Since appearing in Nampa in late 2020, La Garnacha Que Apapacha food truck hasn’t just fried tortillas.
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It’s fried minds.
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Parked at 215 1st Ave. S., the yellow trailer specializes in birria, a traditional Mexican meat stew that’s skyrocketed in popularity nationwide. Earning a cult following, La Garnacha Que Apapacha became the most talked-about taco truck in Canyon County — if not the most hyped food truck in the Treasure Valley. It was the main feature in the Idaho Statesman’s “Ultimate Boise taco guide” in 2021.
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Customers are chattering even more now.
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On Tuesday, La Garnacha Que Apapacha revealed that it will open a brick-and-mortar restaurant soon — in Boise. Aiming for a summer launch, it will take over the former Mad Mac space at 7709 W. Overland Road, suite 120, at the Boise Spectrum.
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The beloved food truck will stay open — until then.
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After that? Adios, Nampa.
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The plan is to close the truck and focus on the Boise brick-and-mortar.
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“Noooo!” came the understandable response online from Canyon County customers, accompanied by forlorn emojis.
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“BOISE … get ready for THE BEST!” one wrote on Facebook, signing it — “sad 2C’er.”
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Many commenters were happy for the success — and the move east. “Oh hell yes!” is all one said. Others were pragmatic. “Well, we traveled 30 minutes from Meridian to see you in Nampa,” another replied, “and we’ll happily do the same at your new location. Very exciting news for you guys!”
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To comprehend the buzz created by California transplants Fabrizio Sanchez and his wife, Gabriela Talavera, check out Yelp. Their food truck rates 5 out of 5 stars with reviews such as, “Wow. That’s all I can say.” Or study Google reviews, where it’s 4.7 out of 5.0 with fawning praise such as, “This place is unfathomably delicious.”
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The menu doesn’t just offer beef quesabirria tacos begging to be dipped in rich, steaming consomé. La Garnacha Que Apapacha sells birria versions of pizza and ramen, too.
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The truck also serves tacos de canasta, “which are popular in Sanchez’s hometown of Mexico City,” the Idaho Statesman’s taco guide explained, “and originated in Tlaxcala. If you’ve ever watched Netflix’s ‘The Taco Chronicles,’ you’ve probably salivated over the tacos de canasta episode, and immediately wondered why you’ve never heard of these before. La Garnacha’s tacos de canasta are filled with chicharrón prensado, potatoes and chorizo.”
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In a video posted this week, Sanchez said that the Boise restaurant will offer delivery — great news for housebound taco addicts.
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Speaking in both Spanish and English, he thanked customers.
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“This is such big news for us,” Sanchez said. “We are so excited. So happy.”
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This story was originally published on April 12, 2023 at 1:46 pm.
As an entertainment reporter and columnist, Michael Deeds chronicles the good life in Boise: restaurants, concerts, culture, and the cool stuff. In 1991, Deeds was an intern with the Idaho Statesman, and has since worked as a sports reporter, features editor and music critic, among other roles. Over the years, his freelance work has ranged from writing album reviews for The Washington Post to hyping Boise in that airline magazine you leave on the plane. Deeds holds a BA in Journalism in News Editing from the University of Nebraska.
