El Rinconsito and The Slap Tag Files
I bring food and art, just as I’m wont to. Plus, new merch.
El Rinconsito: Tacos Al Pastor
PSA: The South End Seattle El Rinconsito does not have a drive-through. It may look like it does, but that’s a mirage caused by a slightly wonky parking lot. You’ll be in for a wait should you try to line up, and a helpful El Rinconsito employee will eventually tell you that they do, in fact, not have a drive-through. I know all this from experience.
Setting my little snafu aside, it’s good to see El Rinconsito’s Martin Luther King, Jr. location open after years of donning a “coming soon” sign – long enough that I had almost given up hope. Here we are, though, and in the year of our lord, 2026, El Rinconsito seems to be doing well. The once-dilapidated building is spruced up with a handful of indoor tables, a quick to-go ordering service1, and outdoor dome seating. The latter blocks out noise and smog from the busy road, making El Rinconsito an unexpected outdoor destination. I imagine it’s a good people-watching spot.
The al pastor tacos are tasty, and while they don’t quite stack up against La Cuadra’s über-succulent offering, they’re still the real deal, with freshly sliced meat from a trompo – a vertical spit. Well-spiced, with a good bite. Four tacos run you $14.01, which, the weird tacked-on cent aside, is fair, seeing they also toss in a Favoritos soda.
Even with a to-go order, you get a generous side of pickled vegetables, and while most places around town serve fairly barebones al pastor, El Rinconsito differentiates itself with its toppings. The prerequisite chunk of pineapple is there, along with chopped onions, pickled red onions, beets, and even a charred, blistered jalapeño. A whole caramelized onion adds an additional sweet touch to the palate. It’s a maximalist take on the taco al pastor, and I’m all about that. Having a variety of options in the area is not a bad thing.
It’s definitely worth the stop, El Rinconsito, as long as that stop isn’t in a perceived drive-through line.
2921 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle • Map • Web • App(!)
We’re purveyors of art here at the Digest, and have recently undertaken a new project: The Slap Tag Files. The site is, as the name suggests, a gallery of stickers found on street signs and lamp posts, commonly known as “slap tags.” Nothing more, nothing less, and if you find those as weirdly fascinating as I do, the gallery should hopefully hold your interest.
You can toss The Slap Tag Files into an RSS reader to receive live updates, or just visit daily. Because, really, why wouldn’t you?
… but wait, there’s more!
The people spoke, and we listened: Drøbak’s infamous “Santa Crossing” sign is now available from the Better Taster Boutique.
Shirts, stickers, magnets – all the usual suspects can be adorned with your favorite oddball Norwegian road sign.
Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie
Speaking of art, here’s a highbrow, lowbrow, and in-between-brow movie any fan of quirky humor should check out.
Based on a Canadian series, Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie is an absurd comedy, partly straight fiction (a self-confessed Back to the Future rip-off), and partly a Borat-style stunt film. The trailer sets it up better than I can.
It’s all very Canadian2, and whatever you may think of the humor, it is a fascinating watch. Director Matt Johnson isn’t too candid about how they get away with filming in public places without permits, but he does suggest that they technically can consider themselves a documentary crew, which allows them certain liberties3. Here’s how they obtained footage from a scene set on top of Toronto’s CN Tower, according to IMDb’s trivia page:
The Skywalk footage at the CN Tower was from a GoPro on top of the tour guide’s helmet. The CN Tower tour guides have a script that they always stick to, and move their heads in the same way each tour, so Matt choreographed their movements based on that.
Liberties aside, that is some complex choreography.
So far, Nirvanna is my favorite movie of 2026 – fans of quirky humor will want to check it out. It’s currently available on VOD.
Merch for the People!
Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?
Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.
I’ll re-emphasize: no drive-through. Never have I felt as old as I did while sitting in a perceived line, complaining about the slow service.
Whereas Borat is aggressively satirical, Nirvanna: The Band, etc., is peacefully polite.
This I learned in Blank Check’s paywalled “Burger Report the Segment the Episode,” where the Nirvanna guys get very passionate discussing celebrity burger spottings.