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