7, and a pool?
THEY'RE CHEAP!
THEY'RE GOOD!
THEY HAVE LONGHORNS AND DONKEYS!
These are the reasons why Fuel City Tacos are the best. I like going here on a hot summer weekend, when they have the tejano music blaring and some scantily clad girls promoting something I've never heard of near the swimming pool / water fountain type thing in the back. I usually order 3 chicken tacos in corn tortillas, with extra hot sauce on the side. While they are being prepared, I'll mosey over to the corn lady for some artery clogging goodness. The corn is only a dollar a cup, and layered in butter, cream, cheese, and hot sauce. I'm not really sure why, but they've always had a few longhorn and a donkey hanging out in the side pasture. It's like a whole meal and cow watching for less than $6, it's great!
What to say about Fuel City that has not already been said in the 75+ reviews that precede me. As I sit here thinking, the best I can do is actually agree with the finest reviews here. Fuel City 2 are the best place in the entire State of Texas, nay the Country to have so good 'ole authentic Mexican Tacos. So good dare I say, that you will be jonesing for them the next day, and the day after that, and beyond until you finally an intervention slowly weens you off the Taco/Heroin.
We ended up going there at about 10 PM last night and I must say it is not as bad as people claim it to be, the area that is. Off course you have to be cautious and cant walk around with money in your pocket because even in Highland Park you would still get mugged.
The area at around this time has a little less traffic and the orders come out really fast. I tried their Chicken Fajita, Beef Fajita, and Barbacoa tacos. I must say that their Barbacoa is definitely the best followed closely by the Chicken and the Beef. If you end up going order enough because the average individual can munch on a single taco in about 2 bites. All their tacos are freshly prepared and served hot hot hot and you must go go go. The meats they use are extremely tender and have perfect amount of Spices.
The toppings that are put on every Taco are truly amazing. They have mastered just the right combination of ingredients to make your taste buds sizzle and your mouth water. From the onions, to the cilantro and whatever else. Word of advice you may need a lead lined stomach to eat their Jalapenos as they do tend to get really hot. Their hot sauce on the other hand is somewhat sour but that is due to the Vinegar amount to really make it kick your Sinuses.
The do only take cash as was previously mentioned. But for such amazing Tacos they are priced so low that I am pretty sure you have more loose change in the seats of your car.
One things that is a must with these Tacos is the Authentic Mexican Lime Drink called Jarritos that are available on the bin to the side. They are the perfect drink for this meal. With a taste that gets heightened with every sip.
For the Price/Quality/Taste and overall experience I must say that this is best Taco Place I have ever had and most probably ever will.
3am Saturday morning:
4 Cop cars: You betcha
100 people loitering: Absolutely
Cops yelling at said loiters: Aw yea!
2 guys asking to trade cars with BF: Right on
Homeless man hanging in BF car window: Fantastic
7 yummy taco's purchased: Halleluyah!
Me loving it all: word.
So....get your bibs ready...this one's gonna be a doooozy!
Picture driving home from the bars (with…
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For the one or two out there on Yelp who don't know what Mexican food is really all about, chew on this:
http://health.msn.com/...
Ever since I read this article in the Dec 2008 Men's Health, I've been searching for a place in TX that does it up right, if there was one. Sure enough, when I asked a group of yelpers in person they specifically mentioned Fuel City for authentic tacos. And not to mention almost 50 5-star reviews from everyone thats gorged themselves into oblivion. Yesterday was my turn.
The. Best. Tacos. Ever. So good, you almost would not miss a burger with these around.
So I was making my way towards the Elite Yelp Event from Irving, I pull off 35 onto Industrial and LO AND BEHOLD there it was. Thats right, I found this place for the first time by accident. Ordered 2 each of the barbacoa and pastor tacos with all the standard fixins. Tender meat + fresh onion and cilantro = perfection. Only thing I might have changed would be a little more heat. I think I missed the varieties where the grease was dripping all over - no matter, I only care about what gets IN the mouth. Passed up the picadillo personally because ground beef in a taco brings back memory of Bueno .... maybe that was a little harsh.
Someone needs to open a Fuel City 3 up north. Seriously, you could hike up the price and they'd sell out every day.
"Taco? At a gas station? Not without tomain poisoning and not in this life."
Those were my thoughts when I first read that the Pastor tacos at this place topped the list of Texas Monthly's "Tacos you must eat before you die." I'd been to a few other the other places on the list, and had the Pastor at Curra's in Austin (also on the list) and there was no f'in way that a gas station could out-do a hometown shrine. No...way...at...all.
I was wrong.
Being a sheltered suburban-born kid, I was a bit intimidated upon driving up. What do you get when you mix a big group of Hell's Angels, a group of Latino youth all wearing "ahem" similar colored hankies, a couple of cop cars and a Longhorn steer that had gotten loose from the corral and was looking amorously at a lime green Volkswagen Bug? The answer is...who the hell cares when you have a mixed box of Barbacoa and Pastor tacos on your lap, red grease running down your arm and you don't care if it stains the seats of your car....it's that damn good.
Sure...looking at the surrounding area you would think that this is the only place in town zoned for pawn shops and bail bondsmen. And this probably is the first stop for your average drunk and disorderly or assault bailout once they get out of Lew Sterret...and I don't blame them. This is the real deal. No tables or chairs except for your lap and the seat in your car or the tailgate of a pickup. You order at the window inside or outside along with every race, color, creed, social level and profession. There's a line 24/7 and they all know what they are getting.
The barbacoa is perfect. Juicy, greasy and it squeaks against your teeth. If you don't know how barbacoa is made, don't look it up. Just eat it and enjoy it. I recommend these on flower tortillas.
The pastor is what people come for. Get them on corn (flour tortillas here are against nature). When you open the box you will be assaulted by the aromas of perfection. Nothing in the box is optional. Squeeze that lime or two over your pork bliss. Spread on those grilled onions. If you are lucky enough to get a grilled jalapeno....what are you waiting for? If you ordered three tacos, you will finish them in six bites....and you'll gladly brave the line with a red grease-streaked arm and a stupid grin on your face for more....and don't forget that you can have any beverage you want. It's a monster gas station with every drink you can image. You can even have a twinkie for dessert.
Plus that, this is a great date spot. Take her there, get her some tacos and a malt liquor, and go sit and eat and watch the burros sex each other up. Then bring that energy home. You won't be disappointed.
One final tip. Don't throw the box away. Keep it in your car on the way home. It's a better scent than that damn pine tree air freshener!
Now go eat tacos, you yabbos!
Lots of reviews, no need for a story here.
Barbacoa was fantastic! The chicken and beef fajita meat was kinda dry, the ground beef was not very satisfying, kinda junky.
I'll only be getting a butt load of their barbacoa from now on. Love it!
Amazingly authentic tacos! Corn tortillas are a must (they shouldn't even offer flour ones in my opinion). The best time to go is around 2:30am after a night out. There are always lots of police camped out there so it's super safe. My favorite tacos are the Pastor and Barbacoa. Onions, cilantro, fresh lime, and some spicy salsa...perfecto! Don't forget to bring cash because they don't take American Express....or any other cards for that matter!
I went today around 10pm (not drunk) and they still hit the spot! No cops were around this time and the convenience store was actually open. Surprisingly nice bathrooms inside and a huge selection of beers.
Cons: It can be a hard place to find sometimes. Wish it was closer so I could go all the time.
I'm not an expert of authentic Mexican street tacos. In fact I've never had a taco in Mexico. All previous experiences with them include Tacos Y Mas and in few other restaurants around Dallas.
I'd put these small and flavorful tacos near the top for the price and considering its a gas station. I got the Al Pastor (pork), Barbacoa and Picadillo. All were very moist (greasy) and came with onion, lime, cilantro and 2 sauces (red,green). It was a perfect size lunch. Best EVAR? No, but darn tasty. If you happen to be close by one day, give them a try.
Things to be aware of:
-This is not the best part of town.
-You will get hit up for change by bums.
-No seating .
-The tacos are spicy, but not in a burning way.
-HAVE a GUM or MINT afterward... your co-workers/spouse will thank you :)
The tacos are cheap and admittedly smaller than other taquerias, but they are by far the best i've tasted in dfw. Its in a gas station and there is no seating, but you can still have a great time eating here. Nothing is better than grabbing an iced cold beer from their wide selection, ordering some corn from the small stand, and scarfing down teeny tiny delicous tacos in the car. :)
yummiclicous!
I usually go and get a variety so that i can taste everything. Al Pastor is my favorite, followed by Barbocoa, and Picadillo.
A must eat in dfw when you are looking for cheap eats and an authentic mexican meal..not tex mex!
Fuel City in Haiku's:
After ladies night
I followed Ang. and Tric. here
For some taco times
I got the pastor
Pork soft tacos are the best
These did not let down
I do wish for seats
When I got home, cold tacos
I live far away.
Since Dallas is raining on my Sunday, I'm going to rain on Dallas and the much hyped Fuel City...
The hubster and I decided to try each type of taco, except for the pastor (since we don't dine on swine). We knew we'd have an awesome meal, because so many Yelpers can't be wrong, right? *cue foreshadowing music here* We ate the tacos in our car, and we looked at each other with puzzlement and said "That's it? Meh"
The salsa was watery and flavorless, there was no tasty grease dripping from the tacos, and the meat was just bland, man. Hoping to salvage our trip, we got a cup of elotes with everything on it. While more flavorful than the tacos, the heat just overwhelmed everything. I'm all for spice, but I gotta taste what I'm eating too!
We love random eating establishments, whether it's a food cart or a hole in the wall, so a gas station serving up tacos intrigued us mightily. No chairs? No Tables? That's what your car and your lap is for! But a novel setting still needs to serve up good food, and Fuel City served us a stinker.
This is a preliminary review from one visit. I dropped by Fuel City on Industrial because I heard about the delicious tacos. I was really surprised at price of $1.40 and even more surprised when my order of 3 tacos came in a tiny foam clamshell take out carton. While the tacos are tiny, they are fully loaded and delicious. I really liked the picadillo with chunks of potatoes. The pastor pork was nice and spicy, but kind of overwhelmed any attempt at testing out the side sauces.
I walked by the outside "cup of corn" vendor which was doing brisk business. I may try that eventually, but seeing a squeeze bottle of Parkay kind of offended my "real butter" sensibilities.
I used to think that the only food (if you can call it food) worth getting in a gas station was a Big Gulp, but oh man was I wrong. Fuel City introduced me to a whole new standard for tacos!
Their tacos are so cheap I decided to try them all. Don't ask me to pick my favorite because it's just too hard. Every bite was so delicious that we had to invent new words just to describe the experience, most of which included the word "sex" (i.e. sexellent! sextacular!!). My wife even caught me licking the taco drippings off my arm since I didn't want any of it to go to waste.
All the meats were sexquisite, making each taco uniquely delicious. I'm a big fan of the corn tortilla and these tacos highlighted the subtle flavor of these things like none other. The corn tortillas also contributed heavily to the perfect taco texture.
The location of this place couldn't be more hilarious. Hidden behind a full mountain range of beer cases and across from the drive through DWI window is the taco shop. There's no place to sit in this enormous gas station so we had to hang out in our car to savor the flavor. Make sure you don't go on a windy day because the parking lot is always full of cars that look like they don't have any insurance. My car actually got hit while I was eating, but these tacos put me in such a good mood I had no problems forgiving the guy for the small scratch he put in my driver's side door.
So drive your beater over to Fuel City, fill up and grab some amazing tacos while you're there. Your tongue will thank you later.
I stood in a pool. My coworkers silently judged me. I drank a real Mexican Coke. How did all this happen at once? I went to Fuel City on my lunch hour!!!
Yes, the rumors are true. The tacos were great, albeit SMALL. Jay zees, I could have eaten a dozen, they were like donut holes. Still, for a $1.40, you can try all their varieties, which is fun. My favorite was the picadillo. No, the barbacoa. Wait, the pastor. Actually, I like them all.
Grab a Messican coke, like I mentioned earlier. Then sit by their pool (I guess truckers like to skinny dip at night) and get ready to have all that meat juice drip in your lap.
Lunch time is busy, bring cash, and be prepared to stand around and make awkward eye contact with day laborers. Then feel guilty about your cushy desk job. Then buy them a taco and have a pool party!
I must say, Fuel City is by far one of my favorite places to get tacos. Being from San Antonio, I am absolutely in love with barbacoa. Unfortunately, there are very few places that actually do it right. Most of the time you end up with meat that is super fatty, and leaves you wondering if you are going to spend the majority of your evening trapped in the bathroom. But Fuel City does it right!!! There barbacoa is lean meat, well spiced, and has the perfect amount of onion and cilantro to compliment the tasty flavors.
Typically I do not stray from my typical all barbacoa plate, but today I decided to try the chicken fajita tacos. I must say...definitely NOT impressive at all what-so-ever. The chicken way dry and very under-seasoned and left me wanting more. Another disappointment came when we saw a sign that says breakfast is only served until 10am. My friends and I arrived at 11:30, and we placed our order, even though we desperately wanted breakfast tacos. We were all pretty peeved when we looked through the window only to discover that they were still making breakfast tacos?!?!? We contemplated ordering more tacos; however, with the taco-fest we were about to indulge in, we knew there was no way we could possibly eat more.
Overall, I love Fuel City for what it is...a totally random restaurant off the beaten path. Its especially fun to visit on a Friday or Saturday night after clubbing/bar hopping with friends. You will definitely see a variety of Dallas flava in the parking lot, and have quite the experience!
Ryan B's great review reminded me that I forgot to write mine last week!
Believe the hype.
I had 2 pastor, 2 picadillo, & 2 barbacoa.
Yo quero dos pastor.
What made my lunch even better was eating it in my coworker's truck while we chugged pint(ish) sized bottles Shiners out of paper bags with delicious grease running down our hands.
I ran in the Trinity River Levee Run (which, BTW, is the ugliest course I have ever raced in) on March 7. The only redeaming quality of this event was Fuel City Tacos - FREE! - and Budweiser products - FREE! - at the end.
Even though the tacos sat out for a few hours and were cold, they were still pretty good. I just used my imagination and pretended that I paid for them and thought, "Hey, if these were hot, I'd love them even more." Kudos to Fuel City for bringing out probably 1,000 tacos. And kudos to the local Budweiser special events rep for showing up with beer and ice.
So what if it was located a few blocks down from the Dallas city jail? And so what if you have to carhop your tacos to your own car with a view of horny farm animals and longhorns in sight? Just turn up your crunk radio station, roll the windows down, open the box of tacos and drown out your worries. My girlfriends and I certainly did! The chicken taco was juicy and fork tender and their Al Pastor was moderately spicy and delicious. Service was straight forward and fast (without sacrificing quality). Tacos were kick ass and way, way cheap for $1.40 a piece. MMM.. Me gusta mucho! I'll have 5 please!
The only complaint I could think of was they didn't have horchata to wash the tacos down which would've been perfect. But that's not even a legit complaint since they have coronas and Mexican sodas inside the gas station. We be back!
I will admit that at times, I am a bit of a food snob. So when I heard that this place dished up some of the best tacos in Dallas, I was skeptical to say the least. Oh how I was wrong.
The tacos are OUTSTANDING! But you don't need to take my word for it, just look at the string of awesome reviews.
My fave is the picadillo, followed closely by the pastor.
Besides that here is what is great about FC:
Fast-I ordered 4 tacos there, paid, turned around to pick out a drink from the fridge and before I had grabbed one, my food was at the counter.
Cheap- 4 tacos for $6.
Convenient- I got tacos this morning at 7:30 am. Where else can you get food like this whenever you so desire? Nowhere! This place is perfect.
Fuel City is like a powerful black hole. Everything that passes through its gravitational pull can't help but get sucked in. Everytime I'm headed into downtown on the I-30 or I-35, my steering wheel seems to twitch its way towards the Fuel City exit and I have to steel myself from escaping Fuel City's gravitational pull. Yes, that is how good their tacos are.
As an LA native, the ubiquitous taco truck or taco stand was like my ice cream truck. Everytime I saw that neon sign light up, I'd stop, drop, and roll - whatever I needed to do grab a taco. Authentic street tacos are surprisingly hard to find in Dallas. But Fuel City is the place to hit if you need to satisfy that taco craving.
Street tacos aren't big. They're not meant to be. I think we've grown too accustomed to Chipotle size portions that we forget that good things can come in small sizes. You can choose from a myriad of toppings from picadillo to pastor, but my absolute fav is their barbacoa. I usually get at least 5 for myself and virtually inhale them - I only take breaths in between to take a swig of my Negra Modelo. While the prices have gone up since Feb 1, they're still a steal and very good.
And what's not to love about the awesome ambiance? You can't beat the taco stand within a gas station quickie-mart. If I'm really starving, I'll hit up the elote stand for a tasty appetizer. Otherwise, I'll go around and around the hexagonal cooler in the middle of the store marveling at all the beverages I'd like to try. Plus they're open 24 hours! Can someone say post-party hangover cure?! See you all there!
I finally had the opportunity to see what everyone was talking about and I'm glad to say it lives up to the hype. The gas station was busy so we had to park in the back.
It's a great thing that these tacos are only a buck and change because you'll want a lot of them. Ordering was easy and they come out relatively quick. I got the Picadillo and pastor. Some of the best tacos I've had.
We decided to just tailgate behind the gas station and eat there, while watching the longhorns. I hope the tacos aren't made out of them. (just kidding, they are too good for me to care)
I headed into Dallas late at night just to try these tacos. It was worth the danger as this place is located in a not-so-safe area of Dallas. There were 3 big stray dogs wandering the parking lot for crying out loud. Anyway, these tacos were just awesome. This place is realy simple and fast. I had 4 tacos to experience as much as I can and I will surely be heading there again. Preferably in the day this time. Loved it!!
Honestly, I thought Yelp had sent me on a wild goose chase on this one, and eating from a gas station really isn't my idea of cuisine.
There's nothing really to alert you of how good this place is until you walk inside, cut a hard right and see the small hole-in-the-wall taco stand back there. At $1.40 a taco, you can try the full menu and this place delivers on Yelp's promise. You leave feeling you've just had some legit Texas tacos.
Also tried the $2.50 corn-in-a-cup from the snack stand outside and had to laugh, it was so bizarre (but good!). Yes, you're eating in a parking lot that's a construction site. But so what? Don't miss the giant tub of iced Mexican Pepsis in glass bottles with pop tops and old logos, one of which I'm bringing home as a souvenir.
I finally made it to Fuel City and I find it hard to believe that I have never been here before...or that I am actually in love with a gas station. I went for the tacos, but first I went inside to check out the space just because I hate to miss something. No one mentioned the GIANT circular cooler in the middle filled with ice and BEER. It looks like a huge ice bucket built right into the floor. Filled with delicious cans of beer. So reach right in and get you one. There's a smaller one near the taco stand with all the Mexican sodas too. The store itself is actually clean and looks super new...the people in there though maybe not so much. But it adds to the sense of adventure and I do love some people watching.
The tacos were what we came for obviously. I tried the barbacoa, the picadillo, and the pastor with corn tortillas. And I will have to agree with everyone...these tacos are in fact the SHIZZ! But I think I liked the elotes as much as the tacos. I didn't get sour cream, but did get the butter and all the other stuff in it. OH MY GOD this corn was freakin awesome! I will be back for the tacos and the elotes oh say every single weekend. And it is open 24 hours so if you are looking for a late night snack this would be the place.
I love you Fuel City 2. Can I come over and have a beer and some food and swim in your pool?
So I have to be up for work early in the morning tomorrow but I just have to yelp about my experience at fuel city. The BF was wanting some grub at around 10 and a lot of the places nearby were closing up shop so we decided to hit up yelp for some ideas.
I have been on a taco frenzy in the past few days (thanks to some yelpers' juicy reviews) and saw some delicious pictures of fuel city 2's tacos. mmm what you see is what you get and what you get is something you just won't regret! These tacos were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Like party in your mouth all night long amazing.
We got the barbacoa, pastor (spicy pork) and picadillo (had chopped peppers) tacos all double wrapped in corn tortillas. These small tacos come with BIG flavor so order twice as much as you think you want (seriously you'll regret it if you don't). The two of us ordered 6 total tacos and were pondering the idea of making the drive back to get some more. Our grand total came to about $9 and was ready within 5 minutes. While your waiting you can walk into the convenience store to grab yourself a brewsky...can life get any better than this?
This place is the bomb!
You have to come here for the food. It's a at a freakin gas station, so don't expect much from the atmosphere.
They have five tacos: Picadillo, Pastor, Chicken Fajita, Beef Fajita, and Barbacoa. I suggest you come here and get one of each. Go inside the gas station and get a drink. There's a billion beers inside there.
If you're not full, and you're still craving something extra, get some corn from the corn ladies. It comes with butter, sourcream, hot sauce, and pepper.
I almost pooped my pants because the hot sauce was too hot.
I really like this place. It's good cheap food. You can eat by your car, or take the food back to your pad. Check it out.
Dallas, TX
Category: Mexican
Dallas, TX
Category: Mexican
Dallas, TX
Category: Mexican
Dallas, TX
Category: American (Traditional)
Dallas, TX
Category: Tex-Mex
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