| Traditionally, when people were looking for a new | | | | Tacos primarily focuses on California, although |
| restaurant, they would pick up a copy of Zagat's | | | | authentic Mexican taco trucks have been plotted |
| or some other fancy food guide. But in just a few | | | | from as far away as Baltimore, Maryland. |
| short years, online maps have come a long way | | | | Another site, Chinesefoodmap, is based on |
| and now offer local information on businesses, | | | | mapping out the Chinese restaurant locations for |
| shops and eateries too. Sites like Google Maps | | | | Chinese immigrants. Web users will also have |
| allow users to create their own maps of favorite | | | | access to reviews, menus, driving directions and |
| establishments that they can save or share with | | | | other local information. Creator Brian Hui first |
| friends and family. There are hundreds of food | | | | created this site only in Chinese and focusing on |
| maps online, although a few noteworthy ideas | | | | Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Chinese food |
| have risen to the top. | | | | establishments. However, the site has grown |
| On the West Coast, what could be better than | | | | nationwide to metros like Houston, Seattle and |
| eating a real, authentic Mexican taco out of a | | | | Atlanta, and an English version inevitably popped |
| truck? With heaping portions, loads of options and | | | | up as well. |
| mama's homemade guacamole, you just cannot | | | | Users of Google Maps have created a number of |
| go wrong. You just can't get that level of | | | | restaurant "mashups" based on the Google |
| deliciousness from a restaurant, Californians say. | | | | template. One of the most notable sites is |
| However, it can be tricky to locate these trucks, | | | | Menurequest, which features more than 5,000 |
| especially if you are from out-of-town. Thus, | | | | links in New York, San Diego, Boston, Chicago, |
| Yumtacos was born. | | | | Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Philadelphia, San |
| Creator Joshua Lurie-Terrell of Sacramento, | | | | Francisco, and Washington DC. Users can visit the |
| California said he had been keeping a list of the | | | | restaurant's website, read reviews, get driving |
| best taco trucks for quite some time. "As soon | | | | directions and make online reservations through |
| as friends of mine knew I had this list, people | | | | this amazing map. These are just a few of the |
| were calling me all the time," he admits. From | | | | food maps available to culinary curators. Perhaps |
| there, transferring the data onto a Google map | | | | your very own city has a site designed just for |
| was no problem. Once the site was live, people | | | | hungry local residents like you. |
| could add their own taco truck sightings. Yum | | | | |