Cemitas Tepeaca ~ East LA

Another interview in the bag, this time in East LA.  Ahhhh East LA!  You know what I was thinking the night before?  No, it wasn't what I was going to say at the interview, about how I would be a great asset to the company.  I was thinking about one thing, and one thing only...Where am I going to eat?!?! 

CEMITAS TEPEACA

I basically drove south from where my interview was at, turned left on Cesar Chavez (you know there's gonna be a shit load of Mexican fare on this street) and drove until I found a truck or a shop.  There were so many spots, literally, on every corner and on every block. It was like I died and was driving down Taco St. in mexican food Heaven.  

Caught this cool little mural while at a red light...

Finally, after just three minutes of driving, I see this...

BOO-YA!  Does that truck have a picture of baby Jesus flying in the sky?

I don't know if you can see, but that building in the background is Los 5 Puntos, the ever famous carniceria and market.  Apparently, they have some bomb.com.  They even made the the first round of LATaco's March Madness Taco Tourney.   A bit bummed I didn't go in, if I would've known they were a heavy hitter, I would have dumped this truck in a heart beat and checked out their famous carne asada.  Next time, if I get the job of course.

So I order two carne asada tacos.  Take a look see...

Took the picture of the tacos on a milk crate.  It also doubled as a chair.  

These tacos were really good.  The carne asada was well seasoned, with hints of cumin and chili powder, and was cooked to my personal preference, juice running down my hands and tender crispy charred edges on the asada.  Mmm mmm mmm.  The salsa roja added a spicy kick that took the taco to flavor heights I can only dream of recreating.  The tortillas were probably store bought, but I have a feeling they buy from Los 5 Puntos, and they make their own.  They aborbed and kept heat well.  There were even little crunchy parts on the tortilla (note the little browned areas).  

Now I know why so many people rave about the calibur of mexican food here in East LA.  It's mexican food, made by mexicans, for mexicans.  I'm pretty sure they could tell I was asian, but that didn't stop taquero from talking to me en espanol.  I respected and spoke back in common tongue.  

Look at me,  going all "native" n shit!  hahah.. Me encanta!

Tacos ~ $1.00

Cemitas Tepeaca ~ On the corner of E Cesar Chavez & Indiana St.  Los Angeles, CA  90063

Don Felix Meat Market ~ Culver City

With the economy in the toilet, White Godzilla and I took it upon ourselves to say "fuck it,"and have a good time. We did this by purchasing two round trip tickets to Cancun, despite lack of work and tons of bills. We have talked about this trip incessantly now for about a year, and I am glad to say we are finally (barely) able to back pack through the Yucatan.

After crunching the numbers - the plane tickets, hostels, transportation, food, booze, I was left with the minimalist amount of money possible for a person to live in a two week period. My obsession with finding the best taco's in LA had to take a back seat.

But that's when I remember meeting a fellow by the name of Don Felix.

Don Felix Meat Market

With a crispy twenty dollar bill and high hopes, I set off to the meat market section of Don Felix. They had everything you would expect from a carniceria: marinated carne asada, marinated leg and breast chicken, pastor, chorizo and other meats that I'll leave for the more adventurous eaters.

I was able to walk away with a 1/2 pound of the marinated carne asada, 1.5 pounds of the breast chicken, and one whole chorizo that weighed about 2 pounds. Total cost? $10.50!!!

I made lotsa taco's :)
*clicking on any of the images will now bring up a bigger and better looking version!





*Carne Asada

I cooked the asada in the oven for about 30 mins at 350 degrees. It turned out very juicy and tender. The flavor was amazing. I've tried to mimic an authentic style carne asada before. I didn't even come close to this. Let's just say it tasted legit. Better than anything I could have done up...even with the help of internet recipes.




*Marinated Chicken Breast

The chicken was good. The 1.5 pounds gave me two butterflied breasts. The first one I grilled, second one I baked. I liked it better baked. I tasted hints of tumeric and cumin in the chicken, the marinade being a melange of herbs and spices.

Unfortunately, I was so hungry making my chorizo and cheese taco's that I wasn't able to take pictures. I just dug into those things.. Let me tell you though, they tasted great. Standard chorizo. Overly juicy to the bite, and flavors reminiscent of Mexico.

Don Felix has broken my carniceria cherry. I've never had the pleasure of enjoying already marinated meats from a mexican meat market, so I can't say I'm an expert in the field. But you know what they say, "you never forget your first."

From this point on, all will be held by this standard.

1 lb marinated carne asada ~ 6.49
1 lb marinated chicken breast ~ 4.49
1 lb chorizo ~ 1.99

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

Los Paisas ~ Torrance

Yet another carneceria/market/restaurant.  What I love about these places is you can see the type of meats and marinades they are working with in the restaurant.  On top of that, they have all the legitamate mexican drinks in bottles you could ask for.  I'm not really into those drinks...but if you're the type, then you know its extra special when you have these options.  

Los Paisas

I've actually eaten here a couple years back, prior to my "blogspertising." But from what I could remember, the place had a "back in the old country" charm to it.  And the food?  Well, I was soo blazed off the brutal that I'm sure that if it tasted bad, I wouldn't have noticed...and I didn't.  I remember the chicken mole being excellent.  Anyways, for the present.

With history repeating itself, Lee and I were blazed off the brutal when we arrived.  The restaurant menu behind the counter has no prices on it.  And if you wanna use the bathroom, you have to get a key from poncho in the back.  Which brings me to my only true gripe about this place.  The "bathroom key."  I'm gonna leave it at that.  

I ordered the holy trio of taco's:  Al Pastor, Carnitas and Asada.  

The al pastor is something to behold.  It wasn't cooked on a spit, but the pork was so fresh, the seasoning so right.  It wasn't super tender, yet it wasn't super chewy.  It was at that happy median between the two.  A pastor worth trying.  

The carnitas was roasted a bit too long for my taste.  It was good though, being the most filling of the three taco's.  

Now the king of the meal had to be my asada.  This thing had grease running down my arm.  I LOVE THAT.  The freshness of the meat, the proper marinade and preparation culminated in a feeling in me only described as taco-phoria.  I began rambling to myself, "Oh my god, this is so good. The juice is dripping down my arm.  Oh my god I love meat juice."  How ridiculous is that?

Oh, and to top that, I didn't have to add anything to the taco.  It came with onion's cilantro and a dash of salsa verde...which I didn't even notice till I saw the pictures when I got home.  You know a taco is right when you don't have to mask the flavor with added salsas..etc.  

Los Paisas...you're my new friend in Torrance.

Pro's

-Carneceria has great deals ie 1 LB al pastor = 2.99!

-Mexican Soda's

-Chips and Salsa included

Con's

-"Bathroom Key"  if you really want to know just ask me, I have a great picture.

Taco's ~ 1.69

Los Paisas ~ 21168 S. Western Ave, Torrance, CA  90501

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.