Manny's El Loco

Sometimes I drive the eastside neighborhoods of Los Angeles trying to find the next great taco. I'll often forget I'm on a taco journey and day dream or get lost in a song on the radio. But sometimes the taco finds me. Which was the case with Manny's El Taco Loco on Mission Rd near Lincoln Heights. There I was at the stoplight with the rotating Manny's sign glaring back at me enticing me to pull over. Being the taco reporter I am I complied.

There wasn't a soul to be seen eating anywhere, a taco ghost town. But I didn't mind,the cool saturday afternoon breeze and a couple of tacos would be all the company I would need.


the loco taco is a hardshell shredded beef taco

I walked up to the counter and was greeted with a smile and ordered a carne asada taco and a carnitas taco. When I turned around there was an old Indian man staring at me through the bars of the back wall. He scared the shit out of me at first but when I looked back at him he had a calming influence. He said something that I didn't quite understand and I replied back to him that I was on a taco journey and toasted him with my bottle of coke. He let out big hearty laugh but I'm not sure he understood me. He might very well have understood me and thought it was funny. If a stranger told me he was on a taco journey I'd probably laugh too(actually I'd probably say me too then challenge them to a duel). But I wanted to say something to him and that's the first thing that came out.

After my brief encounter with the Indian man my tacos were ready. I took a seat at the patio and started to dig in. At $1.65 each I expected larger than average tacos and these were a hand full. Each taco came with two sturdy corn tortillas, a healthy filling of meat, avocado salsa and tomatoes. I also had two cups of salsa roja which I spread on top of the meats.


carnitas taco

I went for the carnitas first and I was impressed how well the taco held together with all the fixings. There were juicy thick chunks of carnitas that were velvety soft and melted in my mouth. This was excellent carnitas. Very moist and tender with a house recipe, not your standard carnitas.

The asada was charred and juicy and reminded me of the carne asada at Chanos. The thick cuts of beef were packed with flavor and juicyness and went very well with the avocado salsa. I'm partial to a taco with just meat, onions, cilantro and salsa and it takes a very good avocado salsa to win me over but this one did. The small chunks of fresh avocado really enhanced the flavor of the tacos for the better.

carne asada taco



carne asada up close and personal

Everything went well together and the tortillas held all the structure of the tacos together without a hint of collapsing. As far as the salsa roja it was a little too tomatoey with not alot of kick but I'm not sure a spicy salsa was needed with these tacos. A spicy salsa might have overwhelmed the whole taco and changed the dynamics of the flavor.

I highly recommend Manny's El Loco and if you happen to run into the Indian fellow perhaps you'll have something more poignant to say than I did.



Manny's El Loco 3309 N Mission Rd, LA 90031 Tacos $1.65

Taqueria Chihuahua

After hearing that Taqueria Chihuahua was being forced out of their current location by SONY/BMG(who owns the property) I was saddened that a great taqueria would be no longer . But it turns out they are moving to another location on the westside and although it must be hard to move out of a location they have been at for some 30 years I'm sure the Banda family will continue their tradition of great food wherever they go.

I love the bean and cheese burrito at Taqueria Chiahuahua. They come with the right amount of cheese and the refried beans are restaurant quality delicious. Over the years I've tried everything on the menu from the burritos Pancho villa style(enchilada sauce and cheese on top)to the enchiladas,nachos and tacos. Locals rave about the nachos norteno and burrito de chile colorado Pancho Villa style.

I was doing some taco reporting however so I skipped the burrito and ordered a carne asada taco, a carnitas and an al pastor taco. They also have lengua, buche,cabeza and chicharon.You can order a taco combo plate for 5 bucks and sample three of their meats or get your tacos sans any arroz y frijoles for $1 each.

The carnitas was the first to go down and the soft pork went well with a generous squeeze of lime and the smooth salsa roja. There was alot of juice from the meat that made the tortilla a little soggy but it held together just fine and I finished off the taco with a gulp from my lime jarritos.


carnitas taco

I went for the al pastor next and bit into the crunchy bits of salted pork and carmilized onions. The pork wasn't from an al pastor spit so don't expect to be overwhelmed but there were no fatty bits and the roja went well with the meat and onions to make for an enjoyable taco.



As far as the asada there's a heavy pepper flavor to the soft and tender meat that goes well with the grilled tortillas. I like to add a cup of the roja and let the salsa and the peppered beef fuse together. The salsa roja is excellent and isn't too spicy but if you add enough of it you will really feel it. I took the asada taco down in two big bites and chomped on a jalapeno for good measure. Luckily I had some lime jarritos left to cool down all the heat or I would have had to order another beverage.

Taqueria Chiahuahuha is moving out of their current location at the end of May and there are plans to open a location at 12034 Venice Bl in Mar Vista. When they do you'll here about it here. Until then don't forget to try the Santa Monica location before they close their doors.



Taqueria Chihuahua is at 1922 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica. Tacos $1 each

Mariscos Tatiana

The history of the taco truck scene on the westside is a fickle one. Some trucks find a place to call home but many disappear after awhile . Take for example the history at Santa Monica Blvd and Westgate. Three trucks have come and gone from that location in as many years and the last truck at the location, Tortas a la plancha hasn't been seen in months.

So what's wrong with the westside and why are so many trucks going elsewhere? It could be that taco trucks go where the night life is but if that was the case why aren't there any taco trucks in Santa Monica? Then again Santa Monica has never been a friend to the taco truck and probably has laws against them operating after a certain hour.

So I headed to Mariscos Tatiana, a taco truck that parks some nights at Venice and Mountain View in Mar Vista. There is a nightclub across the street called Good Hurt that I don't frequent but have been to before.

Judgeing from the name they specialize in mariscos(the truck not the nightclub...the club specializes in barmaids in tight uniforms) but I was curious how they turned out a taco so I ordered two asada and one al pastor.



When my tacos were ready the first thing I noticed was that two of my tacos had salsa verde on them. I don't mind a salsa verde when it's the house salsa (like Garcia Bro's excellent salsa verde) but the salsa verde here was really bland while the roja was clearly the better salsa. It was a curious choice by the taco chefs to douse my tacos with their weaker salsa. I did mention to them that I am on a taco mission and only their finest slabs of meat will delight me(In my stewie from family guy impersonation)but they didn't take me seriously. Or maybe they did take me seriously and covered my tacos with their weaker salsa to try to coverup meat that was less than fresh.

Nice try Mariscos Tatiana! Not only did you serve me your weaker salsa but you also served cold meat that was already grilled and tossed on the grill again(I know this because I saw the cooked carne tossed on the grill).


carne asada taco

You did everything but kick me in the balls.

But do you know why I am hard on your Mariscos Tatiana? I am hard on because you are capable of much more. The beef could have been much better if it were not twice grilled and served cold . The salsa roja was excellent and wasted by the lazy preperation of the meat.

I'm eager to point out taco greatness when I witness it but I must also point out taco lazyness. I will revisit in a couple weeks but for now my taco rating reflects my satisfaction with these tacos.



Mariscos Tatiana is at Venice Blvd and Mountain View in Mar Vista. Tacos are $1.25

El Taco Loco #5

I've been neglecting the southbay on this hunt and although the southbay will never be accused of being taco central there are some gems to be found.

Back when I started this taco hunt someone recommended the El Taco Loco #5 on Lomita blvd. Luck would have it I was heading west on Lomita when out of the corner of my eye I saw this taqueria.

With some heavy transient activity outside the neighboring liquor store I slipped inside the taqueria and ordered a carne asada taco and al pastor taco. I was meeting some friends for dinner later in the evening and I didn't want to spoil my appetite but I also didn't want to pass up a taco opportunity.



This is a great little taqueria with a very affordable menu.You can get three tacos rice and beans for $3.50(monday-thursday)otherwise tacos are $1.25 each.Another special is four tacos(pastor,cabezo,pollo) and a small drink for $3.25.There's not much going on at this stretch of Lomita Blvd and there aren't any offices nearby so it's probably tough to get the crowds in for lunch and the specials are a great way to do it.



My tacos came wrapped in thin paper with a small plastic bag of jalapenos and marinated onions. The tortillas were hechas a mano(homemade)and the difference was noticable not only in the taste but the durability. One tortilla per taco was able to hold the meats onions and salsa without collapsing. When looking at the menu it's unclear whether the taco specials come with homemade tortillas so that's something you should inquire about.


al pastor taco

I opened up the al pastor first . The charred bits of pork went well with the carmalized onions and smokey salsa roja. The juice from the pork and salsa soaked into the fresh corn tortilla and I was really pleased with the overall flavor of the taco. It met all the standards of what makes a great taco.


carne asada taco

As far as the asada the meat was tender but I wasn't gettting the same feeling I had just recieved from the al pastor. It could be that the al pastor was so good that the asada couldn't compete but there was something missing . A few bits of fat in the taco didn't help it's case either.

But I will return to the southbay soon and undoubtedly remember El taco Loco when dining at other taco establishments in the area. I don't feel like I have my pulse on the southbay taco scene like I should so that's where I lean on you loyal reader. Send me your favorite southbay taco trucks and taquerias so I can broaden my taco resume and I will report back with my findings.

The taco journey continues....


El Taco Loco #5 1223 Lomita Blvd, Harbor City 90710 open daily 7am - 11pm , Tacos $1.25

Yuca's

Owned by the Herrera family and well known to Los Feliz locals Yuca's has been serving up authentic yucatan mexican food since 1976 from a tiny hut on Hillhurst Ave.I first stumbled on to this gem several years ago when I noticed a crowd gathered at lunch time and I've been a big fan since.

My favorite burrito in Los Angeles is hands down the cochinita pibil at Yuca's. It's delicious slow roasted pork yucatan style with beans(cooked with lard...mmm lard) and pico de gallo. Having never tried the cochinita pibil tacos or the carne asada tacos at Yuca's I was curious to see how they measured up to the delicious burritos.



I ordered two tacos, a carne asada and cochinita pibil. There's no salsa at Yuca's which may not sit well with some taco eaters. I've never missed not having a salsa when eating one of their burritos but while eating my carne asada taco I could have really used a salsa roja to even out the dryness of the corn tortilla and the texture of the beef. The carne asada was well prepared and excellent but the small amounts of tomato and onion couldn't provide the right balance every great taco needs. The cochinita pibil on the other hand needed no salsa to provide this balance. The juicy seasoned shredded pork soaked in a hearty gravy that stained the corn tortillas was magical . Any salsa added to this invention may have tarnished it.


cochinita pibil taco

As far as beverages Yuca's offers lemonade and fruit juices. If you want something with more bite head to the liquor store next door for a cold beer or soda. By the time you return to the hut your food will likely be ready. Then just kick back in the patio area or on the hood of your car and enjoy an LA institution.



2056 Hillhurst Ave, Los Feliz 90027 . Asada taco $2 cochinita pibil $1.75