ALLEY TACO 402

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑

Tacos, burritos, tortas, and Mexican soups

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout

Standout Dishes: Al Pastor Torta; Birria Taco

Great food is worth finding, no matter how obscure the destination.

This is proven when you pull up to 5638 S 20th St, the listed address of Alley Taco 402, but don’t see any sign of a food truck. After wandering around for a few moments, you’ll cautiously make your way down the thin alley next to the house with that address (“alley” is in the name, right?) hoping all along that you’re not trespassing.

But then you round the corner and see a plain, white food truck. You’re greeted by the friendly faces on the truck, including Ronaldo Valadez, who carries on the vision of his father who started the business in 1994 and passed in 2021.

And when you sink your teeth into your taco, all the wandering becomes well worth it. You’ve found elite level Mexican food, and that’s something to get excited about.

Tacos may be the truck’s namesake, but that’s not all you’ll find here. The menu includes tortas, burritos, quesatacos, and quesadillas, all of which can be ordered with asada (steak), chorizo, lengua (beef tongue), al pastor (marinated pork), cachete (beef cheek), nopales (cactus), or birria (slow-stewed beef). Menduo, posole, and tostadas are also commonly available.

But the star are the tacos, and it all starts with the tortilla. Alley Taco’s tortillas are all handmade, and they have a soft, chewy consistency and a hint of sweet nuttiness. While most street tacos employ two corn shells, Alley Taco’s tortillas are firm and pliable enough that one does the job.

Rather than dress the taco, Alley Taco provides fresh cilantro, diced onion, and limes on the side, allowing the diner to customize their taco experience.

You can also enjoy the taco with just meat, which considering how flavorful the proteins are, isn’t a bad option. The Asada is rich and juicy with a nice charred, smoky flavor. The Al Pastor pops forward with a mild sweetness and a touch of heat, while the Chorizo delivers a fatty kick of smoky, spicy pork.

The best of the bunch (to this palate, at least) is the Birria Taco. The meat itself is tender, almost like a pulled beef, and it hits all notes of the flavor spectrum: tangy, spicy, and decadent. One could happily wolf down a plate of this meat alone.

The tortilla is dipped into the fatty stew left over from creating the beef, then fried on the plancha. A healthy dose of cheese is added before the beef arrives and the tortilla lid is closed and the melty Oaxacan cheese seals the door shut.

The quick date on the plancha creates a crispy savory crust, and each bite welcomes a rush of warm, melty cheese.

Great as the titular menu item is at Alley Taco 402, it’s not all about the tacos at this truck. I’d argue the tortas are not only on par with the tacos, but another the best sandwiches in Omaha.

These Mexican sandwiches are served inside a soft, oval telera roll, which Alley Taco 402 butters and places on the plancha while a bed of cheese melts nearby. That fried cheese is then transferred to the bottom loaf, creating a gooey, creamy base that glues to the meat above it. Lettuce, tomato, and avocado slices are layered on before a heavy drizzle of sour cream is applied to the top bun.

The bread forms a nice crust during its time on the grill, while the lettuce and tomato balance out the rich, fattiness of the sour cream, avocado, and cheese.

The sandwich is stuffed full of the meat of your choice to create a hefty meal capable of tackling an appetite without a side.

If you desire a side, however, the Rice is an excellent option. It’s smooth and soft, almost melting in your mouth, and has a slightly sweet, tangy tomato vibe.

The Mexican Hot Chocolate is a wonderful treat to enjoy in the colder months. It has the same warming properties of what you’d expect from hot chocolate, but it’s less sweet and richer thanks to the presence of chopped bittersweet chocolate. Cinnamon and chili also add a touch of heat.

Finding Alley Taco 402 makes you feel like you’ve joined some secret society; there’s no chance you’d know about this place without someone telling you, and finding it is a bit of an adventure to locate.

But adventures are worth taking when the payoff is this delicious. When you want to find some of the best Mexican food in Omaha (tacos in particular), Alley Taco 402 beckons.