Another Try at Nick's Crispy Tacos

I first went to Nick's Crispy Tacos a year ago, when I discovered them on LevelUp.  I wasn't impressed, and said I probably wouldn't return.  But a few months later they ran an even better LevelUp promotion, enabling me to get what I really wanted, for free!  Even then, I didn't like it, and said I wouldn't return.  Yet I did.

They keep drawing me in with freebies!  This time, it was a $5 credit for my birthday.  Aww, thanks Nick's!  I liked my food much more on this visit, but I think that is because I stopped trying the tacos.  Turns out, Nick's Crispy Tacos does a nice job, with non-tacos!

Elote.  $3.25.

Since the tacos really hadn't done it for me before, this time around I decided to go for the other thing the Yelpers all flip out about: the elote.  I grew up eating a lot of corn on the cob, and still love it.  Theirs is served Mexican style of course, slathered with queso fresco, chili powder, and the lime mayo that they use on the fish tacos.  Wrapped up in foil, it almost looked like a burrito when it was handed over to me.

It was decent corn.  Corn season just ended, so I wasn't expecting much of the corn itself, but it was nicely cooked.  Not too overcooked, not mushy, just nicely done.  I liked the heat from the generous amount of chili powder they added.  There was also a TON of cheese, I'm assuming queso fresco, on it.  I didn't care for it.  It added a salty component, and I always put salt on my corn, but I just wasn't a fan of the cheese itself.  There was also some lime mayo.  I didn't taste the lime, but I liked the creaminess.  Although, I'm not sure I really needed mayo on my corn.

I was also handed containers of each of the red and green salsa with this.  I'm really not sure what I would have done with that on my corn.

Overall, it was better than the tacos for sure, but I didn't really want another.  Maybe during corn season it is better?

I only ate half of it when I got it, and brought the other half home for Ojan.  However, he wasn't interested, so I ended up eating it, cold.  I actually really liked it that way.  I cut it off the cob, and it was basically like a mayo-y corn salad.  Not bad at all.  It really surprised me, and by this point, I changed my mind, and said I'd gladly get it again.  Only, I'd just bring it home, stick it in the fridge, and have it as corn salad :)

The price was $3.25, but I was charged $3.66.  I remembered that last time I was confused with the final price as well, as it always comes out higher than just standard tax.  Not sure what they are up to.  An ear of corn, even when covered in stuff, doesn't really seem worth that price.

Update:  And ... I went back to try out my corn salad idea again.  Of course I tried a bite when it was hot and fresh.  My ear of corn was much smaller this time, pale yellow, barely yellow at all.  It was again perfectly cooked though, not mushy.  I again didn't like the cheese, and thought the mayo was really off-putting.

But my plan was to bring it home, serve it cold, off the cob, as a salad.  I didn't like it that way either this time around.  Hmm.  I guess this is what I get for having corn in November :)

Churro.  $1.95.

On another visit, I decided to satisfy my sweet tooth, and ordered a churro to go along with the coffee I had just picked up.  I was basically craving a donut, and thought this would suffice.

I had no idea what to expect, I sorta assumed it would be lackluster since I hadn't liked any of the food there before, besides the corn.  I assumed it was going to be pre-made and just warmed up.  I figured I'd take a bite or two, and bring it to Ojan.

So I was a bit annoyed when it seemed to take forever.  Yes, Nick's was busy, but how long would my little churro take?  Finally, it was handed over, wrapped in foil.

I took a bite and quickly discovered why it took so long.  I'm pretty sure it was freshly fried to order!  It was piping hot.  As in, I actually burnt the interior of my mouth piping hot.

It was crispy on the outside.  Moist on the inside.  Nicely fried.  Great amount of cinnamon and sugar on it.  In short, it was good.  It was the best churro I've ever had.  It put the crappy one from Rubio's to shame.  They weren't even comparable.

Well Nick's, you've done it.  You finally made something I really, really liked :)

At $1.95, it was more expensive than the Rubio's one, but I think the price was very good for a freshly fried item.  Of course, it rang up as $2.20.  I'm convinced at this point that they must include tax + healthy SF fee?

Update: I went back for another, and this time, it was not nearly as good.  While it still took forever to prepare (longer than the burritos, etc from those who ordered after me), it wasn't piping hot.  It was more warm than hot.  It also seemed like it had been over-fried, very crispy, not doughy at all.  And it tasted like oil.  Not enough cinnamon nor sugar.  If this had been my first churro from Nick's I would have never returned.  Consistency does not seem to be their best attribute!

I also tried the horchata again, because I do sometimes love horchata, and was hoping that the previous batch I had was just a fluky bad batch.  Sadly, I still didn't like it.  Just too thick and ricey, although it was nicely seasoned and not too sweet.