Metro Detroit: Ann Arbor’s 1923 Taco Bus
This week we are in Ann Arbor being reminded of why we do what we do. We love finding unique and exciting places! In October of 2022 the husband-and-wife duo, Aaron & Miriam Orr, opened 1923 Taco Bus. It is a double decker bus, from England, that they brought here and turned it into a food truck. Why call it 1923? It is explained on their website as paying homage to when the first engine powered double decker bus was released in London in 1923 after World War 1.
Aaron and Miriam have over 20 years of hospitality and food service experience, working at places all across the country. Being parents of 5 children, they were inspired to start a business for their family. Their goal was to redefine the food service industry norm by “Creating an all-inclusive atmosphere focused on family, friends, and the community. Bringing worldwide flavors home!’’
We love when we are at these family-owned places and the owners are the ones there serving you. It makes us want to go back . . . . especially when they are good people, like these 2 are!
They are currently located in the parking lot of 320 Miller Ave - 2 blocks west of Miller and Main. However, according to Aaron, they are working on moving to a new location that will offer then the ability to have indoor dining as well as outdoor and rooftop dining.
Now, on to the food…Their menu is simple, but has a little something for everyone. There are 7-8 different styles of tacos, chips and salsa and guacamole. They also offer falafel, French fries and rolled ice cream. The tacos have pretty interesting and fun names, like the Arabian Night (falafel, roasted veggies and feta cheese) and the Korean Seoul (beef, kimchi and cucumber). Tacos are $5.50 each but you can get 3 for $15.
We ordered a Caribbean Queen (jerk chicken, grilled pineapple, with mango salsa and lime drizzle), a Voyage to Atlantis (Fried Whitefish, pickled slaw and mango salsa) and a Kentucky Derby (fried chicken, creamy slaw and a buffalo sauce). The Caribbean Queen was good, well balanced and the complementing flavors of jerk spice with the sweetness of the mango salsa and cilantro worked really well together. The Voyage to Atlantis was a delicious fried piece of whitefish, again with the mango salsa, but this was with a pickled slaw so the sweet and acid were a nice complement to the fish. Lastly, the Kentucky Derby (one of our favorite days of the year) was fried chicken, slaw and buffalo sauce. In a sense it is a Buffalo chicken taco . . . and we love Buffalo chicken anything.
What we like best about these tacos is that the shells were not soft corn tortillas, like most street tacos are served. These had a nice little crunch to them, but they were not fried like hard shell corn tortillas. Bottom line: Aaron and Miriam are on the right track to success with this place! Not only putting out good food, but being present to their customers. There are so many small restaurants that the owners aren’t as personable, and to me their personability wants me to support them as much as we can. We will definitely go back…SOON!
Bottom line: Aaron and Miriam are on the right track to success with this place! Not only putting out good food, but being present to their customers. There are so many small restaurants that the owners aren’t as personable, and to me their personability wants me to support them as much as we can. We will definitely go back…SOON!
Until next week, live well, eat well and enjoy life!
-Keith & Teresa Becker