The R&R Deli in Elkridge serves my favorite tacos, and the punch line is that they're served from a gas station. Not really in the gas station. R&R has a separate entrance and a glass wall that separates it from the Shell Station at U.S. 1 and Rte 175.
I love R&R's tacos, but Mrs. HowChow and I had been joking for months about eating at a gas station. I only forced the question because we had just suffered from a "try new food for the blog" disaster -- an Indian paan that was a perfect mouth-freshener except that it used some floral oil that must have been added to 1970s cleaning supplies. Objectively, it tasted fine, but we immediately thought about furniture cleaning.
The tacos were perfect. For $4, we got two -- one chicken, one carne asada. Soft tortillas, meat cooked to order, and a topping of onions, cilantro and handmade salsa. "Who would expect fresh vegetables in a gas station?" said Mrs. HowChow. They're really large for $2, and R&R serves a variety of meats, including chorizo, carnitas and lengua. Mrs. HowChow thought the chicken was delicious, butchered well so there was none of the gristle that you can get in chopped meat.
We split a Mexican orange soda. Next time, I will buy her a milkshake - like I had on my first visit. I'm almost shocked that there will be a next time.
(Update: You should also try R&R's ceviche special, which offers marinated fish and vegetables on top of a crisp tostada.)
The R&R Deli joins a great run of food along U.S. 1. Check out my post about "U.S. 1: The Foodie Frontier" that tours you from Ceazar International Market in Elkridge down to R&R Deli's intersection where you're within a block of organic groceries at MOM's Organic Market, the empanadas at the El Patio Market, and more.
R&R Deli
7894 Washington Boulevard
Elkridge, MD 21075
410-799-0001
NEAR:
The deli is in the Shell station at U.S. 1 and Rte 175 at the Elkridge/Jessup border. It's
really convenient from Rte 175 -- just go east from Columbia across
I-95 and then look left at U.S. 1.
I've introduced a lot of folks from my office to R&R and to the person, they love it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy R&R as well, especially the two taco + soup for $5 deal. The soup is very good. The owner is very friendly as well.
ReplyDeleteI hope they get enough custom to expand into a real restaurant. It'd be easier to get folks to try it then.
I just went here for the first time today due to your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is wow. They have mexican coca cola (sugar, no high fructose corn syrup) as well a large number of other imported latin sodas and juices. The prices are very cheap and the food SO so good.
No bird-bath sized margaritas, nothing drenched in cheese or sour cream, no nachos with cheese. This is the real stuff. And it's amazing.
I ordered carne asada tacos (steak tacos) with a side of yellow mexican rice. Both amazing. I will need to try the menudo next time.
Park at the Shell Gas Station at 175 & Route 1 and then go to the deli, its separated from the actual gas station by an internal wall but its in the gas station.
best hole-in-the-wall discovery of the year for me
WOW!!! this blog is great. my gf and i tried this place today, and it was GREAT!!! I was always skeptical of any food from a gas station, but after i tried gas station tacos in dallas, and they were one of the best tacos i had ever had, i knew i would have to try this place, and it did not disappoint!!! best tacos in maryland HANDS DOWN!!!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I live in bmore, but I recommend this place over all others (and Eastern Ave is inundated with similar).
DeleteI'm right with you guys... my office used to be out that way & I would go there all the time. When my office moved, I didn't go for a long time, and then happened by one day on the way home ( go ravens) from dc. Anyhow, I wasn't all too stunned to find the entire place rehabbed, and decked out in awards, photos, articles, and even celebrity chef autographs! The business owner, who works on site, kindly informed me that he has a location in White Marsh Mall as well. I bet it's probably the most authentic thing there lol.
ReplyDelete