Rubio's Truck Hits Streets With Free Tacos: See Santa Monica Stop

SANTA MONICA, CA — If you love tacos and freebies: Save these dates!

Rubio’s first "Food Truck Tour" — a collaborative venture with SoCal celeb chef Richard Blais — is rolling out this week, handing out free tacos from its new, "Adventure-Inspired Street Tacos" menu at four stops in Los Angeles County — with one in Santa Monica — and one in Irvine.

“We’re inviting everyone who has been missing travel and adventure to come to our food truck for a taste of favorite destinations — Hawaii, New Orleans and New York,” said Rubio’s Coastal Grill founder Ralph Rubio.

Rubio said his restaurant biz was too excited to wait for patrons to stop in and try Blais' new, bold taco creations, "So we’re taking them to the streets.”

Blais, a Bravo "Top Chef," a recurring judge on such TV shows as "Guy's Grocery Games," a James Beard-nominated cookbook author and one of the forces behind Juniper & Ivy in SD's Little Italy, recently partnered with Rubio and his crew for this new taco line-up, that melds worldwide travel and street food.

The three, new Rubio’s x Blais Street Tacos, available for free sampling from the Rubio's Taco Truck, include:

• Hula Hula Carnitas: Inspired by Blais’ time in Hawaii, with pork marinated in gochujang, achiote and garlic, wrapped in a banana leaf and slow-cooked;
• Blaised & Glazed Crispy Chicken: A tangy taco twist on Buffalo chicken, the "Blaised & Glazed" taco starts with crispy chicken tossed in Frank’s RedHot® sauce;
• Ancho Po-Boy Shrimp: Named after New Orleans’ most famous sandwich,this is a modern take on classic New Orleans street food.

Upcoming taco-tour stops in the Southland area are listed below. But do double-check with the Rubio's Taco Truck Tour blog for any updates or changes.

• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. - OC Championship Stadium, 8272 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, (Orange County SC vs. SD Loyal - Visit OrangeCountySoccer.com for tickets.)
• THURSDAY, JUNE 10: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.-N. Brand & Broadway Area, Glendale
• FRIDAY, JUNE 11: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- Independence Park,12334 Bellflower Blvd., Downey
• SATURDAY, JUNE 12: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.- The Brig, 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
• SUNDAY, JUNE 13: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.- Ocean View Park, 2701 Barnard Way, Santa Monica

Other planned stops are May 27-31 in San Diego County and June 3-6 in the Inland Empire

Founded in 1983 in San Diego as a walk-up, food stand by then-college student Rubio, who became hooked on fish tacos after frequent trips to Mexico, the Rubio's chain now boasts a menu that still includes its Original Fish Tacos, plus grilled seafood options, along with steak and chicken served in tacos, salads, bowls and burritos.

Now headquartered in Carlsbad, Rubio's currently employs more than 3,000 individuals at more than 150 restaurants in California, Arizona and Nevada, according to company officials. Find your nearest Rubio's here.

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