A craving in Lawrence leads to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in the hunt for the perfect taco
Editor’s note: Star visual journalist Emily Curiel is on the hunt for the best carne asada taco in the Kansas City area. Join this native of Los Angeles in our new video series, “Taco Tales,” as she searches for the taco that checks all the boxes on her list of what’s required for a perfect 10 out of 10.
On a recent trip to cover a University of Kansas football game, my cravings for tacos led me to explore the options along Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence. With a multitude of taco spots to choose from, I turned to Yelp for guidance which pointed me to a top-ranked taco joint, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 1115 Massachusetts St.
“Great,” I thought, “this is the place to be.”
I walked up to the counter and scanned the menu board but couldn’t find my usual favorite, carne asada tacos. Perplexed, I asked the server behind the counter if they had carne asada. They seemed confused by my question and replied, “We have steak.”
Now here’s where things get interesting. You see, ‘carne asada’ and ‘steak’ are related but distinct terms in the world of meat. Carne asada, which translates to ‘grilled meat’ in English, typically involves thinly sliced, marinated beef, like flank steak or skirt steak. It’s known for its marinated tenderness and the unique flavor it gets from a mix of ingredients like lime or lemon juice, garlic, and spices. Steak, on the other hand, is a more general term that encompasses various cuts of beef, like ribeye, sirloin, T-bone, or filet mignon, with no specific marinade
I had high hopes as I took the first bite, but that hope crumbled as quickly as the tortilla did with that initial chomp. The disintegration of the tortilla was a significant drawback, as it not only left my hands messy but also failed to provide a stable vessel to contain the chunky meat and accompanying ingredients. It was an unpromising start to my taco tale.
The meat, while undeniably chunky, fell short in the flavor department. It lacked the depth and richness I typically associate with the carne asada. The chunkiness of the meat further added to the complexity of the taco’s texture, creating a somewhat disjointed experience.
The taco’s deviations from tradition didn’t end with the tortilla and the meat. Notably, it featured an unexpected twist - the presence of two types of cheeses. This was particularly surprising to me, as in my experience, the traditional tacos I’m accustomed to don’t include cheese unless they take the form of quesadillas or tostadas. These culinary diversions made the taco at Fuzzy’s all the more unexpected.
Despite the deviations, the redeeming factor was the overall taste of the taco. The unique combination of ingredients surprisingly worked well together, offering a delightful flavor profile that veered from the traditional but managed to find harmony. It’s worth mentioning that the salsa, while not the finest I’ve encountered, added to the overall flavor experience, though there was room for improvement.
Watch my video to find out how Fuzzy’s rated in my search for the perfect carne asada taco.
