Morningside-Based Tacos Hernandez Named One of Top 10 Detroit Eateries

Although she’s only lived in Morningside for a few years, Diana Gomez has already put our neighborhood on the map – or at least in the Detroit Free Press – for her awardwinning food truck, Tacos Hernandez. The truck was recently listed as No. 5 on the Freep’s list of “Top 10 Detroit Restaurants & Dining Experiences.”

Tacos Hernandez is no stranger to awards. Eater Detroit had already named it Detroit’s “best taqueria,” but this is an even broader category. “My jaw dropped (when I won) because a little food truck is right behind a fine dining restaurant,” says Diana. It’s the first time a food truck has been listed in the Top 10.

The annual list was put together by Lyndsay C. Green, food and dining critic for the Free Press.

Lyndsay is herself an award-winning journalist. She was a 2023 finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism in the category of Criticism and is a James Beard Award-winning food critic. In other words, Lyndsay knows good food when she sees and tastes it. You can read Lyndsay Green’s article detailing Diana’s journey and cuisine here.

Tacos Hernandez likely caught Lyndsay’s eye because it features a slightly different approach to Mexican cuisine than most Detroiters are familiar with. Diana was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, but her family has roots in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. As in the U.S., Mexican cooking varies by region. The flavors of Jalisco have dominated the Mexican food scene in Detroit, and the differences are subtle but noticeable. For example, as those of us who’ve sampled Diana’s delicious tacos at neighborhood events know, you’ll get a creamy avocado dressing over your taco rather than the more common sour cream. And her homemade tortillas will be made with the white corn common to northern Mexico.

Diana takes a farm-to-table approach to her cooking and is collaborating with Detroit organizations dedicated to creating a “food sovereign Detroit.” She has used plants from Keep Growing Detroit to fill her four garden beds and balcony pots at her home on Devonshire.

“You’d be surprised how many tomatoes you can get from nine plants,” she says.

Diana is also developing a relationship with Crane Street Garden, a nine-lot garden near Harper and Gratiot. This summer they’re planning to see if the types of corn that thrive in Chihuahua can adapt to Michigan’s climate.

Diana’s five-year plan includes a bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the East Warren corridor. In the meantime her truck will be a regular presence in Morningside and beyond. She’s hosting a taco dinner, which will be a ticketed event, with the Free Press on May 7 on E. Warren. Stay tuned for details.