WHY Mexican dishes with a jolt of traditional flavors in a casual, eco-friendly storefront café. WHAT Tinga’s owners were inspired by Santa Barbara’s deceptively casual La Super Rica. Their thick corn tortillas also have a house-made heft, with cochinita pibil pork tacos as spicy as advertised. Taco plates, quesadillas, burritos and tortas made with steak, [...]
January 25, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY Al pastor tacos at midnight. WHAT All the meats that go into the tacos and burritos are good, but the real reason the people line up every night is for the pork al pastor, among the best in taco-truck land. WHO Mexican families and the young and restless, stopping in between clubbing and bar-hopping. [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY It’s everything a modern taquería should be in Los Angeles—adaptive and inventive yet traditional and classic. WHAT Guisados was born from the minds behind Cook’s Tortas, and here they channel the creativity of Cook’s into homey stews and braises swaddled in sturdy, rough-hewn tortillas. The menu is forever changing, but keep an eye peeled [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Just because you enjoy retail therapy on 3rd Street doesn’t mean you want to spend $30 for lunch. And sometimes you want a great taco. WHAT Pete White paid his dues (25 years!) at Poquito Mas, and at his solo venture he uses farmers’ market produce and quality seafood and meat to produce some [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A top contender for L.A.’s best fish tacos. WHAT Still called by its former name, Tacos Baja Ensenada, this stylish lime-green former burger stand turns out seemingly weightless battered fish tacos whose textural contrasts of crunchy cabbage, crackly battered, moist fish and tart, rich crema are an epiphany. A tiny ceviche bar serves blends [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Excellent Baja-style fish tacos. WHAT Ricardo (better known as Ricky) has had to move his weekend street stand around, but lately he’s been consistently in the parking lot at the Kimarge Salon—and there are even tables in the shade! He makes just one thing, fish tacos ($2.50), and they’re terrific, the fish fresh from [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY It’s a place of tremendous simplicity: you got your hot-from-the-fryer fish tacos ($1.50) and your shrimp tacos ($2), and you can buy a canned soda or fresh horchata ($1) to drink. That’s it. WHAT This seriously funky taqueria is run by a guy named Joseph, who jokes and flirts and sometimes lays down the [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHAT One of the city’s best-known food trucks does a lot of private events, but it also hits the usual truck hot spots; it’s also at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market the first Saturday and second Wednesday of the month. Border Grill’s quesadillas and excellent tacos (Yucatan pork, potato, Baja-style fish) are our faves. , [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Simple, perfectly grilled pork, beef and chorizo tacos. WHAT Some love the carne asada, others prefer the lengua (tongue), but all agree this truck parked outside the Vons market on Alvarado grills up some of the best meats in the area. Come anytime after 7 p.m., but expect crowds later in the evening, when [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY An honest taqueria that capably handles the classics. WHAT El Taco Loco No. 3 earned its number as part of a loosely affiliated South Bay chain, though many share tenuous ties at best. This location is particularly true to the taqueria tradition: fresh-made tortillas, all the meat (offal and otherwise) that you could want [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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