The unknown Mexican food you need to try today hits Texas

Everyone knows the traditional Mexican foods. If any person walks into a restaurant, they’ll be able to identify tacos, burritos, empanadas, or pozole. But there are more foods than that. There are plenty of under-the-radar foods that you haven’t heard of. There is so much to discover when it comes to Mexican food, you’ll be astounded at what you’ll find. It’s a costra de queso or tortilla de queso or tortilla de queso keto. It is a taco shell made of cheese and grilled to the shape of a taco.

One of these dishes is called costra. What is the Costra meaning in English or Costras en Ingles? The fried cheese taco name is Costra.

If someone were to type into the search bar, “what is costra?” you’ll get a simple translation. What is the Costra meaning? What is the Costra significado? Google translate says that costra means “crust” in English. There are several other translations, like “scab.” Of course, neither of these words sounds appetizing when it comes to food. Who would want to eat something called a scab or crust? Las Costras is not a flour tortilla or a corn tortilla. It is entirely a cheese shell. Las Costras are plentiful in Mexico City. If I were running a restaurant in Mexico City or anywhere in Texas, I would put the cheese taco shell on my menu permanently.

Costras became popular in Mexico city in the early 2000’s. It started as a late night snack for those leaving the nightclubs of Mexico City. The first costra de queso stand opened next to the Bandasha Nightclub in a shop also named, “Los Costras.” Drinkers at the club would say how “it was the perfect food after drinking and dancing.”

Of course, it didn’t take too long for the dish to find its way into the states. The earliest mention of costra being on any menu, was back in 2005. Though the restaurant is now closed, La Parrilla Grill was one of the first places to serve costras. La Parrilla Grill serves their costra with a grilled cheese shell, wrapped around poblano chiles and a boneless porkchop. This gets topped on a flour tortilla and served. I think it’s high time someone creates the Birria Taco Costra or the Mulita Costra.

What is Costra?

While scab is the literal translation of costras, it has nothing to do with scabs. These are the two English terms for the food.

Costra are a taco, but instead of having a tortilla made of corn or flour, with the tortilla made of cheese. “Crust” is an appropriate name for this dish because that is the texture of the cheese after it’s grilled. Depending on where you go, you’ll find a special blend of different cheeses. At La Vibra in Houston, they use Oaxaca-gouda cheese. Other places may use mozzarella like cheese. Urban Taco in Dallas will use one-year-aged Spanish Manchego for their cheese base.

A meat gets wrapped up in the crusty cheesy wrap. Depending on where you’re eating, each restaurant will have their own choice of meat. Most opt to use a cut of pork for their costra. But there are so many more options for the meat filling. You can choose from ribeye, pastor, pollo, pescado. Each filling will bring a different flavor sensation to the dish, giving you a different experience. Some say the pastor costra brings a “nice, tropical flavor.”

The cheese and the meat are then wrapped around a flour tortilla, to keep any mess to a minimum. Many claim that it’s a “match made in heaven.” This needs to be tried immediately, regardless if you’re in Mexico City, or in Texas.

Where can you find costras in Texas?

It’s no surprise that costra found its way into Texas. The earliest mention of the costra in Texas was at the La Parrilla Grill. But, as said before, they have long since closed down. But there are still plenty of restaurants you can find costra de queso in.

Eddie O’s Texas Barbeque, a small pop-up in Houston is one of those locations. They serve their costras as a brisket taco wrapped in cheese. Eddie O’s doesn’t exactly call it a costra de queso, but a tortilla de queso. It’s still the same dish at heart!

Another spot in Houston is La Vibra. As mentioned before, La Vibra has done it’s best to capture the dynamic of Mexico City. Here they give you the choice of whatever meat you desire. The meat is then wrapped in the Oaxaca-gouda, and placed on their flour tortilla. One variation, the rajas, comes with smoked poblano slices, wrapped in melted Oaxaca cheese, with a slight pinch of sea salt.

Up in Dallas, Urban Taco is the place to be when looking for costra de queso. They have been considered as the first place in Dallas to offer costra. Their owner, Markus Pineyro claims that what makes the costra so good is all in the cheese. Urban Taco allows guests to experiment with different mixtures. This allows the guests to try new flavors with each costra.

Regardless of where you dine, the costra de queso is a must try food on your next experience.

COSTRAS in San Antonio

So far, the best I know of in San Antonio is at Tacos and Chelas Mexican Kitchen.

DIEGO COSTRA

And by the way, for those searching for Diego Costra, the name is COSTA. But while you are here, discover the next level of cheese taco de queso or tortilla de queso which is here to stay.