Profile: Taco Tank
It’s taco time– and not just any taco: a Birria taco!
Photos by Tyler Shane
Been looking for those Birria tacos you’ve seen trending all over the internet? Taco Tank has got you covered. Nominated by The Pitch for Best Food Truck, Taco Tank is a local food cart serving up Mexican street food, including the highly coveted and authentic Quesabirria taco as well as esquites, nachos, classic carnitas tacos and much, much more.
Roman Raya, a KC native, started Taco Tank back in 2017 fueled by his Mexican-American heritage and a “desire to feed people good food.” While the Taco Tank cart can usually be found at festivals and large events around the KC metro, due to the impact of COVID-19, you can now find Raya, and his creative partner, Madeline Buechter, working the cart in local breweries and slinging tacos straight from the grill to your table. Their regular menu consists of traditional Mexican street food packed with a flavorful punch such as esquites, (think elotes but conveniently served in a cup), tender braised beef nachos coated with street corn, gooey cheese, Tank sauce, salsa and cilantro, and a specialty taco. Their newest specialty item is their Pollo Adobo Tacos, three corn tortillas tacos filled with marinated chicken all topped with a crunchy citrus slaw, spicy peanut salsa and a creamy queso fresco. An impressive combination of savory, sweet, spice, and crunch all in one bite.
While Taco Tank was serving Birria tacos well before they became trendy, Raya claims what makes his tacos special is “the quality ingredients and the bold layers of flavor.”
“We start with a flour tortilla, chihuahua cheese, a blend of onions and cilantro, tender braised beef, and a splash of color from a special oil blend that helps them crisp up on the grill. The melty, crunch, salty, savory tacos are then served with our beef broth reserved from the cooking process, adding another layer of flavor as you dip each bite. Yeah, I like these.”
But Taco tank isn’t afraid to switch up their specialty. Their pop-ups, Top Nosh, have showcased their ability to confidently stray from their norm and create menus that involve creative twists on classic holiday meals and local beer pairings to top it off. Their Oktoberfest pop-up menu consisted of entrees such as the Sauerbraten Melt, a melty braised beef sandwich with onions and Muenster cheese all on crisp marbled rye bread and served with a sweet-tangy au jus, while their holiday pop-up menu included The Black Friday, a sandwich inspired by Thanksgiving leftovers, consisting of roasted turkey, cranberry-orange jam and mashed potato purée all between two slices of toasted stuffing bread and smothered with turkey gravy.
As far as future plans for Taco Tank, Raya claims he is “eager to expand, we are just looking for the right opportunity.”
“I’d say I’m most proud of Taco Tank’s continued growth, which I owe largely to the relationships we’ve built and the opportunities they’ve provided. Early on in this adventure, I learned just how important quality partnerships are in this industry and how easy it can be to lose sight of your authentic self. I am very thankful for the position I am in and the personal and professional relationships I’ve made. I’m proud of the direction that Taco Tank is heading and the support we’ve gained along the way.”
You can find Taco Tank at Rockcreek Brewing Company in Mission, KS on Friday nights and at Pathlight Brewing in Shawnee, KS on Saturdays. They also cater private events. Watch for their house chips in select breweries across the KC metro.
Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KCTacoTank
Instagram: @kctacotank
