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Beechview, PA — In a city where authentic Mexican food can be hard to come by, Las Palmas shines bright.
With three Pittsburgh locations in Beechview, Brookline, and Oakland, Las Palmas dishes up sizzling street tacos from a no-frills taco stand located outside of Las Palmas IGA grocery stores.
Each location has a bit of a different vibe, but the drill is the same–line up alongside the flattop griddle and get ready to put in your order. Choose from classics like carne, chorizo, and al pastor, or authentic favorites like lengua.
The tacos are fast and affordable. Pay inside the grocery store with a card, or with cash right at the griddle.
After you’re handed your styrofoam box of tacos don’t forget to load up at the salsa station. Equipped with everything from fresh limes and cilantro to pico, avocado crema, and habanero salsa, the salsa station is what takes Las Palmas’ tacos from great to outstanding.
Street tacos that make you forget you’re in Pittsburgh
Although on the rise recently, Pittsburgh isn’t as engrained with Latin American culture and food as cities like Miami, Chicago, or Los Angeles. This can make good street tacos hard to come by.
Las Palmas is Pittsburgh’s crowned jewel among a handful of other hidden gems in the area.
Corn tortillas are doubled up for extra support and warmed on the hot griddle, sometimes dozens at a time during a busy lunch.
The day’s freshly cooked selection of meat is displayed next to the griddle so you can get a look before choosing, or just point to what you want if you’re not sure what you’re looking at.
Las Palmas always has the usuals like chorizo, carne, carnitas, al pastor and barbacoa. On some days you can find lengua, cabeza, or buche. The latter might sound like pretty out-there flavors for your typical yinzer raised on Primanti’s and Max & Erma’s, but they’re worth giving a try. Maybe not the buche.
The carne is seared to a slight crust and perfectly salted. The chorizo is spicy and flavorful. Al pastor is a delightful mix of sweet and savory. It’s all great. And cooked to order right in front of you.
Wash the tacos down with Jarritos or glass bottle Coca-Cola. All three Las Palmas locations are outside of IGA grocery stores so grab chips or fresh fruit to eat with your tacos, and local made Alquisiras Paleteria paletas for dessert.
Different locations, same great tacos
The same great tacos, but each location has a slightly different vibe. I’ve been a frequent at each during my time in Pittsburgh.
Located at 326 Atwood Street, Las Palmas Oakland is in the heart of ‘South’ Oakland, steps away from Pitt’s campus. Quaintly nestled among the nearly crumbling slumlord-owned student housing, it provides low cost sustenance for broke college students by day, and post-party drunk food by night. Do the drug trafficking rumors add to the allure? IYKYK.
Las Palmas Brookline is located at 700 Brookline Blvd. Brookline is one of Pittsburgh’s southernmost neighborhoods and Brookline Boulevard is the lively heart of the neighborhood. Eateries, coffee shops, boutiques, bars, and a bike shop dot the parking-lined boulevard.
Be careful to avoid the through traffic that treats Brookline Blvd like it’s Bigelow Blvd at rush hour, and make your way to Las Palmas grocery store and taco stand. Look for Pittsburgh Engine 26 Fire Station located across Castlegate Ave.
The food offering is pretty much the same at each location, but the Brookline location has a more noticeable neighborhood vibe. On a warm summer afternoon you’ll see little leaguers loading up on ground beef tacos while less picky eaters top al pastor and chorizo tacos with everything from pico and guac to habanero sauce and fresh lime.
Las Palmas’ third location, Las Palmas Beechview, is located at 1616 Broadway Ave. It’s on the T line, making it easily accessible from downtown and other South Hills neighborhoods on the T line.
In addition to the taco stand, the Beechview location boasts the largest IGA grocery store, complete with a carniceria, produce section and fresh baked goods.
The carniceria has brightly-lit display cases filled with meat cuts like skirt steak, perfect for carne asada, or pre-marinaded al pastor, if you want to try making your own tacos at home.
The produce section has the usuals, but you’ll also find some slightly more unique items like nopales, yucca, plantains, and dozens of various dried peppers and spices.
Spend an afternoon exploring Pittsburgh’s growing and vibrant Latin-American culture in Beechview at Las Palmas, IGA, and other restaurants and shops on Broadway Ave. Don’t miss out on La Cocina de Betty, Alquisiras Paleteria, and Chicken Latino
