One Tank Gang: Tio's Tacos # 1 Seafood y Centro de Frutas Naturales-Riverside

Definition

art

noun

1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

Perhaps my brain is too logic oriented to recognize “art”. With that said…

This weekend we One Tankers (and a few extra friends) met at Riverside’s Tio’s Tacos on Mission Inn. For those of you that have not had the pleasure, let me introduce you.

The location:

“Tio's Tacos # 1 Seafood y Centro de Frutas Naturales” (I’ll call it “Tio’s Tacos” for short) is home to the Sanchez family and folk artist Martin Sanchez.

Sanchez has created an art display from waste and recyclable material. The found-object display has taken more than ten years to create and is ever changing. I have attended this location multiple times; I noticed something different each time. In the height of Riverside summer, restaurant goers can cool off in water flowing from a fountain garden. The garden contains items made of broken pieces of clay, old pipes, discarded bicycles, shells, dolls and much, much more! The hand sculpted metal ants are my personal favorite.

How many bottle churches with a mini Sistine Chapel-type fresco have you seen?

The food:

The Tio’s Taco menu is varied and in the Michoacan style (links below). We had noticed a difference in quality between visits. I guess this may have to do with whomever is working the kitchen that day. This particular trip is was delicious.

The selection of fruit juices is amazing. If you have a chance to partake, do not pass up the fruit juice.

Why they chose the name “Tio’s Taco” confuses me. “Tio’s Taco” is the Mexican version of an “Uncle Tom”. It seems paramount to moving to Compton and opening a pancake house called “Uncle Tom's Cabin.” –Just sayin’.

Overall this location is worth a trip. I am not sure one word would sum up the place. I have heard the word “eccentric.” I also heard someone else use the word “gaudy.” Please enjoy the pictures and —you decide what adjective you would use.