Pepe's Tacos ~ Culver City

Plan B:  Pepe's Tacos.  

What was Plan A?  Plan A was going to a place I spotted off Venice Blvd named El Charro.  After I parked my car and made the quick walk, I get to the front, look in, confusion hits, and kept on walking like I was going somewhere else. Hahaha what a douche.

Seriously, I looked in and it looked like a hybrid barber shop and bar, but instead of taps and drinnks against the wall, there was a small little stove and mini counter for prep.  I was like, "WTF is going on in there?"  I turn around and look in, and get a bit intimitated by the place...it reminded me of a spot we walked by in Mexico, touristy part of Mexico at that, and only locals were there, straight up MEXICANS ONLY.  I definitely need to rehash my Habla Espanol before I return.  Y voy a regresar.

Until then...it was plan B tonight.

Pepe's Tacos

Early in my taco blogging career, I visited this spot and was very very disappointed.  I vowed I would give them one more chance, because in the back of my heart I knew they could do better.  Coming here, I was hopeful for something good.  They almost delivered 100 percent.  

I was bit concerned after looking at the menu and finding out these taco's come at 1.39 a pop.  It went away when homeboy dropped this plate on my face.  The chips and salsa more than made up for the 15 cent increase per taco.  

*from bottom to top:  pastor, asada, carnitas

For some odd reason, while I was waiting for my tacos, I was hoping I'd hear that pssssshhhh! the sound of meat being cooked on a grill.  Of course, it never came.  Maybe I'm getting a bit spoiled having gone to so many legit-made spots in Mexico and LA where your food is cooked to order.  Sad, ignorance is truly bliss.  

The pastor was very unremarkable.  I felt like they heavily sauced the pork.  It was like they forced their pastor flavor onto my palate.  I didn't like it.  No means NO.

The asada was definitely a step up from the pastor.  And a very big step up from the last time I was here, where I found a huge peice of fat that took up about half the size of my taco.  Though they didn't reheat the meat, it still came to me hot, not piping hot, but hot enough to enjoy.  I found a couple of charred crispy peices so that was a nice little surprise.

Now the king of the show was definitely the carnitas.  I had a feeling this taco was going to be the best.  Last time I was here I enjoyed this taco because of the texture.  This time around, they really impressed me by bringing the consistency.  The carnitas came to me just the way I like...tender and juicy from sitting in a hot stew pot for long hours.  Ohh man that shit taste bomb.  I'm telling you, sometimes things just are better over time.  And slow cooked pork is one of those things.  

Overall, this place redeemed itself from the very low point I had them in my head.  Not "great" mexican food.  But definitely the type that keeps customers coming back for more.  I think if I ever find myself back here though, I'm gonna try something else..their menu is huge and I've read on Yelp.com that they have some serious Torta action.

Pro's

-Chips and Salsa included

-Friendly service

Con's

-No salsa bar

-They use already cooked meat.  They don't even reheat.... (I know, I'm getting picky now.  But hey, I've seen the other side, and I like it.)

Taco's ~ $1.39 ea.

Pepe's Tacos ~ 4582 S. Centinela Ave.  Culver City, CA  90066  310.391.8667

http://www.pepestacosla.com/

El Super Taco ~ Santa Monica

This place sorta just snuck up on me.  Good thing I was in the right turn lane when I noticed the big El Super Taco sign on the side, or else I would've just kept driving by.  There was a time when I always had my eye's open, visually aware of any spot that could get skate'd up.  Now, it seems, my eyes are tuned to the taco.

El Super Taco

I ordered myself two tacos (asada & carnitas).   In hopes of getting served chips, I overly did the salsa bit, as you can see.  But, no chips.  I was a bit displeased.

The asada was excellent.  It came in small chunks that were very soft in texture, with no lack of flavor from the grill.  The charred bits were salty, but not too salty, just how I like it.  

The carnitas was of the roasted type.  I could tell that it was simmered for a long period of time, giving it the pulled pork texture, but after the roasting, it became a bit hard.  Not overly hard where it was bad...just not the soft, juicy braised carnitas I'm used to and love.  

With a new location opening up close to my apartment, I will be sure to head back there for the torta's.  Apparently its their selling point, because on the front of the menu you can see a torta sitting in a pannini grill waiting to get grilled.  Mmmmm, I love me some torta's!

Pro's

-Salsa Bar

-served with grilled onions

Con's

-Chips not included

Taco's ~ $1.25  Torta's ~ $5.99

11300 W. Pico Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA  90064

Don Felix Meat Market ~ Culver City

A very unassuming place, I have driven up and down sawtelle so many times and whizzed right by it...never giving it a second thought. 

That was dumb.  This place is a three in one convenient store/ carneceria (meat market) /restaurant.  My dumb ass didn't walk through to the meat market while waiting for my meal.  I will be back though...the food was that good.  

Don Felix

I walk in on the side where the restaurant was at and stood dumbfounded.  I see a menu...ok, thats good, I see a doorway to a kitchen...ok, thats good too, then I see a girl at a register to the far left by the market.  Confused, I'm like... "where the fuck do I place my order?"  I ask the girl and she gladly let me know that she would take the order.  Relieved, I order myself 1 carnitas taco and a torta de carne asada.  Both with their "famous" habanero sauce.  She gives me my receipt and I quietly wait by the side.  I start watching the tele for a couple min's and she's like, "Oh, go give your receipt over there" she pointed at the doorway to the kitchen.  At this point I feel like a serious newb.  Embarrased I give my receipt and once again wait for my food.  

Finally I get my food.  It's funny cause homeboy must've thought I knew spanish cause he was all about it with me.  Good thing I know just enough to get by, I shoot the shit for a couple seconds...get a chuckle outta gordo and head for outdoor seating.

I was a little disappointed my meal didn't come with chips, but that quickly went away after my first bite into the carnitas taco.   So moist and tender, I picked up a stray piece on my plate and it literally buckled under the soft pressure of my finger tips.  You can tell they properly simmer the fatty cut of shoulder meat for a long period of time, which gives the taco its soft, moist consistency.   As for their famous Salsa Roja, it wasn't as spicy as I have previously read.  But good enough for me.

The torta de asada was good...not great.  The meat was very tender, with the flavors heightened by the sour cream, guacamole and frijoles.  What really gets me everytime with a good torta is the bread.  I don't know what it is, but the bread they use...soo good.  This place must bake their own cause I could have literally eaten the bread by itself.  It was very warm and soft in the inside, with the outsides equally as hot and crispy.  

Next time I come back, I'm gonna make sure to try out their milanesa torta.  As well as a heffty order of carnitas.

Pro's

-Meat Market/Mexican Convenient Store

-Big menu at inexpensive prices

Con's

-Chip's not included

-Could be a bit confusing for a first timer

Taco's @ 1.25,  Torta's @ 3.99

Don Felix Meat Market ~ 3985 Sawtelle Blvd.  Culver City, Ca 90066.