Report filed by contributor Dan Walker.
One of the things I love most about living in Dallas is that we are undeniably a city full of taco-holics. There is no shame in it, my friends. I count myself as one and don’t plan on kicking the habit any time soon. I realized the situation was critical when I—purposely– left a greasy Styrofoam container of leftover tacos in my car for three days so it would smell like barbacoa. Hey, it beats that fake pine tree scent any day.
Today I share one of my latest and greatest taco discoveries. You won’t find these tacos at any gas station, rather they await you within the welcoming walls of Neighborhood Services Tavern. Recently, the brainpower behind the menu at NST rolled out some new items, one of which is the wonderful Cuban pork shoulder street tacos.
Glorious details below.
Heavily marbled pork shoulder is slow roasted and pulled, then delicately placed inside three golden corn tortillas. Toppings are simple, but provide the perfect balance to the richness and saltiness of the pork. The sweet radish and pickled onion pico is sprinkled across the top and the entire dish is crowned with a lovely sour orange crème fraiche. Each of the elements play together perfectly and makes for some very honorable tacos.
Equally unique and delightful is the accompanying house made salsa. The standard roasted tomato, jalapeño, red pepper, onion, and garlic provide the base for this king of condiments. The ingredients are ground together with cucumber, cilantro, and toasted cumin, and finished with a touch of maple. The final result is a sweet and smoky masterpiece. Luckily, I was able to keep my dignity and was able to resist the urge to drink this salsa straight out of the bowl.
Any meal at Neighborhood Services Tavern that starts with these tacos and ends with a double chocolate Ding Dong is one that will never disappoint.
