There's nothing like a taco, made fresh before your eyes, from a small taqueria on a street in a dusty Mexican border town.  When you're visiting Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, you'll want to make a beeline to Taqueria Victor, for the best tacos that you've ever tasted.

Left: Taco Victor's is located at the end of the food booths that line Calle Tamaulipas.  Right:  Victor Villanueva Quintilla and his future son-in-law Cristobal Ruiz Castro are doing what they do best, making delicious tacos

Taqueria Victor's taco stand is located just east of the Angel Building, which is located at the corner of Av. Benito Juarez, (the street that leads you to U.S. border bridge across the Rio Grande,) and Calle Tamaulipas.  If you are looking south at this point, on Calle Tamaulipas, turn left, and you'll see a line of taco stands, and Victor's is located at the end.

Left:  Christobal Castro and fiancee Nereyda Quintilla (Victor's daughter) are busy working at Taqueria Victor. Right: Victor's daughter, Nereyda Esmeralda Villanueva Cazares fries bistek on the griddle at Tacqueria Victor.

This is a very friendly establishment, located among a host of nice people. You will be greeted with smiles from all of the people that work there, and it won't take long for any of them to learn your name:  I call it the "royal treatment."

The menu choices at Victor's are simple:  Tacos or lonches.  You ask, what are lonches?  Lonches are basically a sandwich served on a small crusty roll with all the taco stuff inside; truly a original dish, which appears to have origins in Northeastern Mexico.  I could be wrong, but I have never seen lonches anywhere else except in this part of Mexico.  Whether tacos or lonches, the choice adds up to a delicious meal.

Left: Here's how Victor stores his produce.  It is obtained fresh, from local growers.  Right:  Lonches, ready to go.

The lonches are stuffed with either bisteak, which is very thin good quality steak, seasoned and cooked quickly, or ground beef.  It is a simple meal with a lot of flavor and "pizazzzzz" to offer.  Yes, it is true Mexican fast food, as it's cooked quickly, right in front of you, which is quite different from the variety that you'll find north of the Rio Grande. Lonches are filled with crisp shredded cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and some of the best grilled onions you will ever savor.  At your table, Victor's offers fresh key lime quarters and two choices of salsas, one red and the other green, both made at his restaurant, and I like both varieties.  I always order my meal con todos, meaning with everything and all garnishes; but, you can make your own choice of garnishes and order it your way, con no problema.

Left: Victor, with a place of his delicious tacos.  Right:  Christobol grills onions and bistek.

We always get a coke or an orange soda to accompany the meal.  A plate of Taqueria Victor's tacos is priced at $3.50 in U.S. dollars and you can count on adding about fifty cents for a bottle of Coke.  The total cost of a wonderful lunch at Victor's is about $4.00, which is a really good deal.   When you leave Tacqueria Victor's you'll go away with a full stomach, and a smile on your face.

When you're visiting Neuvo Progreso, and you're in the mood for the finest tacos that you'll ever enjoy, a visit to Taqueria Victor is a must.

Left:  Buns for "lonches" are about the size of hot dog buns, but actually resemble French rolls in taste and texture. Victor packs them with delightful, cooked meat and veggies, and that's a lonche.  Right:  Taqueria Victor's features sit-down dining, under an awning just outside his kitchen.