Taqueria Chihuahua ~ Santa Monica

So far I've gained back all 10 lbs. that I lost while at the Mayan Riviera.  WTF?!  What have I been doing??  Drinking, eating and eating and drinking some more.  I swear, my job is EATING and DRINKING.  I'm good at it.  Someone hire me.  Attached you will find my resume.  Thank you for your interest.

Seriously though, I went a week and a half between posts and what's the reason?  I've been on a little pizza hunt, as of late.  As if tacos weren't enough, now pizza has piqued my interest, and my second chin is responding.  For any of you that are actually following this blog, watch out for my new pizza blog,  "Piece of That Pie."  It's a work in progress...

Anyways...onto the tacos!

TAQUERIA CHIHUAHUA

So today is the second time I experienced this taqueria.  The first time I was so impressed that I had to try it out one more time.  Big difference between this time and the first?  

This...

*Taco Dorado - Pollo

This my friends, is what brought me back to this place.  The taco dorado (crunchy taco) here was excellent.  The tortilla was fried proper with the pollo inside.  The texture of the tortilla was perfectly crunchy, not hard, and not heavy, yet was strong enough to withhold my grip and the several bites I took without cracking and breaking, which can be very annoying.  The chicken was very tender and juicy, not at all dry, with a sweetness from tomatos and a pepperyness that added a nice little bite at the end.  This right here is a crunchy taco I can stand behind. Can't say the same with Tito's...ahhh Tito's I still have to do a review on your weak ass.  One day you will get yours...one day.

Anyways, that was last week.  Today I opted to go with the usual suspects.

*Carnitas y Carne Asada.

First off, the size of these tacos are a bit bigger than your standard taco truck tacos.  Also, when you order they ask you if you want them with everything, meaning they themselves control how much onion, cilantro and salso goes onto your tacos.  Which isn't so bad because they have a decent salsa bar with two salsa roja's (hot and very hot), a pico de gallo, radishs and pickled carrots.  They actually did a good job on topping my tacos how I like.  That's a plus in my book.  

The carnitas taco was of the roasted type, which isn't my style.  The pork was so dry that the flavors weren't shining through.  Hence, I extra doused it with their smokey spicy salsa roja, which was great.  

The carne asada here is the real deal.  A very tender and juicy meat that's remiscent of grilling.  There were even a couple charred and crispy edges in the mix, which I love because of that extra flavor.  The pepperyness of the meat, added with their great salsa roja, married so well.  I love this taco.

What an underrated player Taqueria Chihuahua is in the westside taco game.  If you're in Santa Monica, I highly recommend this place over Tacos Por Favor, if carne asada is your thing.  Their menu, besides the tacos, consist of many of your usual favorites, but something I did notice was they had mulitas.  Maybe next time I can compare Chihuahua's with the USC favorite, La Taquiza.

Tacos ~ 1.59

Taco Dorado ~ 2.49, I think. :)

Taqueria Chihuahua ~ 12034 Venice Blvd.  Santa Monica, CA  90066

El Super Taco ~ Culver City

I've been waiting two long months for this place to open its doors.  I was impressed with the one off Pico in Santa Monica and once I saw the big sign with "coming soon" in front of the new El Super by my apartment, I vowed I'd be the first one in line with a big smile and an empty stomach.  

EL SUPER TACO

FINALLY! 

I walk in like I said I would, with a hungry stomach and a big smile, but all this soon turned south.  For reference, I ordered the three taco combo plate.  

*Al Pastor, Suadero, Pollo Tacos

First off, the beans were really salty.  Like, so salty I didn't even eat them.  Maybe first day jitters on their part?  The rice was mediocre, at best.  Something was missing in its flavor...I'll remark upon it later on.  Now the tacos...

By far the best taco was the al Pastor.  It was super tender and was marinated proper.  It had a good glaze on it and wasn't over powering with the marinade.  I really couldn't have asked for much more from a non spit pastor taco.  Nice job.  

Praise ends there.  Check this pollo taco.

I know I should never judge a book by its cover, but damn, this pollo looked gnarly to me.  As a result, I wasn't really enjoying this taco.  It was tender but lacked much flavor.  I really doused the salsas and onion and cilantro on this puppy.  

Now for the suadero.  What is suadero you might be asking?  I really didn't know what this meat was until I saw it as an option at one of my favorite westside taco trucks, Tacos de Valle, which I still have to review on this site, but my cousin PATRICK keeps duckin' my emails about the pictures on his camera....fucker ass.

Anyways, suadero is basically beef brisket which is grilled.  The suadero at Tacos de Valle looked mighty fine so I decided to try them out here first.  

Well, I wasn't expecting this color, but it tasted alright.  Very meaty with a chewy texture.  Almost like carnitas, but beef.  There wasn't much flavor besides the meatyness, so of course expect me to douse the shit outta this taco with their salsa verde.  

Throughout my meal I kept noticing that something was missing.  Flavor!  Dare I say this El Super Taco lacks that bold mexican flavor?

I will!  The flavors were empty and left me with a feeling that the food was NOT prepared with that mexican amore.  It felt like I was eating food that was "prepared" just not "cared" for.  I have this feeling I'm being a bit harsh because it was the first day, so I'm sure the cooks still have to get used to all the in's and out's in making the standard.  I'll keep that in mind.  

To end it on a positive note, they kept with their heritage and served their tacos bare with a side of grilled onions, and of course their salsa bar is still bangin'.  

Tacos ~ $1.25

El Super Taco ~ 11499 Jefferson Blvd  Culver City, CA  90230  310.391.8148

Gladi's & Carlita's Hot Lunch Truck ~ West LA

I believe this truck is parked here during lunch hours (11am-2pm) in front of a major commercial building.  It caters to the suits in the area, and the menu reflects that.  I of course, ordered two tacos (carnitas and asada).  But as I was checking the menu, I noticed a HUGE VARIETY, from pastrami sandwiches to teriyaki bowls, tacos to hot dogs.  This place was ready to go.

GLADI'S & CARLITA'S

The carnitas was of the roasted type...which means they stew it for a long time, but then roast it in attempts to give it a crunchy outer surface.  They did an ok job on not OVER roasting, yet it was a bit on the dry side.  Nothing a little salsa roja and lemon couldn't help.  The flavor was actually pretty good, despite they dryness.  You could definitely taste the long hours in the crock pot.  A very filling taco, also.  They packed that bitch.

The carne asada was pretty standard.  Not much flavor to it but they prepared it really good.  Tenderly cooked with a little bit of juice from the griddle.  Again, the salsa roja and lemon really helped out.  

Now, here are my qualms.  The tortillas they used were TERRIBLE.  The carnitas and asada weren't exactly my definition of juicy, dry store bought tortillas did not help this taco one bit.  They reminded me of Guerrero taco tortillas, good size, but once you heat them up, they get a bit hard and don't keep the heat.  By the time I got to my second taco it was cold, dry and a bit on the hard side.   They were really heavy, and not to mention they used two tortillas; they probably would have been better off using one tortilla.

Second, if you're looking for authentic mexican, this is not your place.  Like I said, they cater to the SUITS in the area and their menu and flavors reflect that.  Not the bold and flavorful stuff that leaves your breath smelling of a mexican kitchen.  Too bad...because that's the shit I love!

PS-The couple working the truck (maybe Gladi and Carlita?) were VERY nice to me.  This truck does have potential, I will be back to try out one of their breakfast burritos because of them.  

Tacos ~ $1.50

Gladi's & Carlita's ~ La Grange Ave. &  S. Bundy Dr.  West LA  90025

Broadway ~ Santa Monica

Herbal-Eye

10 W ~ Santa Monica

DAT FIYA!!!

It's crazy that cop didn't stop us behind this burning inferno because as I was driving by the volvo was putting out mini explosions.  Pretty scary.  What's even worse, if you can notice her, is the bitch who's car is exploding is standing down wind in the midst of all that smoke.  Serious lady?  You know that shits not healthy.  

405 N ~ W.LA

BOMBED.

Yuca's ~ Los Feliz

One of the perks of being unemployed is almost all obligation is thrown out the window, which leaves you with an open calendar to do what you want, when you want.  I can wake up at 11 am because I don't have to go to work.  I can take my time from point A to B, because I'm in no rush to get to work, or to get home from work.  Also, if someone offers, "Hey, wanna go to the dodger game on monday? At 12:30?"  I don't have to say, "Awww shit, I have work!"  

Yeah, it sucks not having a job, but hey, gotta look at the bright side, right?  Anyways, this opportunity presented itself and instead of saying "aww shit I have work," I said, "YES."  

Awesome huh?  What's even better is that friend (Cori) lives in Los Feliz, which automatically meant that my head, and stomach, was thinking, "Oohhhh Jason, Yuca's afterwards!?"  Yes sir, Mr stomach...Yes sir!"

Here are some pics of the Dodger home opener, just for the record...

*Apparently, being handicapped means you can get drunk and trash the p.lot also.

YUCA'S

Apparently we were eating at the right time, this place being a HUGE favorite among all the hipsters and locals to the area.  Something like 25-30 min waits for food and long lines during the lunch hours.  Ouch, is this place really worth it?  Not to mention Yuca's received first place in LA Tacos March Madness tourney.  They even had a certificate on the window.  Hmmm, we'll see about all this hoopla.  

*Once again, note the Jeep in crucial parking.

The menu is simple:  tacos, burritos, sandwiches, tortas and hamburgers..  hamburgers?  Apparently they're good because I saw a couple patrons munchin down lookin all happy and shit.  One thing that really blew me away about this place is they have cochinta pibil!  Mmm mmm mmm, I had some of this goodness while I was in Tulum, Yucatan, where this dish is originated.  Knowing I had the real thing, I was a bit curious and ordered it along side with a carne asada taco.  

Let's start with the asada.  This is very different than what I am used to.  I'm sure many eastsiders would agree, this taco is made for the area...fresh, lean and lacking in that bold mexican flavor.  

BUT, I still enjoyed it very much.  The carne is grilled and reminded me of the steak you would eat at Tender Greens.  This is a good thing.  They use a flank steak and is seasoned simply with salt and pepper.  The tenderness was very different in that it was "grill" tender, like a soft chewy bite that reminded me of eating at a friends BBQ or a fresh organic restaurant.  Once again, think Tender Greens.  They then top it with a pico de gallo which added extra freshness from the tomatoes, all sitting on top of two big size homemade taco tortillas that were soft and aborbed and kept heat very well.  This was a good taco.  You don't get that bold mexican flavor, but more of that California fresh flavor that's all about simplicity that emphasizes on the product, rather than added flavors that enhance.

I didn't know what to expect with the cochinita, but after I took that first bite, all doubt about this place was removed.  THIS PLACE IS GOOD.  REALLY REALLY GOOD.  

The proper way to cook cochinita pibil is buried underground, pibil literally meaning "buried."  I don't know if they actually roast the pig buried underground like tradition asks, but either way, this pork lived up to my standards, standards that were set in Yucatan, the motherland of this particular dish.  Super flavorful with the juices staining the tortilla for added flavor.  A perfect combination of savory, sweet, salty and hot.  The texture was perfectly soft and juicy from the long hours of heat, it was like biting into butter.  What more can you ask for?  This might have been one of the best tacos I've ever had.

Do I really need to say more?  If you're in this area, try them out.  There might be long lines, but if you have the time, you will be rewarded with some fresh mexican food.  Fresh mexican food that places like Baja Fresh and Rubio's is probably trying to mimic.  Once again, this is not your average authentic mexican restaurant with bold flavors.  This place is all about simplicity and perfection.  Me encanta.

Tacos ~ carne asada $ 2.25; cochinita pibil $2.00

Yuca's ~ 2056 Hillhurst Ave.  Los Feliz, CA  90027

Guillen's "La Playita" Taco Truck ~ Marina Del Rey

These guys are directly related to Mariscos Guillen La Playita off Lincoln Blvd.  I've done a review on their taco stand and wasn't so impressed with the calibur of meat tacos, them being a marisco place.  Yet I went with the two carne asada tacos anyways.  Ya, I'm stubborn.  

I get my tacos and took a seat next to the truck, on the sidewalk.  They came to me nice and hot, I knew they would because I was the only person there and I personally saw and heard them cook up my meat.  This is already lookin up.

I took my first bite and was thoroughly more impressed than with my first experience.  Cooked perfectly, and came tender and very juicy.  The carne itself probably had a simple marinade of salt/pepper and a dash of lime, but the salsa roja took the brunt of the flavoring, which added extra goodness to my palate.  The tortillas were white corn, store bought, but held heat great so by the time I was done with my first taco, my second was still nice and hot.  Another big plus.

Good Job La Playita!!  You just redeemed yourself in this taco lovers eye's.

Tacos ~ $1.25

Guillen's La Playita Taco Truck ~ Glencoe Ave.  in between Beach Ave. and Maxella Ave.  Marina Del Rey, CA  90292

Tilamook Cheese ~ Culver City

Someone PLEASE bomb up this billboard.  Something that is beffiting of this wondrous cheese.

S. Centinela Ave.  in between Bristol Pkwy and Green Valley Cr.

La Isla Bonita ~ Venice

I was a bit sketch on going here.  I've been to Mexico and back, and had some great tacos everywhere in between, so going to a Venice taco truck had me a bit wary.  But, I had to check it anyways, a friend recommended it.  Thanks for the tip, Chili.

La Isla Bonita

As I'm driving down Rose, I see the truck in the distance, but it's parked like it was actually parked there...not serving food.  I was wrong of course...but check it.  It's a bit ridiculous, IMO.

I walk up and I automatically get the gringo treatment.  I start ordering in spanish, but chica responded in english, and in a sorta annoyed way, like, "why the fuck is this asian trying to order in my language?"  Bitch musta been on her RAG.  

"Gringo treatment."  *laffs*

Anyways, she starts to call out, "Dos tacos.."  But she remembers me being gringo and catches herself midsentence and finishs, "two carne asada tacos."  Damn dude, for some reason I'm feeling disrespected, and I'm trying to talk in her language!  Eh, whatever...It's Venice so I shouldn't be surprised.

Now, here comes something I've never seen before...

BAM!! 

I seriously start to laugh aloud when I see this.  I'm thinking, "WTF?!  Frijoles on my tacos?! Seriously?!"  

I'm open minded so I eat the tacos, beans and all.

Two carne asada tacos, from a marisco place at that.  I've already learned this lesson.  Don't get carne at a place where their specialties are mariscos.  I've always been the stubborn one though.  

I knew before I even took a bite that this was going to be a bland ass taco.  The coloring of the carne asada was greyish.  Greyish!?  hahah Proper asada should have a dark color, not a dark grey color.  The meat was cooked, meh...  It was cooked, but dry and flavorless. Now I know why they put frijoles on top, to add a bit of moisture to the meat.  The salsa was next to non-existent, and whatever was there didn't help out in flavoring up the taco.

Such a mediocre experience.  Once again, get the mariscos.  Don't even fuck with the meat.  I already knew from Chili Krauss (who's a pesca-vegetarian) that her fav's were anything with shrimp.  Too bad I'm not a shrimp guy...

PS - oh, and it being in Venice, they felt they could get away with charging an extra quarter more than most other trucks here in the Westside.  Bastard asses.

Tacos ~ $1.50

La Playa Bonita ~ Corner of Rose St. and 4th Ave.  Venice, CA  90291

  

LA Taco Trucks ~ KCRW

KCRW just shot a pilot for their new online video series titled, "Good Food."  What better way to pilot this series by doing it on one of LA's most treasured food icon's...LA's Taco Trucks!!

Here are some screen shots...

Taco trucks in Venice?!  Take a guess at which one they shoot.

my personal favorite of the video...I love that guy!

Click on the link below for the whole video!

LA Taco Trucks on KCRW's "Good Food"