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| Save our taco trucks |
| Tuesday, April 22, 2008 |
So the LA County Board of supervisors wants to end the taco culture in Los Angeles and for the first time ever Mayor Villaraigosa can’t find anyone to take a picture with.
We already know the Los Angeles city government is anti-taco. First it was the LA city Council that passed a law that required taco trucks to move every half hour or face a $60 fine. It was a small but revealing gesture and the message was clear,the government was coming after the taco. Now the LA county board of supervisors has double dipped into the proverbial guacamole sauce with a ridiculous law that requires taco trucks to move every hour or face a $1000 fine and possibly jail time. What’s next? Waterboarding taco reporters to get them to reveal locations of their favorite loncheras?
“But Bandini, a taco truck parks in front of my restaurant and is ruining my business” This is a legitimate concern for some restaurant owners . Noone thinks it’s right for a taco truck to park directly in front of a restaurant. But as usual LA city officials lack any creative solutions to the problem. Maybe implementing a law where a taco truck cannot park within a certain radius of a brick and mortar restaurant would please everyone.
Saveourtacotrucks.org have started a save the taco trucks petition. Sign the petition! take to the streets in a peaceful manner !Support the taco culture in LA! |
posted by Bandini @ 1:19 AM   |
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| Tacos El Guero Sexi |
| Saturday, August 18, 2007 |
Oh no.
Just when you thought tacos weren't "sexi" enough.
This made me spit out my water when driving down Whittier Blvd. It was a hot day and we were on route for some refreshing raspados(mexican shaved ice) and it wasn't a taco day but who can say no to el guero sexi?
So me and my lady friend walked up to the truck and peered in. Inside the truck were two mexican dudes, one at the grill and the other taking the orders.
"Where's the guero" she said
"shh that's rude" I told her
"I don't see a guero in there."
I ordered two tacos, one asada, one al pastor.
With still no guero in sight my tacos came through the small pick up window. I dressed them with salsa roja, onions and cilantro from the makeshift salsa bar inside one of the truck compartments.
The tacos were devoured in short time and were actually much better tasting than they looked. The salsa roja especially left me with a stinging sensation for the next 20 minutes making the raspado all the more refreshing.
When I have more time I think I will have to try some of that birria de chivo and find out more about this el guero sexi. Actually, I'll stick to the birria.
Tacos El Guero Sexi
4617 Whittier Blvd, East LA
tacos $1Labels: los angeles, taco trucks, tacos |
| posted by Bandini @ 10:41 PM |
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| Taqueria San Jose |
| Thursday, August 16, 2007 |
The choking air of summer hit me as soon as I opened my car door. The air conditioned ride from the Westside to the San Fernando Valley left me unprepared for the heat assault.I needed a cold beverage and a plate of tacos.
The taco hut wasn't my destination, just a stop on my way to visit friends in Van Nuys. In some ways I think I make friends with people in different parts of LA just so I can eat tacos in their city when I visit them. Before this blog I would make excuses for reasons not to hang out with people. Now I find myself mapquesting taquerias in their neighborhoods(I really need a friend in Highland Park).
Taqueria San Jose is a small taco shack a block east of Hayvenhurst on Vanowen in Van Nuys.They advertise tacos al vapor which are typically tacos de lengua or cabeza that are pressure cooked but i was in the mood for the taco trifecta so I went with al pastor, carnitas and asada.
The tacos came topped with onions, cilantro and a chile salsa. The carnitas, crisp at the edges had that perfect salty porkyness that goes so well with a squirt of lemon(or lime) and a spicy chile salsa. Both the pastor and asada had that grill taste and went well with an ice cold mexican coke.
I could have gone another round but the tacos al vapor will have to wait til next time. I wasn't in the mood for tongue.
Taqueria San Jose
16435 Vanowen St,
Van Nuys, CA 91406-4730
(near the corner of Hayvenhurst Ave & Vanowen St)
Phone: 818.782.9741
Tacos $1.25Labels: carne asada, carnitas, tacos, taqueria |
| posted by Bandini @ 2:22 AM |
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| Better Know a Taquero: Taqueria Los Barrigones |
| Wednesday, August 08, 2007 |
In the second installment of better know a taquero (yes, I stole this concept from the Colbert Report's better know a district) I sat down(virtually) with taquero Jorge Campos, owner of Taqueria Los Barrigones in South Gate.Mr Campos started Taqueria Los Barrigones 5 months ago after moving from Texas to Los Angeles.
So you come from Texas. Is there a difference between a Texas taco and an LA taco? I hear breakfast tacos are big in texas.
Honestly I don't think there's such a thing. Texas doesn't have authentic food. I kept it very traditional, just what you would find if you were walking the streets of Mexico.
How long have you been in business? Was there a moment when you thought "yes we've made it"?
I've been in the taco business for about 4 years now. When I opened the 1st place in Texas, it was tough people were hesitant to try them. I remember the 1st 2 weeks we sold like an average of 50 tacos a night. Pretty tough. Then one night it jumped to like 150, and from that point on there was no stopping us. So in that sense yes I felt like I made it in Texas. I've been here in California for about 5 months now and at times we get these spurts of people but I think I can do alot better. It's just tough, people are hesitant to try the tacos since theres so many mediocre places out here.
What made you decide to get into the taco business?
I've been around the food industry all my life. I knew I was going to open up some type of restaurant. Being that Tacos are a mexican tradition I wanted to have something that keeps my nationality going. So tacos it is. Now I have one of the best tacos people can eat.
To me lettuce on a soft taco is sacrilegious. how do you feel about lettuce on a taco?
Lettuce on a soft taco. you go to taco bell, el pollo loco. These aren't authentic mexican tacos.
You're open real late on the weekends(3am) have you been able to pull in the late night party crowds?
We're starting to draw some people in at night. It's pretty tough here, theres so many officers on the streets here at night that people avoid this area. Back in the day this Tweedy mile was a cruising spot, well they've gone away from that. So people are just finding out about us.
what is the taco scene like in South Gate? Any plans for expansion?
Honestly we're the best South Gate has to offer. Will be expanding in the near future. We have a location in LA by USC, and another in Paramount. Hopefully those will open this year. its tough. im a sole prop. and dont get any loans so it takes me a while.
What do you think of some of the big names in the taco business, chains like King Taco and Don Chente?
Well interesting. The honest truth King Taco used to be good, about 15 years ago. Now its just a name people recognize. They have a hot sauce thats it. I must say their pastor is pretty tasty at times, or should I say depending on the location. But obviously King Taco has done something right they've been able to establish one of they hardest businesses there is. Don Chente I can honestly say I know very little of. I know its the fastest growing chain there is today. I guess its good to use a Mexican Icon's name for your business. Vicente Fernandez is a big big Mexican name known all over the world. Why not use his name and an image that almost resembles him. Tasted their food once not too impressed.
On that note I would love to have a taco cookout where the best of the best go up against each other. I'm willing to put my tacos up for a taste test against anyone. They are that good.
That's a great idea. I could be the MC
What region of Mexico do your flavors come from?
It's a lil mixture of Mexico. Yellow corn tortillas, nice juicy meets, grilled onion and lemon. its just a Mexican Taco. But i followed the traditions from Chihuahua, where I'm from.
Thanks for the interview. I look forward to tasteing your tacos and I'm sure my readers do as well.
I hope I was able to give you a little info to help you out. Like I said my tacos are different, from style, texture ,and taste. I use only the best and freshest ingredients, all my meats are fresh and cooked on a daily basis, nothing is frozen.
Check out Taqueria Los Barrigones and tell them the great taco hunt sent you!
Taqueria Los Barrigones 4070 tweedy blvd. 323-569-8200
Mon-Thurs 9am - 11pm
Fri-Sat 9am - 3am
Sun 10am - 11pm. |
| posted by Bandini @ 2:53 AM |
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| Tacos Raza |
| Tuesday, July 24, 2007 |
So I see this taqueria all the time but it's just around the corner from el taurino and king taco and when i'm in that area it's either el parian,the bull or the king.
But i'm a taco reporter for chrissakes and as much as I wanted that king taco salsa roja I was curious about tacos raza.
Tacos Raza is very small inside. There are a couple tables and a counter with 3 stools, a refrigerator with mexican cokes and horchata in the corner and containers of salsa rest next to the counter.
Tacos Raza translates to Tacos of the people (I think). Ironic that they are just a few blocks from the taco dictator himself, King Taco. You see Tacos Raza is the taco of the commoner, the everyday man. Yes the King has spread his neo-taco-colonialism across the city and the King's influence is so great he could probably could have Tacos Raza shutdown faster than you could say con todo.
In a city full of big shots I always like to root for the little guy. So I sat there at the taco bar thinking"Cmon Raza don't let me down."
carne asada and carnitas
And they didn't. These tacos were excellent. The tortillas piping hot from the oil on the grill ,the right amount of crunch and tender meat with plenty of juice and a salsa roja that rivals the king for heat.
If you find yourself near pico union and don't want to deal with the lines at the king or el taurino then don't hesitate to check out tacos raza. Tacos are $1.25 . Mexican coke and horchata available.
Tacos Raza
olympic/alvarado |
| posted by Bandini @ 11:53 PM |
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| Fiesta Feast |
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 |
me - what comes on the tacos?
them- tomato, lettuce, cheese, cilantro.
me - no cheese and lettuce please.
them- omg rotflmao (after I leave)
me - (when I get home and open the container) WTF??
Fiesta Feast
12231 Santa Monica Blvd |
| posted by Bandini @ 2:37 PM |
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