Where you can find the winners
Tacos Don Chicho (Judges’ Choice, Taco) - Belmont and DeWitt Avenues
Taco Pinto (People’s Choice, Taco) - Shaw and West Avenues
Miche Ferme (Judges’ and People’s Choice, Michelada) - Visit Instagram for locations
Papi’s Mex Grill (Judges’ Choice, Salsa) - Champlain and Shepherd Avenues
Chef Greg (People’s Choice, Salsa) - private chef
Thousands of first-time and regular attendees gathered at Fresno’s 13th Taco Truck Throwdown to sample their choice of 23 taco trucks, 9 Michelada mixes, and 6 salsas, all competing for trophies and bragging rights.
Fresnans also enjoyed live performances from rappers Larry June, Coyote, and Los Del Puerto, thrilling wrestling matches, friendly cornhole competitions, cigars from local shops, and a variety of unique goods from local vendors, creating an exciting atmosphere for all ages.
Saturday’s 13th annual Throwdown was not only the first to announce winners for both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice competitions, but also the second year to feature a contest for the best salsa.
In an interview with Fresnoland, founder Mike Osegueda mentioned that since the throwdown moved the event from summer to fall, attendance has consistently reached around 10,000 to 12,000 people, and he had no doubt that this year would draw a similar crowd.
“I always am looking forward to seeing which taco trucks make a big impression on this day, because it really is a big opportunity for a lot of people to take their business to another level,” said Osegueda. “If you’re kind of a newer truck, and you come in and win taco truck throwdown, that’s a big deal. It’s gonna raise your profile tremendously. I’m always eager to see which businesses take that leap.”
Osegueda explained that judges make an effort to visit every business early on, and it takes about two and a half hours to sample everything.
Many first-time businesses join
For Margarita and Kalan Kellerhals, this year marked their first time participating in Fresno’s Taco Truck Throwdown with their Mariscos El Salvavidas taco truck.
The chef crafted a unique “surf and turf” birria asada seafood dish for the judges, showcasing a fusion of rich flavors and high-quality ingredients.
Having placed fourth in the People’s Choice competition in 2021, the team was confident that their tacos would score higher this year. Kalan emphasized that their tacos stand out for their distinctive flavors, setting them apart from other trucks at the event.
At the Micheladas el Torito booth, Jennifer Ruiz was proudly handing out samples of their signature Micheladas, which featured a more subtle tomato flavor.
“I’m feeling very emotional to be here for the first time,” Ruiz shared. “I’ve tried many different Micheladas, but what sets ours apart is how we focus on traditional Mexican flavors. For me, it’s a way to reconnect with my roots in Michoacán.”
Ruiz, who has worked with Micheladas el Torito for several years, expressed her pride in representing a family business known for its authentic recipes and dedication to quality.
What else was going on at the throwdown?
Lucha libre pro-wrestling matches, performances by famous rappers spitting bars about their love for Fresno, and photo ops with a Don Julio light blue pickup truck draped in string lights and serapes kept Fresnans entertained throughout the event.
Many people gathered on a VIP-exclusive dance floor near the stage, holding Micheladas, beers, cigars, or joints, as they danced with their loved ones.
Others took their tacos, Micheladas, and salsas seriously, carefully voting for their favorite spots and often standing in long lines. Their dedication to finding the best flavors was evident as they patiently waited to savor every bite and make their voices heard in the competition.
This dedication, many vendors said, reflected the passion and loyalty of the Fresno community, with attendees eager to support their favorite local vendors and showcase the region’s vibrant food culture.
That’s one reason why Greg Rodriquez, whose grandparents own Javier’s Mexican Restaurant, won the People’s Choice trophy for salsa last year and was invited to return, now under the name Chef Greg.
“We hit it out of the ballpark last year,” said Rodriquez. “Unfortunately, our restaurant is temporarily closed right now, but they called me up and said, ‘You won last year. Do you want to try and win again?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, for sure. I want to protect my title over here.’”
Rodriquez, who also works as a private chef, was thrilled when the throwdown agreed to promote his signature chunky salsa, made with fresh tomatoes, red onions, green onions, yellow onions, and garlic. The green salsa has a spicier kick, mainly Serrano-based, while the red salsa features a milder jalapeño base.
“I love this event—it’s great for meeting people, marketing myself and our business, and everyone’s just here to have a great time,” said Rodriquez.
Later in the night, Chef Greg won the People’s Choice competition for the second year in a row.
Who won Fresno’s Taco Truck Throwdown 13?
Around 9:40 p.m., a crowd gathered by the stage to hear the winners of the Judge’s Choice awards for best tacos, micheladas, and now, salsa.
Jose Rojas, chef of Tacos Don Chicho, celebrated his food truck’s third year at the throwdown with a first-time Judge’s Choice Trophy win, saying he felt “ecstatic, nervous, and can’t believe it—we won!”
“Never really thought we would be contenders,” said Rojas. “There’s a lot of taco trucks out here, right? We never thought we would win, but it’s our third year. They do say, ‘The third one’s the lucky one.’”
The food truck prepared a shrimp quesabirria taco with fresh ingredients sourced daily, featuring tender shrimp and melted cheese.
“Everybody has their own style of taco. When we started the business, we always said we wanted to serve food the way we would eat it ourselves—always keeping it fresh for our customers, as if they were our family, with our hearts and tears poured into these tacos.”
Jhoanna Reyes (Hernandez), co-owner of Miche Firme, returned to the throwdown and won both the People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice trophy for best Michelada. This is Miche Firme’s fourth year in a row winning either one or both of the competitions.
“I feel very humbled, and I feel blessed by all our customers and all the respect that everybody’s been giving us, not only that, but just the support that our customers continue giving us, day in and day out,” said Reyes. “Our Micheladas are very authentic. It’s made with love. Every single bottle that is bottled is made by me, and honestly, it’s genuine. It’s nothing but love and authenticity.”
About 30 minutes later, the People’s Choice winners were announced. Attendees then continued to dance, drink, chat, and, of course, enjoy tacos until midnight.
Judge’s Choice
- Tacos Don Chicho – Taco Truck
- Miche Firme – Michelada
- Papi’s Mex Grill – Salsa
People’s Choice
- Taco Pinto – Taco Truck
- Miche Firme – Michelada
- Chef Greg (previously registered as Javier’s Mexican Restaurant) – Salsa
Editor’s note: Mike Osegueda serves on Fresnoland’s Board of Directors. Under Fresnoland’s Editorial Independence Policy, the board has no involvement in editorial decisions or pre-publication review.
