Pink Pork Bus - or rather, Los Gordos Carnitas

Resting in an empty lot on the corner of 22nd St and Swan lays arguably the most memorable food truck in all of Southern Arizona. A pig bus. Swapping the iconic school bus yellow, for bright pink and a painted-on pig snout, Los Gordos Carnitas deserves a lot of credit for their roadside marketing strategy. This idiosyncratic food truck exemplifies Tucson’s eccentric spirit and rich tradition for Mexican food. Bright, eye-catching, and bursting with personality, it’s hard not to be drawn to this 45-foot hog on wheels.

However, Los Gordos Carnitas is much more than just a roadside attraction. Upon entering the bus patrons are met with a sleek, retrofitted interior and the warm smell of carnitas. Tinted fluorescent lights cast a pink aura inside the bus, which is lined with bar-style seating. I sat at the north-facing counter and got to chow down on some delicious tacos with a great view of the Santa Catalina’s. The menu has a variety of traditional Mexican meat cooked to perfection in the back of the bus. I ordered tacos and upon finishing them, went back and ordered three more. Although the asada and birria are fantastic, the eponymous carnitas is what stole the show for me. Coupled with excellent salsa and fresh tortillas, these were some killer tacos. Make sure to check out this one-of-a-kind food truck, or should I say pork bus.