I love Vallarta. Or rather, I LOVED Vallarta. Few people were as pissed as me when the 24th St Taqueria was shuttered in September for health violations. And no, I don't want no pigeons, but pigeons aren't half as bad as what I found on my return visit following their re-opening this week. 

 

As I first walked in, I was taken back by how clean and well lit the place looked. It was still the same Vallarta, but with a fresh coat of paint and a notable effort put into cleaning. The biggest difference was how uncluttered it seemed, aided primarily by a second archway being opened up to connect the kitchen/register area to the 'dining room' previously inhabited by their pigeon mascots. 

 

 

Now, I'd like to tell you how great the $1.75 tacos from the cart by the main entrance still are.  Really, I would.  For the sake of science journalism blogging, I purchased a single pastor taco. I went into the dining area, snapped a quick photo of some lady selling bootleg DVDs and video games out of a suitcase, and sat down to eat.

 

And that's when I saw it. Black as night, thick as a needle and wiry as hell. There was no mistaking it; I had pubes in my pastor. Human pubes. At best they were from someone's armpit, if not their genitals. 

 

So that's it Vallarta, you're dead to me. I wept long and hard for you when the health inspectors closed your doors in September, but I will shed no tears for you now.