Rubio's Truck Hits Streets With Free Tacos: See Temecula Stop

TEMECULA, CA — If you love tacos and freebies: Save these dates!

Rubio’s first "Food Truck Tour" — a collaborative venture with SoCal celeb chef Richard Blais — is rolling out this week, handing out free tacos from its new, "Adventure-Inspired Street Tacos" menu at four stops in the Inland Empire — including one in Old Town Temecula.

“We’re inviting everyone who has been missing travel and adventure to come to our food truck for a taste of favorite destinations — Hawaii, New Orleans and New York,” said Rubio’s Coastal Grill founder Ralph Rubio.

Rubio said his restaurant biz was too excited to wait for patrons to stop in and try Blais' new, bold taco creations, "So we’re taking them to the streets.”

Blais, a Bravo "Top Chef," a recurring judge on such TV shows as "Guy's Grocery Games," a James Beard-nominated cookbook author and one of the forces behind Juniper & Ivy in San Diego's Little Italy, recently partnered with Rubio and his crew for this new taco line-up, that melds worldwide travel and street food.

The three, new Rubio’s x Blais Street Tacos, available for free sampling from the Rubio's Taco Truck, include:

• Hula Hula Carnitas: Inspired by Blais’ time in Hawaii, with pork marinated in gochujang, achiote and garlic, wrapped in a banana leaf and slow-cooked;
• Blaised & Glazed Crispy Chicken: A tangy taco twist on Buffalo chicken, the "Blaised & Glazed" taco starts with crispy chicken tossed in Frank’s RedHot® sauce;
• Ancho Po-Boy Shrimp: Named after New Orleans’ most famous sandwich,this is a modern take on classic New Orleans street food.

Upcoming taco-tour stops in the Inland Empire area are listed below. But do double-check with the Rubio's Taco Truck Tour blog for any updates or changes.

• THURSDAY, JUNE 3: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- Old Town Temecula, Old Town Front St. & 4th St., Temecula
• FRIDAY, JUNE 4: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- Santana Regional Park, 598 Santana Way, Corona
• SATURDAY, JUNE 5: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- Ontario Mills, 4583 Mills Circle, Ontario
• SUNDAY, JUNE 6: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- Milliken Park, 7699 Milliken Ave., Rancho Cucamonga

Other planned stops are May 27-31 in San Diego County, June 9 in Irvine and June 9-13 in Los Angeles.

Founded in 1983 in San Diego as a walk-up, food stand by then-college student Rubio, who became hooked on fish tacos after frequent trips to Mexico, the Rubio's chain now boasts a menu that still includes its Original Fish Tacos, plus grilled seafood options, along with steak and chicken served in tacos, salads, bowls and burritos.

Now headquartered in Carlsbad, Rubio's currently employs more than 3,000 individuals at more than 150 restaurants in California, Arizona and Nevada, according to company officials. Find your nearest Rubio's here.

------------

IN OTHER FOOD & DINING NEWS ON PATCH:

• Red Lobster 'Chief Biscuit Officer' - How To Win This Tasty Gig
• Avocado's Time To Shine: New Recipes From CA Chef Brian Malarkey
• Restaurant Opens 'Dinner & A Show' Venue In Temecula