The wheels of a vibrant new taco truck hit the roads of Burnaby last month, and folks might have caught a glimpse of the bright pink vehicle, decorated with tacos and a sombrero-wearing dinosaur, parked at one of the local breweries.
The taco truck, aptly named, Tacosaurus, is a beloved local cafe’s latest venture, and serves an authentic platter of Mexican cuisine on the go.
From their signature birria tacos and "dino bowls" to dessert options like churros and non-alcoholic drinks like jarritos, the food truck has it all. Frequent stops at Burnaby’s favourite brewers mean that interested adults can also pair the tacos with the beer of their choice.
Tacosaurus is the brainchild of Jina Nam and Alejandro Estrada, of Burnaby’s Olivo Cafe & Eatery.
The couple, after receiving a lot of inquiries about catering, pondered their options, considering the logistics of transporting the food to venues, and such. Given the challenges that come with catering, they mulled the idea of bringing their kitchen to the venues instead, and came up with the food truck idea.
“We got the chance to purchase [the truck] last year, so we worked on it, mainly for catering and to expand our business,” Nam said.
The prep work is all done at the cafe, Nam added. “We cook our meats for (10 to 12) hours … it’s slow-cooked to bring out the best flavour. She said they make their own sauces, and prepping ahead makes the food truck service faster.
Although not all of the cafe’s delicacies make it to the taco truck’s menu, their best-selling golden soft-shell tacos stuffed with birria beef have made it to the menu — there are even options for vegetarian and vegan fillings. Nam noted that all of their creations are gluten-free, except for their Quesadillas.
Tacosaurus made its first stop at Studio Brewing on March 3, and has since been making the rounds at local breweries. During its first month, it has spent Tuesdays and Saturdays at Steamworks Brewery & Taproom (3845 William St.); Fridays at Studio Brewing (5792 Beresford St.); and Sundays at Dageraad Brewing (3191 Thunderbird Cres.).
The couple hopes to expand the business in the next few months as the sun comes out and people venture outdoors more. Between June and August, the Dino Taco truck is set to make a brief appearance at Burnaby Farmers' Market, Nam said.
The taco truck owners expressed their interest in participating in festivals including the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).
The venture, so far, has been enjoyable for the couple as they engage in their passion for cooking and meeting new people on the road. The biggest challenge was parking the truck the first time, Nam noted, laughing.
“It took three hours to park the vehicle in one spot,” she said, which prompted her to wonder, “'Why did we start this food truck business?'” However, the cloud of doubt passed shortly, as they mastered their parking skills and were welcomed by the community with open arms.
Tacosaurus will be popping up in the community every once in a while; see Instagram for their weekly schedule. If you’re craving tacos on a day their dino truck is taking a well-deserved break, head over to Olivo Cafe for satisfying your cravings.
