Danny Dines: RioTacos

Don’t worry America, I know one thing that we can all agree on: a plate of tacos is the most gorgeous site in the world. Well, for me, a plate of tacos is the second-most gorgeous site in the world, with the first being my girlfriend (that was a close one).

This week, I had the honor of visiting RioTacos — which got its start as a food truck serving the Rio Rancho area — where I got to eat some of my favorite comfort foods.

I got a group email from office employees at a nearby auto dealership who told me that RioTacos is the office’s premier spot for lunch and the best spot for birria tacos.

I am no stranger to RioTacos. If you don’t know, RioTacos was a very active food truck on the Westside and Rio Rancho area before landing its current brick-and-mortar location. Most patrons, like my friend Gabe, remember them at the Marble Westside location and miss their homemade tortillas. Shoutout to my friends Gabe and Maggie, who got married this past weekend and are big fans of RioTacos.

I used to visit them when they set up shop in Northern Meadows, and I miss them every single day ... but not as much as I miss my girlfriend (another close one).

When I walked through the doors, I immediately noticed their sections of homemade desserts while my favorite Peso Pluma song played. Do I have a sweet tooth? If I was a cartoon, I would be the cartoon who floats when they smell pie.

The homemade desserts in the fridge were tres leches, dulce de leche flan and sopapilla cheesecake. A sopapilla cheesecake! I have had it before, and it is like eating a churro stuffed with cheesecake. If you ever get sad, just remember that you live in a time where you can buy sopapilla cheesecake.

The dining area had a nice modern interior flare, a cool neon RioTacos sign, some T-shirts, a TV playing Monday Night Football and aguas frescas. I have never tried aguas frescas. No real reason; I am just a simple man who enjoys a flat Diet Coke. However, I probably should give it a try before my mom’s side of the family stops talking to me. The aguas frescas available were Horchata, Jamaica and their seasonal option, which was pineapple.

With the help of their wonderful owner — and head chef — Fernando Rios, I decided to order their quesa-birria tacos, a beer-batter fish taco, tres leches cake and a pineapple agua fresca.

Some other items on their menu include the Mulita Quesadilla, tortas, Chilaquiles, a stuffed potato, beer-batter shrimp tacos and, of course, tacos (asada, al pastor, barbacoa and chicken). Drink items include fountain drinks, bottled Mexican sodas and alcohol (draft and bottles).

First, I got the tres leches cake. Yes, I eat dessert first; the world will catch up soon enough. The tres leches was sweet, moist, rich and creamy. Tres leches takes the best of all desserts and combines it into a beautiful masterpiece, and this did not disappoint.

Next, I tried the pineapple agua fresca, and it was fruity and refreshing. Sipping that drink took me back to the beaches of Baja California, specifically Ensenada. Oh, how I miss that warm Pacific water and sunburns on my back.

I ate the beer-batter fish tacos next, which were filled with fried cod, habanero creama, pico, avo salsa and house slaw. I took one bite, and this, too, took me back to Baja. It was flavorful, had a nice crunch and had a great balance of spices, acidity and zest.

Now, it was time for headliner, the quesa-birria tacos.

These bad boys came in threes, had a magnificent cheese crust, were filled with cheese and delicious beef birria stew meat, and when you took a bite, you could stretch the cheese all the way to Madrid. Shoutout to the people of Madrid, New Mexico, y’all are great! The quesa-birria tacos were tender, juicy and had an amazing aroma. They were gone in four minutes.

RioTacos is owned by a family who lives in Rio Rancho, and if you ask me, they should open a location in Rio Rancho. Give them a try; you will not regret it.

The Quesa-Birria tacos were $12, a beer batter fish taco (a la carte) was $3.25, the 16-ounce pineapple agua fresca was $3, and the tres leches cake was $5.

If you would like to reach to RioTacos or have them cater an event, call 505-361-1871.

RioTacos is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

RioTacos is located at 4545 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque.

Where should I go next? Email me dzuniga@rrobserver.com.