Arthur’s Bomb Tacos

2 reviews so far, 1 very good, 1 not so good. Here’s my take.
I’m a food truck fanatic and I’ve seen this truck’s posts on twitter and it’s usually in North County, but was coming down for an event and I thought «great, I’ll get a chance to try their wares». No web site– just a facebook page and some remarks about their menu which was tacos and burritos. But not the typical «California style» … rather it’s influenced by west Texas, «old south west» style.
I’m a picky eater and sometimes there’s just stuff I won’t like, and I won’t ding a restaurant that cooks a dish in a manner I don’t like. When I heard this truck did adobada style tacos, i figured I may not like it but it was worth giving it a shot. And knowing I’d want to review it on Unilocal or a future blog of mine, I kept an open mind, and said «even if I don’t like it, I should at least be able to say other people will.»
Well I had a chat with the gentleman about the tacos– different places do tacos differently and I didn’t want to get a taco that had stuff in it I knew I wouldn’t like. I don’t know if i’d like the salsa, or the meat seasoning but I know I don’t like guac, avocado, or beans. Chipotle is hit or miss with me; I’ll try it but I may not like it. And I thought I was going to get a taco with onions and cilantro.
After a bit of a wait, though the truck wasn’t quite fully set up and they had a bad day for other reasons, I got my tacos. And … the tacos had beans in it. I was very unhappy to say the least. I didn’t bother going back to the truck guy and I just walked away. I shared the tacos with a friend who didn’t think it was bad but this is my review not his and he can open up his own Unilocal account.
A few months later (I started this review fresh in my mind in November 11) and I haven’t seen ABT at any events since then.

Unlike the majority of people in these office complex’s where gourmet food trucks go for lunch I can fend for myself and often will drive 15 miles on my lunch break to check out a new truck. In this case my Arthurs adventure took 2 days. 1 was a fail because I could not find them, the 2^nd they were a man down and so it was just 1 guy selling and serving. I got there at 12:04, waited 9 minutes to order and did not get my food until 1:02. That’s 58 minutes for taco’s. Now mind you I thought about leaving just in principal even after I paid because doing bad business is hurting your name and honestly you should have just not shown up and bailed like so many do. The food should sell itself, but that doesn’t mean you can be apathetic. No twitter, facebook only, hidden way in the back locations. I mean how do you expect to do well in competing with trucks that have graphics, windows, don’t run out of tortilla’s, have what’s on their online menu, takes credit cards.
Your menu has a ton of stuff, but when I get there you have carne asada, chicken and veggie burrito’s and taco’s. How do you run out of torilla’s? That’s like running out of chicken at KFC. The fish taco’s and spicy carne burrito sounded great, but after what I saw today I’m not sure at all.
I am very angry with them, but that will not stop me from trying again and giving the benefit of the doubt next time.
I’d prefer to have the option to pay by card, I’d also prefer no beans on my taco (that’s just not the way 95% of other taco trucks do it), I’d like to have additional sauces available. Don’t’ run out of tortilla’s, have what’s on the menu or label it «today’s menu», get on twitter. It’s the little things that are the reason Super Q, Miho, Tabe and others are doing better despite the fact Arthur makes a great product.

Never again!
I was on my way to the gym for lunch when I saw this truck pull up. The truck had AWESOME graphics painted on it and it said, Arthur’s Bomb Taco’s. I thought, hmm that sounds pretty good right now. I had already brought my lunch to work with me, beef stew I made from scratch last night, but decided the taco truck would fix my craving. I love great tasting simple tacos and burritos. I went to the gym, I was there for about 40 – 45 minutes, rushed in the shower because I wanted to get back in time to try some bomb tacos.
Ok So I ordered 2 burritos. Both chicken w/​beans, masa, veggies, cilantro. One had cheese and the other had extra veggies.
They were out of sour cream
Their Menu is simple. Street tacos 2 for $ 5 (chicken or carne asada) Burritos $ 4-​$ 7(chicken, carne asada, or veggies). When I asked what the difference between the burritos was, the girl look at me as if I was an idiot! She collected her thoughts then looked to the cook and asked what was in the burritos, she slowly started repeating whom I assumed to be Arthur? How can you be the person taking orders if you don’t know what your business is offering? They don’t sell much, she couldn’t learn what the ingredients are? Maybe not because she was too busy texting.
They only take cash, I did not have cash and did not know until after I ordered (consider putting a sign that says cash only) All food trucks that come to this area allow you to use a card even the new trucks who have only been up and running for a couple of weeks, for example, Sushi Ninjas. Which I highly recommend. No big deal though so I got in my car drove about 3 miles to an ATM and came back,(5 minute process) I told them we still wanted our food and just needed to get the cash from an ATM, I asked the girl at the window to please put our order in and we’d be right back, she said no problem.
We paid after we got back from the ATM, there were 3 other men waiting out side the truck that were previously there before we even left for the ATM, they put their orders in before I did. They looked irritated. So after paying I inquired about the time frame. The girl told me me 3 orders were in front of me so it would be about 5 – 6 minutes. I thought «perfect». So about 5 minutes goes by and one of the guys standing out side was tired of waiting and asked how long his order would be, they said it was coming now but the guy had to wait another 3 minutes. The cook asks if someone would like a $ 1 carne asada taco, he said he had plenty on the the grill. Excuse me but if I wanted a carne asada taco, I would’ve ordered one instead of a chicken burrito. I politely said «no thank you» as did the other 2 still waiting for their order. The 2 gentleman finally got their order about 5 minutes after that and started speed walking back to their building. So its just me standing there. 12 minutes have gone by, the girl looks at me and says «yours is coming right up». I don’t know what her definition is of «coming right up is» but 6 minutes is not «coming right up». I got my 1 burrito in 18 – 19 minutes.
I am already frustrated The cook then leans out the window to ask if my 2^nd burrito wants the same amount of veggies, I asked how much longer it would be the cook said «oh Im about to start it now I just need to know if you want a double order of veggies in the 2^nd burrito». Ok so now I am steaming. I asked him, «you haven’t started it? You and the other the girl taking the orders said it only be 5 – 6 minutes for my order to come out, the order was on the same tab. Why isn’t my other burrito not ready? You know what I’ll just take the 1 burrito and have you reimburse me for the 2^nd one; I don’t have another 15 minutes to wait, I have to get back to work.» I was reimbursed. Neither of them said they were sorry, neither of them looked like they cared. I told them, «you can’t build returning clientele by lying to customers, if a burrito takes 15 minutes you need to let them know, had I know my order was going to take 30 minutes total to get both burritos, I would’ve said ok, I’m going back to my building and I’ll be back in 25 minutes.» They both just looked at me as if there was booger hanging out of my nose or something.
To top it ALL off I got back to my office, halved the burrito w my co-​worker and was expecting to bite into a delicious burrito. I was hungry! The burrito was mediocre. I asked for a double order of veggies it tasted like I only got half of 1 serving. Also the burrito was piled with re fried beans that tasted like they were straight out of a can. What little chicken that was in the burrito had 2 nice chunks of fat. The service was horrible and I was expecting the food quality and taste to make up for it. My burritos taste better than this one did.
Sooooo if you want poor service and mediocre food check this place out! I will never order from Arthur’s Bomb Tacos again.
They need some serious help to be successful. good luck!