Sometimes you find the best eats in the most peculiar places.
La Tunita 512 is an unassuming Austin food truck that is located next to a Payless Food Store. It is white and plain, and you likely wouldn’t give it a second glance if driving by. Don’t judge a book by its cover, because this small, boring-looking metal box dishes out some of the most drool-worthy birria tacos in the Austin area.
What is Birria?!
Birria is a meat stew that is chocked full of chilis and seasoning. Slap some of that meat into a tortilla, then dip it into the broth, which is called consomme, and BAM. A birria taco! (Click HERE and HERE to learn more!)
La Tunita 512’s Story
The master behind La Tunita 512 is Gerardo Guerrero, a chef who worked at Torchy’s Taco for 7 years. In 2019, he left Torchy’s in the pursuit of serving food from his home state, San Luis Potosi. Guerrero began tackling Mexican preparations that weren’t common in Austin, including birria. His goat birria got shrugged shoulders, but his brisket caught the attention of Austin foodies. Just one year later, La Tunita 512 was whizzing through 130 pounds of meat a day. The momentum has kept rolling, so be sure to get there early in case they sell out!
My Experience
The brisket was tender with that oh so delectable melt in your mouth quality, making for a satisfying stand alone birria taco. But then I dipped it into the consomme. My taste buds promptly entered an existential crisis wondering what took me so long to grace them with this culinary treat. The taco soaked up the chili, onion, cilantro, lime, and beef flavor making for an exciting, warm flavor that hugged the inside of my mouth.
The best part? Each taco is a mere $2.50 a pop and the consume will only set you back $2.
La Tunita 512 looks humble, but it’s food is exceptional given the frugal price. This was my first birria taco experience, and it certainly won’t be my last.
Hungry for more Austin tacos? Don’t miss my review of Torchy’s and Veracruz All Natural!
