As I’m writing this, I’m sitting on my couch eating tacos and sulking in the excruciating Titans’ loss I just witnessed. I came into the season optimistic after they made the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season, but seven hours, two lightning delays, three interceptions, a concussion, one starting quarterback and a career-threatening leg injury later, our season seems like it’s over before it’s started. To top the whole thing off, Aaron Rodgers just went down, so I’m losing all of my fantasy games this week.
Now, I know you clicked on this article to read about the taco joint down the street and not my football sob stories, but I promise it ties in. See, I visited El Primo for the first time yesterday, and they’re already my go-to comfort food spot in Jackson.
When I followed my GPS there last night, I was amazed to find that a restaurant with a 4.9 star rating on Google was attached to a BP, and I was admittedly skeptical. I walked in to find a single-room dining area that smelled of cilantro and freshly diced onions (both of which they add generously to their tacos), yet was reminiscent of your average Chinese takeout place: a half-full seating area with five or six tables and a lack of background music that makes you feel surprisingly welcome. ESPN Deportes was showing a soccer game on the 20” screen in the corner and the extensive menu covered most of the wall next to the counter.
The lady who took my order spoke about as much English as I do Spanish (almost none), so we struggled through an order in which I somehow pronounced carnitas so poorly I ended up with a Jarritos grapefruit soda and a fried pork taco (note: Spanish 111 “me llama” skills don’t translate to ordering food).
The tacos were savory and delightful, not to mention only $1.25. The carnitas especially checked every box I look for in street food, including especially “fried,” “greasy” and “flavorful.” The perfectly seasoned pork was half-wrapped in two fried tortillas and the onions and cilantro gave it just the kick it needed to put it over the top. Classic street tacos.
Just as I was about to leave, I noticed the sign taped below the menu: cheesecake. Now, I know your mom told you not to get cheesecake at places that just seem like they shouldn’t have cheesecake (wait, that was just my mom?) and I know a taco place attached to a BP checks all those boxes, but hear me out. I’ve had two slices of cheesecake in my life that I considered great cheesecake. At the top of the list is absolutely The Cheesecake Factory. They have this thing down to a science and nobody who isn’t someone’s grandma can ever surpass them.
However, the second-best cheesecake I’ve had comes from Cafe Coco, a coffee shop in Nashville where I go to people-watch and eat cheesecake. Some stats on Coco: In the nine times I’ve been, someone with a face tattoo has taken my order nine times, I’ve had to wait at least 20 minutes for my counter service coffee eight times, and I’ve been solicited for coke five times and weed three times. They come in at second in my cheesecake power rankings and at least as high in my places-your-mom-would-tell-you-not-to-get-cheesecake-from power rankings. So, getting El Primo’s cheesecake was a no-brainer.
Long story short, El Primo comes in at third in my cheesecake power rankings just below Coco and just ahead of whatever brand my mom gets on holidays. The taco-cheesecake combo is also an unexpected comfort food gold mine, with the rich sweetness of the cheesecake balancing perfectly the piquant, greasy tacos.
It’s so good actually, that I’m already a little less sad about the Titans loss, and if you know me, you know that’s a huge milestone. It’s one of the best spots in Jackson to get a good meal for under 8 bucks, and if this season goes like I think it will, you can count on catching me there around 3:30 every Sunday afternoon.
Photo by Tamara Friesen
