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San Francisco Taco Truck Earns Zagat Accolades

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- For the first time, a mobile food truck is in the Zagat restaurant guide for the Bay Area.

In a survey of 10,000 people, El Tonayense - parked daily outside the Best Buy on Harrison Street at 13th in San Francisco - ranked number one in Zagat's 2011 Best Bang for Your Buck category.

"People are choosing a quality meal out of a truck, versus a typical fast food joint because the value is definitely a nice niche to be in," said Ken Lo, a regular, who also owns a sushi restaurant in the Marina District.

"Everyone is looking for value these days, and here you get a quality meal for the price, and you don't have to sit down," said Lo.

The El Tonayense tacos are $1.75, and the burritos are $6. Lo says he considers El Tonayense's husband and wife owners pioneers of the growing food truck trend.

"As opposed to opening a $500,000 restaurant, these chefs can start a taco truck for a fraction of the cost, and still offer the kind of quality cuisine you can get at a neighborhood restaurant," said Lo.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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