As someone relatively new to Chattanooga, I have a hard time considering anything here an institution. I understand that, yes, Lamar’s is probably one such place, and Aretha’s may belong on that list, too. Allen Gold’s. Wally’s. Tremont Tavern.
But in the world of tacos, there are so many candidates for canonization. That’s probably why we’re able to fill a whole summer with taco madness and ™s. On the list? Taco Roc comes up a lot in conversation, and Taco Rico’s an old favorite as well. Regardless of my freshman status, I have no problem saying it’s got to be La Alteña. Every time.
There are a lot of reasons. First and foremost, La Alteña has an unparalleled grasp on temperature psychology: their chilled, oh so cool salsa is hard to forget, and the shrimp cocktail/gazpacho is a cold surprise with a warm topping, not to mention perfect textures—chewy shrimp, soft avocado, crisp pico. The staff is consistently wonderful, the menu is chapters long, and—the reason we’re here—the tacos are superb.
Earlier this week, we met up at La Alteña's Main Street location to judge the Mexico City tacos—which we’d heard were great—after feeling a bit of remorse for poorly chosen beef tacos at Cancun. For the most part, we all ordered carnitas (slow-cooked, pulled pork) and steak. Carnitas comes topped with pico de gallo, and steak is simple with cilantro, onions, and lime. As it turns out, we all preferred the steak tacos to carnitas, which came out dry. Both come wrapped in a double layer of freshly made corn tortillas, served with rice and refried beans—neither of which are worth writing home about.
So how did they stack up? Is the Tacongress™ as convinced as I am? Read on.
Chattarati Totals - La Alteña's Mexico City Taco (Steak)
Average Score: 3.72
Presentation & Experience: 3.36
Construction: 3.81
Quality of Ingredients: 3.58
Flavor Balance: 3.78
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.08
And the scores from our individual judges:
Andy — Guest Judge
Overall: 4
Presentation & Experience: 4.00
Construction: 4.00
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 3.00
Creativity & Authenticity: 5.00
Joel Becker
Overall: 3.2
Presentation & Experience: 3.00
Construction: 3.00
Quality of Ingredients: 3.00
Flavor Balance: 4.00
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.00
Comment: "Flavor popped with the addition of lime juice"
Veronique Bergeron
Overall: 4.2
Presentation & Experience: 3.75
Construction: 5.00
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 4.00
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.25
Comment: "Music and decor... it's always Cinco de Mayo!"
Aaron Collier
Overall: 3.15
Presentation & Experience: 3.00
Construction: 2.75
Quality of Ingredients: 3.50
Flavor Balance: 3.50
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.00
Matt Davis — Guest Judge
Overall: 2.7
Presentation & Experience: 1.75
Construction: 3.50
Quality of Ingredients: 2.75
Flavor Balance: 3.50
Creativity & Authenticity: 2.00
Comment: "Tacos held together well... like the stitches on my face."
Elana Gulas — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.2
Presentation & Experience: 3.00
Construction: 4.50
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 4.50
Creativity & Authenticity: 5.00
John Hawbaker
Overall: 3.95
Presentation & Experience: 3.50
Construction: 4.50
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 3.50
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.25
Joe Lance
Overall: 4.1
Presentation & Experience: 3.50
Construction: 4.00
Quality of Ingredients: 3.75
Flavor Balance: 4.50
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.75
Comment: "Most authentic beef taco yet."
David Morton
Overall: 4.1
Presentation & Experience: 4.25
Construction: 3.75
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 3.75
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.75
Comment: "Naysayers #onnotice. This taco is both creative and authentic."
Casey Tuggle
Overall: 3.55
Presentation & Experience: 3.50
Construction: 4.00
Quality of Ingredients: 3.25
Flavor Balance: 3.25
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.75
Eric Vaughen — Guest Judge
Overall: 3.2
Presentation & Experience: 3.00
Construction: 3.00
Quality of Ingredients: 2.00
Flavor Balance: 4.00
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.00
So, after La Alteña, the Summer of Taco™ rankings fall together like this:
- Taco Mamacita 3.94
- TacoRico 3.79
- La Alteña 3.72
- Cancun 1.92
See what Urbanspoon users have to say about La Alteña:
@joseph_is on May 20, 2009
Can't believe you didn't go for the chirizo. That's where it's at.
Bubsy on May 20, 2009
could you include the taco-grading rubric with each post?
DavidMorton on May 21, 2009
Here is the original Summer of Taco post, detailing the judging criteria.
We'll try to work in a hyperlink to that on each post from here on out. Thanks for pointing that out.
CaseyTuggle on May 21, 2009
The tacos of this establishment are authentically tiny, however, so be sure to order one or two more than you normally would. They are filling for their size, but diminuitive nonetheless.
mwillingham on May 21, 2009
Veronique is on to something in the first paragraph. Chattarati needs to come up with a top 10 list of Chattanooga "institutions" for all the newbies that are moving here. (Nicki's, Zarzour's, Bea's, etc.)
joelance on May 21, 2009
Agreed. And with all due respect to Veronique and these establishments, I can't see Tremont Tavern being called an institution (yet), and I'm on the fence about Aretha's. How long does a place have to exist before it can be called an "institution"? Or is it more about the regulars, no matter how many years (or not) they've been going there? Good topic.
Robert T. Nash on May 21, 2009
Institutions have their place, but this is a foundation sort of town...
mwillingham on May 22, 2009
Thank God!
Robert T. Nash on May 22, 2009
There is no God...
mwillingham on May 22, 2009
Poor Nash... I guess I feel sorry for you. All you do is try to incite anger in people. That must give you a power trip. Here is a nice post on tacos and you have to thumb your nose at the foundations established in Chattanooga. I'm still not sure what you have against them (except maybe they have more "power" than you). Hugh O. Maclellan (The Maclellan Foundation) is one of the greatest people you could ever meet and has done more for this city in any 10 minutes of his life than you have ever done. And where would this city be without the forethought and sense of community that the Lupton family has had.
So, go ahead, keep going with your Napoleon complex. The great people of this city will continue making it better in spite of all you try to do to stop them.
Robert T. Nash on May 22, 2009
Mr Willingham,
You don' t know me and your pity is laughable. Posting your meta-perceptions about me as fact says more about your intellect and personal development than anything I can. Your equating substance solely to money and power reveals even more about what you personally believe in and value than all of your online navel-gazing extant. I'll close by saying I stand 5'10" tall, weigh 220 lbs., and firmly believe I can best your trifling ass at any endeavour (and on any terms) that you might care to name. Eat shit and die, posuer.
Robert T. Nash
Citizen - Taxpayer - Prpoerty Owner
mwillingham on May 22, 2009
Ooohhhh... looks like I struck a nerve.
Robert T. Nash on May 22, 2009
Ooooh...looks like Jack Murrah taint on your upper lip...
Krogers on May 22, 2009
Thanks for the stats, but you ain't boy friend material.
KRogers on May 22, 2009
Thanks for the personal stats, Mr. Nash, but you ain't boyfriend material.
KRogers on May 22, 2009
Chuckling, now that's laughable.
stevaker on May 28, 2009
I frequent La Alteña for their tacos because A) I think they are damn good, authentic Mexican tacos and B) I can get 3 of them for $4.25. And I totally agree, Joseph_is, the Chorizo is where it's at.