Robb Walsh's 100 Favorite Houston Dishes: #50 Frito Pie at the Rio Verde Taco Truck on Longpoint

Over the course of the next few months, I'm counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments.

#50 Frito Pie at the Rio Verde Taco Truck

It's getting hard to find a classic, made-in-the-bag, Frito Pie in Houston. Too many restaurants are serving Frito Pie in an elegant bowl with high-quality cheese. Please! This ruins the experience. Frito Pie is a dish properly enjoyed at hot dog carts and high school football stadium concession stands with a plastic spork and a Dr Pepper.

Leslie, the woman behind the counter at the Refresqueria Rio Verde truck on Longpoint, gets it. Her Frito Pies are nearly perfect. Granted the Mylar bags aren't quite like the old plastic bags, but they are close enough. Leslie splits the bag open sideways and then adds a ladle full of chili con carne and a ladle full of chile con queso. Then she asks if you want any condiments. I usually go for pickled jalapeño slices and raw onions.

Check out the fading, hand-painted rendering of a Frito Pie on the back of this taco truck.

The list to date:

#100: Green Chile Chicken Kebabs at Chatkhara Grill
#99: The All-Day Burrito at Cherry Top Bakery
#98: "You Buy We Fry" Trout Basket at Hank's Fish Market
#97: Chicharron de Barriga at La Michoacana Meat Market # 10
#96: Pakistani Breakfast at Kings Chicken
#95: Fried Mojarra at Taqueria Jesus Maria
#94: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake Ball at Coffee Groundz
#93:Cheeseburger at Leonard's Famous Burgers
#92: Lasagna at Doyle's
#91: Cochinita Pibil at Tacos La Bala
#90: Fajita Tacos at Taqueria El Charro
#89: Kubideh and Zereshk Polo at Kasra Persian Grill
#88: Trentino Gelato's Dulce de Leche at Shisha
#87: Deviled Eggs at Nielsen's Deli
#86: Italian-Cuban Sandwich at Logan Farms
#85: Vegetable Trio in Sichuan Sauce at Spicy Sichuan
#84: Salchi-Burger at Brisa Cocina
#83: El Ultimo Taco Truck's Breakfast Tacos
#82: Kielbasa on a Sizzling Comal at Polonia
#81: Shrimp and Grits at Bistro Alex, Hotel Sorella
#80: A Bowl of Chili at James Coney Island
#79: Lamb Dumplings at Lucky Pot
#78: Crazy Irishman Sushi Roll at Soma
#77:Tesar's "Magic" Burger
#76: Mac n' Cheese at Two Saints
#75: Spicy Armenian Kebabs at Café Rita
#74: Jalapeño Gefilte Fish at Rustika
#73: Greek Burger at the Hubcap Grill
#72: The Basil Inferno at Thai Bistro
#71: Paella at Rioja on Kirkwood
#70: The Big Adrian Burger at Adrian's Local Café
#69: Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Bar at La Paletera
#68: Indonesian Deviled Eggs at Rice Bowl II
#67: Al Pastor Quesadillas at Tierra Caliente Meat Market
#66: Boudin Kolaches at Shipley's on North Main
#65: Banh Cuon at Tay Ho 18 in Hong Kong City Mall
#64: Cumin Lamb at Chinese Halal Cuisine on Bellaire
#63: Stuffed Artichoke at Mint Café on Sage
#62: Italian Sausage Pie at Russo's Coal Oven Pizza
#61: Tom Kha Gai at Thai Choice on Wilcrest
#60: Torta Cubano Estilo Mexicano at El Amigo Taco Truck
#59: Whataburger Triple Meat, Triple Cheese with Bacon and Jalapeños
#58: The Banana, Ghiradelli Chocolate Chip and Dulce de Leche Empanada at The Original Marini's
#57: The Barbecue Brisket and Egg Breakfast Taco at Plantation BBQ Trailer
#56: Chicken-Fried Steak at Frank's Chop House
#55: Catfish and Grits at the Breakfast Klub
#54: Bun Bo Hue at Kim Chau
#53: Beef Tips at Davis Meat Market
#52: Moules Frites at Jeanine's Bistro
#51: The Fajita Taco at the Taconazo Truck