Pachanga Names Very Important Tacos

Tacodeli's al pastor taco (courtesy of Giant Noise)

Some folks go to the Pachanga Latino Music Festival to see más from Kinky or hear a technocumbia from Bidi Bidi Banda. We go for the tacos.

The annual festival, now expanded to Dallas and Houston, is not just celebration of Latino-created music and art, it's also a celebration of a rich culinary heritage too. Vendors throughout the festival will be serving elotes, aguas frescas, paletas, and, um, pizza. Vendors this year include Mom & Pops, Serranos Especial, Mellizoz Tacos, Austin's Pizza, Tom's Tabooley, Mighty Bird, County Fair Catering, Heaven on a Stick, Gibroni's, Taco Majal, Oyama, Hay Elotes, Kettle King, Juiceland and Tapas Bravas.

The real action, however, is in the VIP area. Amongother perks, VIP ticket holders get a tasting of five "Very Important Tacos" from some of Austin's brightest food stars. Tacodeli keeps things classic with a textbook al pastor, garnished with cilantro and onion. Fresa's Chicken al Carbon's La Fresa goes with achiote chicken, avocado, and cotija. Fork + Taco represents with a five spice pulled pork taco served with slaw and a soy maple crema. El Chile piles the vegetables high on Anselmo's Nopalito Taco, adding serrano and poblano peppers, pickled onion, and carrots to the cactus. Finally, the Rosarito collective delivers the Gobernator – grilled shrimp with crusted cheese and a choice of salsas.