10,000 TACOS®

In this episode, I'm digging into our season theme of  relleno —refilling your cup—by doing the exact opposite: clearing out the noise. I went on an unfollowing binge, took a hard look at my social feeds, and realized my algorithm wasn't just cluttered with food trends and "fusion confusion"—it was draining my physical and mental energy. I share the straightforward, no-nonsense weight-loss advice...

Episode Summary Welcome to another season of 10,000 Tacos! I'm Isidro Salas, the proud son of a taquero. In this season premiere, I'm kicking off our new theme—relleno (refill)—by getting candid about my recent absence, processing heavy personal loss, and working through the emotional fallout of being uninvited from a local taco festival I love. I open up about losing my beloved dog, HP (Handsome...

If you've spent any time on social media lately, you've seen the viral joke about "White People Taco Night"—the boxed hard shells, packet seasoning, and cold shredded cheese. But when I see that yellow box, I don't think of suburban kitchens. My mind goes straight back to East San Jose in the '80s and '90s. In this episode, I take you back to my childhood driveway. Every day, my parents drove our...

Episode Summary In this deeply personal and reflective episode, I mark the one-year anniversary of my first brain surgery to remove a pituitary tumor I nicknamed "Luke Brainwalker." I open up about processing the fear, gratitude, and emotional weight of surviving two major brain surgeries in a single year, the therapy that's helping me work through it all, and the accidental way my condition was d...

I'm coming to you today with a slightly different setup because I'm diving headfirst into something I never saw coming. I have been given the incredible, beautiful responsibility to narrate my very first audiobook. It's a heartwarming story that is right down my alley, but I'll admit—I'm terrified. If you know me, you know I started this podcasting journey back in 2017 to pay tribute to my parents...

S7 E12: Denver Food Scene Sucks The Denver food scene sucks. At least, that's what I used to think. After living in Colorado for nearly six years, I realized my opinion wasn't based on experience—it was based on assumptions. Too often, I found myself saying, "This place sucks," before I'd actually taken the time to explore it. The truth is, I was wrong. Welcome to   10,000 Tacos . I'm   Isidro Sal...

"That's not a pizza, that's a quesadilla!" That was just one of the lovely comments that rolled into my socials this week after I posted a video highlighting a local taquero's "pizza birria." A few years ago, that angry commenter would have been me. I used to be incredibly protective—adamant, even—about what "real" Mexican food was supposed to be. I even lost a friendship once over the proper pron...

In this episode of 10,000 Tacos, I am sharing a recent experience at a Denver taco truck that has been lingering on my mind for the past week. I met an older, humble taquero who instantly gave off a good, honest vibe and reminded me of my uncles from Mexico. The food was absolutely incredible—I had a barbacoa taco with a subtle, smoky flavor on the back end that you rarely find. Even though he use...

Episode Summary What does a stacked Mexican street burger have to do with deep identity reflection? Turns out, a lot. This week, we're hitting up the La Comarca taco truck for a culinary masterpiece, sharing bites with strangers, and diving into a bittersweet question from my late father that completely changed how I view myself and my work. Key Moments & Takeaways The Mexican Burger Breakdown: If...

Episode Description:   What happens when greatness just… stops? In this episode, a chance encounter with a young taquero in San Jose sparks a deeper conversation about endings, expectations, and the subtle entitlement of being a consumer. From the legendary culinary staples of San Jose to the abrupt retirement of NFL icon Barry Sanders, we dive into why it's so hard to say goodbye to the things we...

We've all had those moments where our best intentions meet a harsh reality. You finally get the perfect ingredient ratio down, you visualize the fluffy tortillas you're about to enjoy, and then… a mishap with the oven timer and a blazing temperature leaves you with a tray of burnt sopes instead. 440°F for 40 minutes is a recipe for a kitchen disaster, but it's also a masterclass in resilience. Thi...

Episode Overview The floor keeps shifting, but the grind stays the same. In this episode, we dive into the exhausting tension between running a traditional physical business and maintaining a modern digital presence. Reflecting on a time 30 years ago when marketing tools didn't exist, we ask a tough generational question:   Would our parents have used social media to promote their business?   From...

Real Talk, Real Taste (Why I'm Not a Reviewer)   Episode Summary Let's set the record straight right from the jump: I am not a food reviewer. In this episode, I'm breaking down the two main reasons why I absolutely hate that label. First, unfair negative reviews can genuinely destroy a small business that's just trying to get by. A packed parking lot doesn't change how the tacos taste, and a langu...

Día de los Taqueros has come and gone. Was it a massive economic windfall? Did it break the internet? Honestly, I don't have all the data yet—but if you ask me, it was a massive success. In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable about what it actually takes to build something from the ground up. Call me delusional if you want, but I truly believe we made a difference this year. Because here's the re...

What does it actually mean to be "wealthy"? In this episode, we are throwing out the traditional playbook on success and digging into a different kind of riches: loving what you do. Our journey starts with a realization about my dad. He didn't just make tacos; he genuinely loved making them.   For him, that joy was a form of wealth that money simply couldn't buy. Years later, I found myself sittin...

With Día del Taquero coming up, I wanted to get personal for a minute. This day isn't just about finding the best al pastor or hitting up your favorite stand—for me, it's about my dad. My dad passed away on May 12th, 2020. I was already doing things to honor him while he was here, but after he died, something clicked. I realized that the profession of being a taquero doesn't get the respect it act...

This isn't a holiday. It's not marketing. And it's not tied to any app, platform, or trend. Día de Taquero is just a reminder— a simple one—to recognize the people who have been feeding our communities for generations. In this episode, we talk about what this day really means, why May 15th matters, and the moment the world finally gave attention to something that's always been there: taqueros doin...

I'm Not a Taquero: Chaos, Craft, and Self-Awareness "I'm the proud son of a taquero, but I'd be a terrible one." In this episode of 10,000 Tacos, Isidro Salas dives deep into his personal connection to taco culture and why he's choosing to honor his family's legacy through storytelling rather than service. What we cover in this episode: •       Thriving in Chaos: Why Isidro only feels organized wh...

As I wrap up this podcast, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support throughout our episodes. This podcast has been a reflection of my life, my family, and the lessons learned in our taco truck days.  A special thanks goes to Stanford Florence (Flobama), Patrick Owen, and José Ralat, as they all helped me on pivotal paths to achieve many of these episodes. My siblings, M...

Recently, when I heard some white girl call her salsa 'restaurant style home-made' I was triggered to make a reaction video to call her out on her use of 'catchy' words to attract an audience. When I think about social media's influence, I wonder if I would have taken to promoting our food like so many do today, claiming we had the best tacos.  On today's episode, I tell you about what I call inap...

    Episode Summary   Thinking back four years to when the pandemic began is like rewatching a tough episode because it reminds us of how hard things were. Many people lost loved ones during that time. But it's also important to see that we made it through and are moving forward.   Even though we still face challenges from the pandemic, if we stop and ask ourselves, "Are things better now than dur...

Episode Summary In this episode, I express my deep love for cilantro and its essential role in creating real tacos. To me, a taco isn't complete without the fresh burst of flavor that cilantro, along with onion and salsa roja, brings to the table. But my affection for cilantro goes beyond its culinary necessity. It symbolizes a profound sense of gratitude for my journey to the USA. Growing up in m...

Episode Summary In this special episode, we honor my dad on his birthday by sharing the invaluable lessons I learned from him that shaped his success as a taquero. These lessons, which I call "Taco Truck Rules to Live By," are not just for running a taco truck—they are principles for living a fulfilling life. Key Points Today is my dad's birthday. Honoring him by sharing the "Taco Truck Rules to L...

  Authenticity used to be a word with significant meaning, but I think it has now become subjective and often exploited as a marketing tool. I once tweeted, "The closer you come to making it from scratch, the more authintic it will be." And that tweet reflected my beliefs at that time. The belief in the value of effort and craftmanship. Howeveer, a friend's perpective, based on the "abuelita princ...

Today on the show, I want to share a recent internal conflict that inspired me to create a reaction video on TikTok. The video featured a Mexican lady making tacos, but they weren't just any tacos; they were White People Taco Night tacos. This stirred feelings of sadness and internal conflict within me. However, this experience also led me to some podcast therapy. During this episode, I was remind...