Veracruz All Natural Steals Our Hearts with Refreshing and Healthful Ingredients

We've been on a quest to find our favorite taco spot in Austin, and I think that search is now over. A stationary white bus has won. Parked in an enclosed space, the Veracruz All Natural "food truck" (a revamped school bus, really) serves up not only the town's favorite food (tacos) but also an assortment of fresh juices and housemade salsas. All of their attention to ingredient details make for the great bites they produce. If you're going to find your way to this stellar spot, make sure you also grab yourself a refreshing huge cup of their aguas frescas!


The restaurant itself has a brick-and-mortar up north but are visited mostly where they started - on East Cesar Chavez. What started off in 2008 as a small trailer slinging cold drinks and smoothies grew into a beloved operation that touted noteworthy tacos. Once the food came, so did the salsas and housemade tortilla chips. They've set up a welcoming space for themselves undoubtedly; we were drawn in by the ample seating and laid-back attitude of everyone around. We were all here to enjoy some good eats and relax.


Veracruz makes it easy after all. If you aren't going for any of the many natural drinks and smoothies they have, you could always supplement your taco order with a tall 32 oz cup of Aguas Frescas ($4.00 - mango, canteloupe, orange, pineapple, strawberry, strawberry banana, watermelon, or cucumber). Of the many variations they offer, we've had their mango, pineapple, and strawberry ones. The mango was a popular choice and ran out at least one of our visits there; it is thick and sweet like a whole mango would be. The pineapple is very refreshing and balances the line between tart and sweet. The strawberry is refreshing and so satisfying if you just want a bit of sugariness with each swallow. As a whole, these are just fantastic for being mainly the fruits themselves rather than a lot of additives.

Though only three tacos are pictured below, we've tasted quite a few items on the menu. One of their famous tacos is the Migas ($3.50 - eggs, tortilla chips, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese), a savory breakfast taco that takes care of your need for something savory, crunchy, and cheesy. I'd guess this could be a hangover favorite. The Chicken Fajita taco ($3.00 - chicken, cilantro, onions, queso fresco, avocado) carried the characteristic fajita "char" throughout, making for a smoky, hefty taco. If you are into some sauciness, you might want to check out the Al Pastor ($3.00 - pork marinated in pineapple juice and chile guajillo, cilantro, onions, queso fresco, avocado) for its tender juiciness and flavorful marinate. Ah, and the housemade tortilla chips previously mentioned? Get them in the Chips and Guacamole ($5.00 - avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, lime, salt) for a generous amount of chip and dip.


On our very first visit, we went for the Vegetarian ($3.50 - spinach, avocado, carrots, mushrooms, red bell pepper, queso fresco, pico de gallo), Chicken Mole ($3.25 - onions, queso fresco), and Fish ($3.75 - grilled tilapia, cabbage, mango pico, avocado, Monterey Jack cheese, chipotle mayo salsa) tacos. If you are not the carnivorous type, you'd likely be happy with the vegetarian option at Veracruz because they do not skimp on filling up the tortilla with plenty of grilled goodness. The mushrooms were plentiful and bell peppers just a tad caramelized. The only thing to be warned about with this one though is to keep your foil beneath your tortilla because the small pieces may fall out.

The chicken mole taco was rich and hefty. Two of those would probably be enough to keep you full for the day because of how savory the mole was and how much chicken was included. I liked the inclusion of onions too to add a little texture to each bite and also cut through the inherent smoky sweetness of the mole. This one is on Duc's top tacos list BUT the absolute favorite for both of us (and other Veracruz lovers we've talked to) is their fish taco. It tastes fresh and is piled high with healthful ingredients. The mango pico adds great bursts of brightness, the avocado helps meld every component together, and the chipotle mayo salsa adds a zippiness that I think seafood always needs a touch of. It is a given that I'll order this one every time.

If you need to taste the tacos that have won us over, find them over on 1704 E Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78702, visible streetside. There will likely be a line but it will be worth your time. Maybe just grab an aguas frescas for the wait!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.