The Feed first look: Country Boys

Fernando and Yolanda Martinez's Vendy-winning taco truck goes brick-and-mortar in Park Slope.

By Christina Izzo Fri Feb 1 2013

Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Pork tacos at Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Beef huarache at Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Chicken quesadilla at Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Country Boys
Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Country Boys

Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Pork tacos at Country Boys

The Country Boys cult is growing—for the uninitiated, beloved husband-wife team Fernando and Yolanda Martinez have been slinging their popular tacos at the Red Hook ball fields since ’93. After years of drawing lines of neighborhood folk, the pair—along with their daughter and two sons—got major cred when their truck won a ’09 Vendy Award, leading to satellite branches at hipster enclaves like the Brooklyn Flea and Mister Sunday parties in Gowanus. Now the Martinez clan is going brick-and-mortar with this 40-seat restaurant, opened on January 19th, bringing oversize tacos teeming with spicy pork, hunks of grilled fish and garlicky veggies to Park Slopers. An upgrade from the stand’s packaged tortillas, the soft corn wraps are made by hand here, patted from masa and warmed on the restaurant’s grill. The street-food staples—sopes, quesadillas, chalupas and huaraches are also part of the mobile roster—are joined by gutsy sit-down dishes like mole poblano, adobo pork and chiles rellenos, all Puebla-country-style fare to which the restaurant name nods. Regulars will be happy to find the digs as no-fuss as the original stands—humbly decorated with laminated tablecloths, family photos and a neon palm tree leftover from previous tenants. 568 Fourth Ave at 16th St, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-452-6079)