Steph’s Taco Blog: Hunger Street Tacos in Winter Park

The first time I visited Hunger Street Tacos, I did it all wrong. From the name, you might assume Hunger Street Tacos is solely a taco joint (as I did), and only order tacos (as I did).

Do this and you’ll miss out on the depth of authentic Mexican cuisine that owners/brothers Joseph and David Creech have so passionately crafted.

FYI: this is not the Americanized Mexican food we’ve all become accustomed to. Having both spent ample time exploring the street food of Mexico City (Joseph was born in Mexico and raised there until the age of 6, David spent a semester abroad in Mexico), the two have brought everything they love about the regional cuisine of Mexico City to Winter Park. And while tacos were the catalyst in the restaurant’s creation (the business was born after Joseph’s wife, Seydi, had a hankering for a Suadero taco), they’re only a fraction of the goodness to be found on the always-evolving menu.

In fact, ask Joseph how he recommends approaching the menu as a first-timer and his advice is simple: look for something you don’t know, and order that.

What better way to celebrate food? Eating here is about more than just stuffing your face with tacos (although that’s totally acceptable). It’s a chance to try something new, expand your horizons and find a point of connection with another culture. And the power is, quite literally, in your taco-grasping fingertips.

Here’s how to embark on your own culinary adventure at this Winter Park eatery…

Step 1: Prepare for Culinary Adventure with Sangria

There was a time in my life in which I was an incredibly picky eater. I was known to say I didn’t like things simply because I’d never tried them. In those days, I was too young to consult liquid courage. But now in my adulthood, sangria-assisted courage is a thing.

I’ve always loved Mexican food. But my idea of what Mexican food was and what it really is were vastly different. If you’re in the same boat, dining at Hunger Street for the first time may be a slight shock to your system. Throw your notions out the window of what you understand Mexican cuisine to be, and allow the talented chefs here to show you what it is to them. The sangria will help.

I’ve always been a classic red sangria kind of gal, but there’s a white version too if that’s your jam.

Sangria: A. It’s extra refreshing in the sweltering summer heat.

Step 2: Taste Something that isn’t a Taco

“If it’s on this menu, it can be found in the streets and markets of Mexico City,” states the menu in bold. So if you don’t have the funds for travel right now, consider this your tastebuds’ very affordable ticket to an afternoon food vacation.

Consider starting with the Marrow and Mushroom Sope. If you have no idea what a sope is, no shame. I didn’t either. It’s a masa corn cake — crispy on the outside, dense and thick on the inside. This savory option comes topped with black beans, mushrooms (this addition was inspired by a trip to Paris), salsa roja and avocado salsa, crema fresca, cotija cheese, red onion and — the star of the show — bone marrow, which must be coaxed out with a knife. It’s subtly rich, filling, and a delicious introduction to what Hunger Street Tacos is all about.

Vegans can still get a taste of this dish too. There’s a version sans the marrow made with vegan black beans.

A more familiar option, the esquites (Mexican street corn) is a perfect side dish for your taco feast to come.

Bone marrow makes another appearance in the form of a marrow broth reduction with fresh corn off the cob, cotija cheese, lime, crema fresca and epazote.

The menu also features about a dozen vegan and vegetarian options. Among them, the famed squash blossom quesadilla.

Don’t skip this dish stuffed with squash blossoms (lovely edible flowers from zucchini/yellow squash/other assorted squashes), onion, Chihuahua and Oaxaca cheeses, epazote (this is a Mexican dried herb), garlic and salsa roja.

And don’t forget to indulge in some dessert. The Xocoflan is a dish I’ve been trying to taste since before Hunger Street even opened and it lived up to all of my fantasies. It’s decadent yet light, sweet but balanced.

Chocolate cake + flan = love.

Non-taco creations: A+. Come with an open mind and step outside of your culinary comfort zone and you won’t be disappointed.

Other items to add to your Hunger Street Tacos bucket list:

• Chicharron de Queso: Basically a giant crispy seared cheese creation that you break off and dip into guac and salsa. Get a good visual here.
• Chicken Tinga tostada: shredded chicken, chorizo, onion, tomato-chipotle sauce, refried beans, crema fresca, red cabbage and avocado. Basically all the yummy things.
• Classic chips and guac. (They were making a version with just tomatillos, no lime, when I was there. It was spicy and oh so good.)

Step 3: Taco Time

While the menu is worth exploring beyond tacos, make sure you leave room to try at least one.

Joseph informed me that in Mexico, taquerias are often known for just one type of taco, considered that taqueria’s personal specialty. While Hunger Street offers a handful of different varieties, it is the Suadero taco they consider their signature. It is, after all, the taco that started it all. This simple and tasty bite is comprised of seared brisket, cilantro, onions, avocado salsa and lime.

I also tried the avocado taco made with a hunk of fried avocado and topped with red onion, cabbage, serrano-lime crema, cilantro and cotija cheese.

As you’ll notice from the photos, Hunger Street doesn’t skimp on the taco fillings. In fact, each taco comes wrapped in two tortillas. While Hunger Street doesn’t make their own corn tortillas (yet), they are locally made and full of flavor with a pleasant texture that’s worlds away from the rubbery, flimsy mass-produced grocery store alternative.

Tacos: A. This is my second favorite taco spot in Central Florida.

Other must-try tacos:

• Grilled Cheese taco (because, cheese)
• Campechano (my personal fav)
• Hibiscus & Guac (just to say you tried it)

Everything Else You Need to Know

While you’ll place your food order inside, all seating is outdoors on a first-come, first-served basis. The restaurant can get busy, but late afternoon (2-3pm) tends to be less crowded.

For my fellow brunch fanatics, Hunger Street serves brunch (featuring a brunch taco of course) on Saturdays from 9am-2pm. The regular menu is served from 11am-11pm.

Check out the full menu here.

Hunger Street Tacos is open every day of the week except Sunday, so plan to get your taco fix accordingly.

Art is another huge part of Hunger Street Tacos, as evidenced by the large, colorful wall murals adorning the restaurant. I recommend reading about the art here, which was done by Lapiztola, an art collective comprised of four artists. The murals are more than colorful works of art; they’re the artists’ interpretation of social and political issues in Mexico, and each piece on the walls of Hunger Street has a backstory.

Read more Steph’s Taco Blog posts here.