DINING GUIDE
25 great dishes: A sampler plate
By Mike Sutter
AMERICAN-STATESMAN RESTAURANT CRITIC
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Lone Star beef torta
Izzoz Tacos One-time steakhouse chef John Galindo runs one of the best taco trailers in the city. But as good as his tacos with fried avocado or braised pork and pineapple are, this sandwich is even better. For less than $6, Galindo stuffs a flaky roll with pull-apart meat simmered in Lone Star beer, then tops it with bright cilantro-lime aioli and a slaw of pickled cabbage and red onion. Then he brings it on home with a fistful of hand-cut fries suffused with salt and garlic.
Izzoz Tacos on South First: Champagne tacos on a beer budget
Austin Restaurants/Bar Examiner
Erin Barkkume
June 24, 2009
Set in a lot off South 1st just south of downtown, Izzoz has taken the taco trailer market by storm with its five star upscale tacos at an economical price. The seared ahi tuna taco is to die for (it isn’t on the menu- it’s something proprietor John Galindo is experimenting with, and the experiment is a delicious success) and the Padre (braised pork with avocado, pineapple and tomatillo salsa) is a heavenly stand out as well.
Technically, Izzoz doesn’t have a bar- but don’t let that stop you since you can bring your own adult beverages. John has wine recommendations that pair nicely with his superstar tacos. He suggest a Vouvray or perhaps a Soauve Classico- these pair especially well with the various seafood tacos on the menu and balance the spicy aiolis beautifully. If you prefer red, John suggests a Shiraz or even a South American Pinot Noir. John has even been known to personally ice down a Chenin Blanc brought in by some adventurous Izzoz enthusiasts.
The landscaping around the Izzoz trailer has come a long way- John’s been babying the grass and it shows. It is an extremely pleasant place for lunch- the large shady trees and colorful umbrellas offer ample respite from the sun. It is wonderful for dinner too, with a lovely backdrop of the downtown skyline.
Izzoz Tacos are very reasonably priced, considering the quality of the meal. And if you bring your own beer or wine, your meal is budget friendly enough to have money left over for some chocolate decadence at Holy Cacao (next to Izzoz), where you can wrap your lips around a frozen chocolate cake shake- the perfect way to end a summer evening.
(A special note for the ladies: John Galindo was named by Austin Monthly Magazine www.austinmonthly.com as one of the Top Ten Austin Bachelors in their upcoming August issue. So between the Austin skyline and John, the view is not bad at Izzoz.)
One Dish Wonders: Izzoz Tacos
Lone Star beef torta with garlic fries ($5.50)
By Mike Sutter
AMERICAN-STATESMAN RESTAURANT CRITIC
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Lone Star beef torta with garlic fries ($5.50)
Full disclosure: When I wrote about Izzoz (EEE-zoes) Tacos for the Life & Food section in February, I met head cook and trailer-wrangler John Galindo, but not until after food writer Addie Broyles and I ordered and ate our way through five tacos — and this amazing sandwich: the Lone Star beef torta. Galindo ran the Cedar Grove Steakhouse in Wimberley a few years back, and he knows his way around a cut of beef, in this case braised machaca-style: seared for caramelization and color, then slow-simmered in Lone Star beer and spices for tenderizing. The result is full-flavored, pull-apart meat perfect for a sandwich. For this one, Galindo uses a toasted, flaky and slightly sweet roll, packs in the beef, tops it with pickled cabbage and red onion slaw and sauces it with cilantro-lime aïoli that puts a bright edge on the spice. Then he brings it on home with a fistful of hand-cut fries, double-dipped in hot oil for stout crunchiness and suffused with salt and garlic. At just $5.50, it's one of the best lunch deals in the city. You might even be tempted to spend another $1.50 for a red velvet cake ball at the Holy Cacao trailer next door. (1207 S. First St. 326-4996, www.izzoztacos.com.)
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FOOD MATTERS
Trailer trip: John Galindo's journey from a steakhouse in Wimberley to Izzoz Tacos on South First Street
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
On South First, a triumvirate of tacos
South First Street is a paved buffet of places to get a taco: Torchy's, Polvo's, La Mexicana Bakery, Taquerias Arandas, et al. But there's always room for more, right? Especially when the taco slinger is John Galindo, right, the well-reviewed former chef-owner of the Cedar Grove Steakhouse in Wimberley. Galindo's 42-foot blue trailer at 1207 S. First St. is called Izzoz Tacos. That's "EEE-zoes," short for "mellizos," the Spanish word for fraternal twins, in honor of his sister's children. Family connections run through Galindo's restaurant career, which has included dishwashing duties at his parents' former Casa Loma restaurant in Wimberley, progressing through his stewardship of Cedar Grove, which his family sold to the property owner in 2007.
After almost a year cooking at North at the Domain, Galindo opened Izzoz the day after Christmas last year, and his three-tiered taco tactic was born. For Tex-Mex fans, Galindo sears chicken and beef fajita tacos and fresh-fries corn tortillas for crispy beef tacos. Interior Mexican cooking gets its pork on with the Padre, a braised and roasted pork shoulder with avocado, pineapple and creamy tomatillo salsa. The taco triad's third approach brings in California and the Southwest with tilapia, shrimp tempura and fried avocado tacos. Breakfast tacos with cage-free eggs and handmade chorizo, along with bulging sandwiches and hand-cut garlic fries round out the menu. Breakfast tacos start at $1.75, other tacos range from $2 to $4 and sandwiches are $5.50 to $6, with fries.
