MUSUBI: Taco Hunting in Tokyo

This may sound strange to say, but I come from Southern California where tacos aren’t just a food, but a constant point of contention. If you take a SoCal-raised taco lover to any taco hut in the world, you need to be prepared for either criticism, praise, or a deep conversation about what a taco should really be.

Now, you might be asking yourself, why are tacos so important and why am I reading about them here on MUSUBI? To this I can only say: because tacos are a life line. I know we are lucky enough to live in Japan, and it is a wonderful place to live. There are however always going to be things you don’t understand, culture clashes, homesickness, and honestly at least once, you’ll doubt all your decisions. This isn’t because of Japan. It’s just the reality of living so far away from everything you’ve known for your whole life. This is where tacos come in, at least for me. Maybe they will for you too, or you'll have your own lifeline or "comfort food".

I’ve been living outside of America for the vast majority of the past six years. I’ve settled in a few places and gotten to enjoy that feeling of being in a totally new place more than once. It’s a great feeling, but it’s tough. One thing I realized is how important food is to people. It’s a connection. A connection to others. A connection to culture. A connection to your past. It’s also just really delicious.

People react to homesickness in different ways, but for me it’s usually to gorge on foods from my home. So, I’ve turned it into a fun experience. I look up and try to find local (and not so local) places where I can get the foods I’m craving. Enter taco sanctuary #1, ØL Oslo Brewing Co. in Shibuya. It's a wonderful American-style crafter beer taproom that is in actuality dedicated to Scandinavian culture and fine craft beer (ØL being the Scandinavian word for beer).

Alongside this already amazing situation for a homesick American boy is a food cart. Enter La Cabina. And what does this food cart sell? I know you know, but I’ll say it anyway: tacos. They also do chips, guacamole, tostadas, ceviche and other delicious foods (the Brewing Co. describes their Mexican food as the best in town, no less). But, I’m here for the tacos.
 

I’d started my taco hunt a little more locally, but all I could find in my area was the typical TexMex restaurants. Now don’t get me wrong- I like TexMex, but it’s just not the same. TexMex restaurants can be found all over Japan, and the food is generally good. There’s a lot of influence from the US, especially around my area because of a military base. But for a SoCal resident, it's not the same as street tacos.

It’s just that for a taco connoisseur such as myself (and many of my school chums), there's something indescribably different about tacos the way we know them. I was actually almost ready to give up on finding authentic tacos. And let me be clear here, tacos are a Mexican food, not Californian. But California tacos are leagues closer to the real thing than TexMex will ever be. And it’s the taste I’ve grown up with. When I first tried the tacos from La Cabina, it was like I was back home again.

That’s the point of all this. I don’t want you to try and use my homesickness cure as the remedy for yours. I doubt it would work for everyone, but I want you to be aware that it’s going to happen.  With all that in mind. I do hope you check it out. Even if you don’t like tacos, the beer at ØL Oslo Brewing Co. is worth the trip alone. As an added bonus, both of these places are entirely English-friendly, so even if you’re Japanese isn’t up to par just yet, you can still enjoy the full range here.

Set a date, take a friend, maybe one who's going through their own existential crisis about their decision to settle down here. Offer up some advice from someone who’s spent a lot of time away from home. And introduce some of the best tacos you can find this side of the Pacific.

Photo Credits:

Main image: Makiya_Watanabe

Additional images for this article were provided by Michael Gruendner.

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