[UPDATE: Eduardo’s truck was washed away in late 2019 by Hurricane Dorian, but he’s opened a new truck a little further west on Highway 12.]
Eduardo’s Taco Stand (Facebook)
Highway 12 (map it!)
Ocracoke, NC 27960
(252) 588-0202
Open Mon-Sat, 8a-3p, 5-9p; Sun, 8a-3p
Accepts cash & debit/credit
Visited: Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.
It seems funny, in some ways, to be talking about a taco truck on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We tend to think of food trucks as the product of large cities, catering to bigger crowds in walkable areas. Although if we look at those criteria, a small village on the Outer Banks fits the bill perfectly with a high concentration of people walking or riding golf carts, staying active and getting hungry. And when the food is as good as Eduardo’s, the truck’s presence makes absolute sense.
Ocracoke Island, and the small village on its southern end (the rest is 13 miles of unspoiled national seashore) is one of our happy places. We return to it regularly, as a annual reset and reconnection to the basics. The village has beautiful scenery, boats, beaches, a lighthouse, interesting history, wonderful small shops, great food, and a very relaxed vibe. Eduardo’s Taco Stand is just what they need.
We often travel to the island (you go by ferry) with a big group, and when we hit the island we zoom in on breakfast at spots like Dajio or The Flying Melon. This year, as we drove into the village, we spotted Eduardo’s – which has been present for a few years now – with a neon sign saying “Breakfast.” This is always cause for an immediate detour.
The staff at the taco stand – Eduardo and his family – are very friendly. I asked them for recommendations and they suggested the egg, chorizo, and cheese tacos and any of the burritos. The menu is substantial, especially for a taco truck: tacos, burritos, omelets, chilaquiles, divorced eggs (red sauce + green sauce), huevos rancheros.
On their recommendation I picked the chorizo, egg, and cheese taco and the Hot Mess burrito loaded with egg, bacon, chorizo, potatoes, oaxaca cheese, queso fresco, jalapeno, avocado, and a habanero salsa. The Hot Mess packed some substantial heat between the habanero and jalapeno.
Both items were excellent, and wrapped tightly so they didn’t spill. More than enough to recommend multiple return visits to the truck. Judging by their presence on Facebook, they are well loved, and very deserving of it.
The truck is hard to miss; like most businesses it’s situated along Irvin Garrish Highway, or Highway 12, the main the route through the island. The food is available to-go (think grabbing tacos before you hit up the ferry home) or you can enjoy it at the picnic tables behind the truck.
