South side comida, SA.
Interstate 35, runs from near the Arctic Circle – that’s north of Oklahoma – down through Dallas, Ft. Worth, Waco, Austin. San Antonio, then to Mexico. That’s old Mexico, like New Mexico. Only older. Headed south on 35, there’s a mystical place, Eddie’s Taco Hut. The times I’ve passed it, the sign is barely visible from the freeway, headed south on 35 before I-10.
Eddie’s Taco Hut is only open for the breakfast-lunch crowd. From either six or seven on the morning, to about 2:30 PM. I think the sign says slightly longer, but practical experience, if you’re in there, after 1 PM, they are turning chairs over, sweeping the back area, and generally wrapping up business for the day.
There’s a veritable host of young lasses swinging back and forth, hauling food.
Order tea, “Sweet or unsweet?”
Stick the specials, too, as those have never failed to please. Some days, I haven’t got the rhythm figured out on this one, the special is two (cheese) enchiladas, covered in chili con carne then heaped with cheese, then a small steak, perhaps meat of indeterminate origin would be a better word, plus rice, beans, and – duh – homemade tortillas. That one special is one of the priciest items they’ve got, a whole $5.15. Steak (loose term), enchiladas, gooey cheese wrapped in red corn tortillas, slathered in “con carne” (with meat) – and that “with meat” should be “with lots of meat.” Again, unsure of the animal or parts, but still tasty and zesty in a tasty, zesty way.
Awe-inspiring homemade tortillas. Big, thick flour tortillas, hot off the comal. Amazing, in and of themselves. Served in a basket, wrapped in a tissue, two at a time, slightly different. Not bad different, just different than the usual tortilla warmer.
Click to make it more visible.
I suppose, though, the real attraction to Eddie’s isn’t the sign, the decor, or the waitresses (with flowing black tresses). The parking lot, it’s between a ditch and the freeway, behind a gas station, by a Mickey D’s. The parking lot is mostly paved. There’s a southern terminus to the parking lot, that isn’t paved. The whole area fills up, starting around 11 in the morning, with work trucks. Power company, water utility, construction, highway road crew, trucks, usually, and trucks that do a hard day’s labor. Foreign experience for me. It’s a real, blue-collar place.
A guy shows up with sunglasses and a gold collar tabbed high, black hair swept back in a high pompadour. Elvis lives. During spring break, a couple of times, it seemed like grandparents – maybe my age – were there with grandkids.
Can’t fool the people, though, Eddie’s Taco Hut, south-side, SA. Food’s good. Inexpensive, too. And crowded at noon-time.