Tyler's Tacos food truck opens in Petoskey

PETOSKEY — After more than a year of planning and preparation, Tyler's Tacos in Petoskey is finally open.

Tyler's Tacos officially opened Thursday, July 4, with people lined up to try the new food truck before getting their fix of fireworks and festivities.

The truck received the OK to open — getting approval on the last permit necessary — on July 3.

"It's a blessing and a curse," Tyler McCarty, owner of Tyler's Tacos, told the News-Review about the Independence Day opening. After working at Kilwins, McCarty said he was used to the crowds that come with the holiday in Northern Michigan.

Located on the north side of U.S. 31, parked at 900 Bay View Road, the new food truck was custom built over the last year or so.

Originally from Harbor Springs, McCarty found himself working in Texas for a short while, and enjoying Texas barbecue. After returning to Northern Michigan, he said he couldn't find any barbecue quite like what Texas had to offer, so he started doing it on his own.

After receiving some encouragement from friends and family, the idea for Tyler's Tacos was born.

"This was never on the radar for me," McCarty said. "I've always loved to cook. I've worked in restaurants before and my grandma and my mom are great cooks, but it was never something that I was like, 'This is what I'm doing for the rest of my life.'"

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The meat is smoked using Michigan hardwood, and the tortillas are made at the truck. McCarty said he's excited to get people to try the food, which has influences locally and as far as Texas.

Currently, the truck offers homemade tortillas to serve the street tacos or barbecue tacos on the menu. The truck also offers rice bowls and a selection of drinks, including Jarritos.

The food truck is parked beside a line of picnic tables overlooking Little Traverse Bay.

McCarty said his family owned the property, and as it was unused, it made sense to put it there. The building on the grounds is considered a commissary for storage.

Tyler's Tacos is open from 12-8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays. For more information, visit the Instagram page at @tylerstacospetoskey .

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN .

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Tyler's Tacos food truck opens in Petoskey