Longtime Stanislaus County taco truck has been in 5 spots, now has a permanent one
Long before I was a reporter, I was told repeatedly that Tony’s Tacos is one of the best taco trucks in Stanislaus County. I had friends who lived in Escalon and would go to Salida just to eat there.
Recently, it’s given people another reason to talk about it.
Emerita Panduro and Efren Montes (aka Tony) established Tony’s Tacos in 1996. They and their four children moved to Salida from Los Angeles shortly after, despite not knowing anyone in the region. They relocated for two reasons: There were a lot of competing taco trucks down south and their daughter wanted to move north.
The success of Tony’s Tacos didn’t come easy. The couple struggled with the move and with getting their food truck off the ground.
After gaining popularity over the years, Panduro and Montes still faced difficulty in finding places to park their truck. “We (were) always looking for a space because not every place allows you to station there, and it’s embarrassing to ask,” Pandura said through a translator.
In total, Tony’s Tacos has been stationed at five different spots in Salida. Pandura had just about decided to stop looking for places to park the truck and close Tony’s Tacos when her grandson told her about a plot on Elm Street that was for sale.
Pandura and Montes, her husband of 43 years, opened La Plazita Montes on Wednesday, April 22. Tony’s Tacos now has a permanent location.
Why do people love Tony’s Tacos?
A taco truck doesn’t stay in business for 30 years for no reason. Something special must be going on in Tony’s kitchen.
When asked what her secret is, Pandura’s answer was clear: it’s her salsa. “It’s spicy but has a lot of flavor,” she said. “Even if the meat in a taco isn’t good, the salsa will make it better.”
But Pandura and Montes don’t have any issues with the flavor of their meat, either. Pandura said carne al pastor is a crowd favorite.
Their daughter Patricia owns a taco truck on McHenry Avenue in Modesto called Tacos El Bandidio. She and the couple’s other children will carry on the Tony’s Tacos legacy when Pandura and Montes are “too old” to work, Pandura said.
“We are already tired, to be honest,” she said. “We started when we were 40 years old and now we are 72.”
La Plazita Montes will host grand-opening event
La Plazita Montes had a soft opening Wednesday, April 22, at 4800 Elm St. in Salida. Its grand opening will be Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
Aside from Tony’s Tacos, two other food trucks are stationed at the plaza: Betzy’s Aguas Frescas and E&C Mexi Teriyaki.
La Tricolor Radio will be at La Plazita Montes from noon to 2 p.m., and a DJ will follow for the remainder of the event. There will be food specials and a bounce house, and an artist will be painting a mural.
The other two food trucks will set their own regular hours, but Tony’s Tacos will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Modesto Bee reporter Maria Figueroa contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 10:55 AM.
.jpg)