"There’s nothing like a stripped cow skull in a parking lot to let you know how seriously a place takes its craft. Such is the case of Gerardo’s Drive In, a weekend-only spot that’s been cooking barbacoa on the Northside since the late ‘70s. You won’t find better, or more skillfully made, barbacoa in town. It’s smoky, rich, and has a concentrated beef flavor from the restaurant’s slow-steaming process. Operating as both a taqueria and meat market, you can order meat by the pound, an entire cow’s head to-go for about $100, or just some tacos to eat right there." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene