Ok familias, if you’re driving home from volleyball practice or soccer and the kids are starting to meltdown in the backseat, you already know — nothing fixes the evening like a taco truck run. San Jose has SO many, but not all of them are open when you need them, and not all of them work with a baby in tow and a teenager with opinions. Here are the trucks that actually work for late afternoon into evening dinners with the whole familia.
1. Tacos Chencho (East San Jose) — 3102 Story Rd at White Rd. Daily 5pm to midnight, which is exactly when you need it. Reported 10 tacos plus 2 horchatas under $30 — that’s real family math. Cash or Zelle only, bring cash. 4.3/5 on Restaurant Guru with nearly 200 reviews.
2. Tacos Los Tres Reyes (East San Jose) — 2520 Story Rd.
The running debate in East SJ is Chencho vs Tres Reyes, described as “siding between Ford and Chevy.” Tacos about $3.50, horchata $6.75. After 5pm the menu shrinks to tacos only, but there’s indoor and outdoor seating which is a lifesaver when you’ve got a stroller.
3. El Toro Tacos (Tully Rd) — 1708 Tully Rd, open daily 3pm to midnight. Perfect for that after-school window. Fresh handmade tortillas and one reviewer called the Chile Verde Burrito “sublime.” Tell them Gaby sent you.
4. Toto’s Taqueria (Tully Rd) — 1855 Tully Rd, open 11am to 10pm. Taco Tuesday is 5 tacos for $10, which might be the cheapest family-feed deal on the whole strip. Quesabirria all day, every day.
5. Tacos Mi Reynita (Alum Rock) — 2075 Alum Rock Ave. Opens at 3pm Mon-Sat and 1pm Sunday — built for the afternoon crowd. Tijuana-style which is different from the al pastor neighborhood trucks. One Yelp reviewer just wrote “BEST TACOS IN SAN JOSE” in all caps. That’s the review…