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There's nothing like a taco, made fresh before your eyes, from a small taqueria on a street in a dusty Mexican border town. When you're visiting Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, you'll want to head to Taqueria Victor's, for some of the best tacos in the state of Tamaulipas. Please note that much of this article was written by, and most of the photos were taken by my friend Jerry Flinn, with editing performed by the owner of this web site. I actually was able to visit Taqueria Victor, with Jerry, back in September, 2003, but, sadly at the time, I really wasn't equipped to take digital photos. Enjoy the article, and thanks to Jerry Flinn!
Photo: Taco Victor's is located at the end of the food booths that line Calle Sonora, which is the first street to your left after you cross the International Bridge. The north side of the street is lined with food booths.
Photo: Phil, Dick and Jack pose in front of Taco Victors, ready to enjoy a delicious lunch on this early afternoon, March 22, 2004. Taqueria Victor's taco stand is located just east of the Angel Building, which is located at the corner of Av. Benito Juarez, (the street that leads you to U.S. border bridge across the Rio Grande,) and Calle Sonora. If you are looking south at this point, on Calle Sonora, turn left, and you'll see a line of taco stands, and Victor's is located near the end of the "food court."
Photo: Victor Villanueva Quintilla and his son-in-law, Cristobal Ruiz Castro are doing what they do best, making delicious tacos for our lunch today. Today is Friday, December 09, 2005, and we're ready to enjoy delicious tacos at Taqueria Victor's in Nuevo Progreso.
Photo: Christobal Castro and fiancee Nereyda Quintilla (Victor's daughter) are busy working at Taqueria Victor on this late Sunday morning in December, 2005.
Photo: Victor's daughter, Nereyda Esmeralda Villanueva Cazares fries carne bistec on the griddle at Tacqueria Victor. The kitchen of the restaurant definitely has a great view of Calle Sonora. This is a very friendly establishment, located among a host of nice people. You will be greeted with smiles from all of the people that work there, and it won't take long for any of them to learn your name: I call it the "royal treatment." The menu choices at Victor's are simple: Tacos or lonches. You ask, what are lonches? Lonches are basically a sandwich served on a small crusty roll with all the taco stuff inside; truly a original dish, which appears to have origins in Northeastern Mexico. I could be wrong, but I have never seen lonches anywhere else except in this part of Mexico. Whether tacos or lonches, the choice adds up to a delicious meal. Editor's note: During my travels to both Baja California's, and the state of Sonora, I've never seen "lonches" offered at street vendors, so I agree with Jerry's statement.
Photo: Taqueria Victor's lives "off the grid," so to speak, as the restaurant doesn't have any electricity, or city utilities. The produce is delivered fresh from local vendors and stored in crates. All meat and drinks are kept cool in ice chests.
Photo: Lonches, delivered fresh from a local bakery, are stored in a rack, and ready for lunch. "Lonches," are often refereed to "bolillos," especially west in Baja California and Sonora, and are also known in Mexico as "pan francés." The lonches are stuffed with either carne bistec, which is very thin good quality steak, seasoned and cooked quickly, or ground beef. It is a simple meal with a lot of flavor and "pizazzzzz" to offer. Yes, it is true Mexican fast food, as it's cooked quickly, right in front of you, which is quite different from the variety that you'll find north of the Rio Grande. Lonches are filled with crisp shredded cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and some of the best grilled onions you will ever savor. At your table, Victor's offers fresh key lime quarters and two choices of salsas, one red and the other green, both made at his restaurant, and I like both varieties. I always order my meal con todos, meaning with everything and all garnishes; but, you can make your own choice of garnishes and order it your way, con no problema. We always get a coke or an orange soda to accompany the meal. A plate of Taqueria Victor's tacos is priced at $3.50 in U.S. dollars and you can count on adding about fifty cents for a bottle of Coke. The total cost of a wonderful lunch at Victor's is about $4.00, which is a really good deal. When you leave Tacqueria Victor's you'll go away with a full stomach, and a smile on your face.
Photo: The owner of the restaurant, Victor Quintilla, brings a plate of some of the best tacos to be found in the small town of Nuevo Progreso. Note his ball cap, which is printed with the name "Victor," which is a nice touch.
Photo: Christobal Castro strikes a very serious pose for the camera, as he's grilling bistec. Since Taqueria Victor's isn't connected to city electricity, during winter months, when darkness comes early, the restaurant is lighted with propane lanterns. That certainly makes dining all the more cozy! When you're visiting Neuvo Progreso, and you're in the mood for the finest tacos that you'll ever enjoy, a visit to Taqueria Victor is a must.
Photo: Chrostobal fries corn tortillas on the propane fired griddle.
Photo: An order of lonches, ready enjoy. Note each roll is about the size of a French roll, hence the name in Spanish, "pan francés," and are stuffed with the meat of your choice, veggies, grilled onions, and garnished with mayonnaise. Victor's "lonches" are more commonly known as "tortas" in most of Mexico, and in the U.S.A., but if they're called "lonches" in Nuevo Progreso, I'm good with it, as the food is delicious.
Photo: An order of Victor's delicious tacos, along with a Mexican Coca Cola. make for a delicious lunch. Sliced key limes, along with bottles of picante sauce are provided for flavor enhancement, which is a very common garnish in Mexico. By the way, Coca Cola in Mexico differs significantly than the product sold north of the border as it's made with sugar cane, and has a very different taste.
Photo: Dick Gall enjoys his lunch of Victor's lonches. Considering how many of them he has on his plate, he must have a very hearty appetite!
Photo: Dick, Phil and Jack enjoy a lunch of tacos at Taqueria Victor's fine loncheria in downtown Nuevo Progreso. Taco Victor Copyright(c) 2005 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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