I spent my lunch hour today driving the route for the East Austin Taco Bike Tour. You guys would have giggled if you had seen me using my broken Spanish to communicate to some of the people at the stops for Saturday. Muchos personas van a comer tacos aqui en Sabado. Quisieramos comer muchos tacos. Gracias! According to Google Translator, this means: Many people go to eat tacos here on Saturday. We would like to eat many tacos.

Although the tour this Saturday is self-guided, we wanted to provide you with suggested directions to avoid busy streets.

We are meeting at Porfirio’s at 11 a.m. Porfirio’s is located on the corner of Holly and Comal, in East Austin just south of Cesar Chavez.

Next to Porfirio’s is a food mart where you can get cash at the ATM or pick up a bottle of water if you need one. Eat some breakfast tacos, carne guisada, homemade salsa or the best bean & egg taco ever.

Hop on your bike and turn left on Lynn and then right on Willow. You’ll pedal straight on for a while and then make a left on Llano and a right on Cesar Chavez. This is a busy street so feel free to walk your bike along the sidewalk.

See the Dos Hermanos sign on the northwest corner of Cesar Chavez and Pleasant Valley? Head into that parking lot! On this busy corner, you’ll be pleased to be greeted by a tree offering generous shade, picnic benches, and the Taqueria Piedras Negras. This is the best place to practice your Spanish as the owners don’t speak English. They do offer delicious tacos al pastor y barbacoa tacos.

Walk your bike across Pleasant Valley and head north to make a right on East 2nd Street. Pedal straight until you reach a crossroads and make a left on Tillery. Just as you pass Mrs. Bairds, you might spot Marcelino Pan Y Vino on the corner of Tillery and Lyons Road.

There are tables inside to help you cool off and a case full of frosty beverages. I can vouch for the delicious lunch plates but they are famous for their tacos, gorditas, and menudo. Belly nice and full? Hoist yourself once again onto the bike for the longest leg of the journey up to Manor Road for Mi Madre’s and El Chilito.

Head west on Lyons Road. Turn right on North Pleasant Valley Road. Pedal patiently uphill, enjoying the views and sweatin’ those extra taco calories. Pleasant Valley will turn into Chestnut Avenue about halfway through. Take a left on Manor Road to enjoy enchiladas or quesadillas at Mi Madre’s. Another option is to head straight for dessert sopapillas. Mi Madres normally closes at 2 p.m. on Saturdays so pedal swiftly, kittens!

Our final stop to hang out and share war stories of the journey is El Chilito, one block away from Mi Madres, to drink cold cerveza and sangria. We deserve the reward.

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