According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Walla Walla County was 16.9 percent Hispanic in 2006. Due to farming interests in the surrounding area that population continues to grow.
Walla Walla’s community provides a unique and changing dynamic to Whitman students, and the city’s taco trucks are tasty representations of that. As the appeal of dining hall food wanes, let this be a guide to Walla Walla’s comida culture.

La Monarca

Recommended: Everything

In front of John’s Wheatland Bakery

This truck, located in front of John’s Wheatland Bakery, provides a wide array of fresh ingredients and a clean atmosphere. A colorful mural covers the front of the truck.
I wait in line as several men order their food in lightning speed Spanish. I listen, hoping to catch a hint about what to order. The burrito asada consists of fresh tomatoes, onions, guacamole, and a sharp bite of cilantro. The asada has a stroganoff texture, but retains the chewy tanginess of your typical fajita. The lettuce: crunchy, but nonetheless tasteless iceberg: was the only disappointment. The best taco truck salsa in town, the green salsa, offers a lemony zest to those unable to handle the red, spicy salsa. Despite the excellence of my burrito, I start to eye the sweet onion taco of the man next to me.

“I never tried the taco wagon, but I’ve eaten here every day for the last week.” said Alan Jones, a Walla Walla native. “I think there’s a connotation Anglos have about this food, but this is a high quality clean operation, and the food is fantastic.”

Tacos Zapatan

On the corner of Rose and 10th .

Recommended: Tortillas and Asada Note: Authentic, so be ready to speak Spanish if you have a special request.

A little off the main road, this rather plain white truck is worth the trip. The tortillas, still warm from the hand press in the truck, were worth their weight in gold, and considering the lard, that’s a fair amount. The taco asada had a strong salty flavor that left a delightful, tingly aftertaste throughout the sinus system. The exceptionally fresh onions and cilantro further complemented the flavor.

This truck wasn’t the social establishment that some of the others were. A red sports car pulled away as I got there, but other than that I was the only customer, However, a few tables and some folding chairs make staying and enjoying the food: and the big smile of the Hispanic woman who runs it: worthwhile.

Los Taquitos

Across from the Courthouse.

Recommended: Anything asada

Note: Watch out for thorns in the parking lot.

This truck provides a festive atmosphere similar to that of La Monarca as a constant stream of families, couples and trucks full of men came and went. The Asada taco was a highlight, though the chicken lacked intensity and the avogada, a beef with red sauce, was nothing special. Also, the horrchatas were watered down versions of a higher standard. Still, this seems to be a local favorite and has a convenient location for Whitman students.

El Taco Loco

Recommended: The pollo taco

Location: In the parking lot of Melody Muffler, on the corner of Chestnut and 9th.

For heavy eaters, or anyone looking to supply themselves with dinners for the next week, El Taco Loco provides huge burritos and generously sized tacos. The burritos are loaded down with nonessentials, such as sour cream and lots of iceberg lettuce, but the chicken, in anything, is excellent. As for the asada, it doesn’t have the punch of the other trucks.