I tried the “Tacos Al Pastor” on a recent United Airlines flight and was pleasantly surprised. While the presentation may be lacking, the tacos were surprisingly good tacos for being reheated at 35,000 feet.
Taste Test: Tacos Al Pastor From United Airlines Bistro On Board Menu
United Airlines offers a “Bistro On Board” menu with heartier hot food items for sale in economy class on flights longer than 1,190 miles that depart between 5:00 AM and 9:59 PM.
On this flight, I was flying in first class (I had the very decadent pierogi), but also requested the tacos from the back…my domestic travel is way down this year and so I have to take every opportunity I can get!
Tacos Al Pastor
Chipotle-spiced pork, pineapple, rice and cotija cheese on flour tortillas topped with onion and cilantro
These cost $11 (but Premier 1K and Global Services members in the United MileagePlus program get one free food and beverage item when traveling in coach and first class passengers generally do not have to pay for anything from the buy-on-board menu).
The mix of chipotle-spiced pork, pineapple, rice, cotija cheese, onion, and cilantro all sounded like a winning combo. Two tacos were served in a paper box, with the ingredients (still too long for my tastes, but understandable considering it was airplane food) printed on a sticker.
The tacos were very unsightly…they looked like well…you know.
But I did not only try a bite, but ate every last bite. The flavor combinations worked very well and I found this a better dish than even the pierogi.
Would I order this again? Absolutely. Was it better than the burger? Absolutely (but then again, I’m just a sucker for anything remotely “Mexican” in terms of flavors and spices).
Kudos to United for continuing to offer innovative hot food to passengers traveling in economy class.
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over two decades ago.
Don’t worry about the ingredients statement. That’s normal and it’s also in accordance with federal regulations. Source: me, someone who’s been working with ingredients statements for over 35 years.
Good tacos…United pulled this one off.
Thanks for the write up! I’ll definitely be trying these on my next flight. I usually get the burger, but it sounds like the tacos are more flavorful.
OK, I’ve got to say it. Cheeseband rice don’t belong on a taco al pastor. And, no taco should be served in a flour tortilla—soft corn only. Wrong, just wrong. What is this Taco Bell?
The presentation looks like a ‘fart’… the result of eating this, also looks like many farts. Thankfully, the engines should drown out the sounds, but, unfortunately for others, not the smells. So, loud and proud or silent but deadly, you’ll be fine.
Another reminder that you’ll eat just about anything on a plane.
Pro tip: It’s OK to skip a meal, skip a dessert and skip a cocktail.
But this I went out of my way to try!