1 Tacos al Vapor Blanquita

Late-Night San Jose Cart Tacos Al Vapor Blanquita Is Deevoted to Steamy Cabeza | Eater SF

"At their finest, tacos de cabeza are soft, intensely beefy shredded meat encased in a pillowy steamed tortilla, and this little food cart—originally in a gas-station parking lot off Story & King—specializes in exactly that: the only item on the menu is tacos al vapor de cabeza, and customers can pinpoint which part of the head they’d like — eye, tongue, palate, cheek, brain, or snout. The entire cow head is steamed for at least six hours to break down the collagen into gelatin, resulting in tender, juicy meat; because there’s no seasoning or marinade, the unadulterated beefy flavor is preserved. The meat is thoroughly chopped, so to an untrained eye it’s difficult to differentiate, but the textures and flavors differ—cachete (cheek) is sticky and unctuous; lengua (tongue) is light and nearly melts in your mouth; and ojos (eyes) are juicy and plump. Corn tortillas are softened in a steamer until they’re as delicate as the meat, and the tacos are served plain and unsalted, so “a generous dusting of salt from the topping station is non-negotiable.” Toppings include lime, diced onion, radish, and salsas, and the cart’s mixture of pickled onions and habaneros “provide much-needed acidity to cut through the fatty meat”; if trying several parts, a fruity agua fresca is recommended to cleanse the palate between tacos. The operation is run by Blanca Estela Alejo and her husband, Juan Carlos Maldonado: after a trip to their home state of Michoacán they rekindled their love for tacos al vapor, and finding few South Bay taquerias that let diners mix and match head parts, they launched a pick-up-only spot in 2023 that evolved into a late-night hub with tables, music, and a TV playing old movies; a second location debuted in March. Up until midnight you’ll find a bustling crowd of partygoers and graveyard-shift employees fueling up for the night. 1604 Story Road (San Jose) — open 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday through Sunday; second location at 85 Senter Road (San Jose) — open 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday through Sunday; cash only." - Octavio Peña