| Manny's El Loco |
| Sunday, April 16, 2006 |
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 |
posted by Bandini @ 10:24 PM   |
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| 20 Comments: |
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Aaaah Bandini - The adventures of the wandering taco eater!!!
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!!!! Another one of my taco haunts!
You are almost to Cheo's......only 5 more minutes east!!
So nice to eat outside of Manny's w/the view of Lincoln Park across the street.......
Good Work!
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haha, amen slowrider... hey bandini - anyone told you abt la golondrina yet? i should check the name, it's in highland park in front of the food for less on huntington dr.?
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You are prolific, keep it up!
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you are a hero to millions
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I'm envious, truly envious, the best mexican taco that you can get up here in Canada is a taco from Tacotime staffed by mexicans :(
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I used to drive by here all the time for work and wondered about it. Thanks for the review. I think i still crave Tacos Por Favor in SM.
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Bandini, I feel it is my duty as el chupacabra de tacos to bestow true taco knowledge to a taco scholar doing his rounds. You should hop on the next collectivo to Chapalita's tacos, right across the street from King Taco in Lincoln Heights. All of their tacos are winners but I'll go with their camarones and pastor tacos (pollo also good). The tortillas are grilled just right and their salsa finishes everything off in fine style.
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I adore, no make it LOVE, this site. This will be bookmarked and visited and I can't wait to visit some of your more obscure haunts.
Do taquito stands get visited? My all-time favorite is Cielito Lindo in Olvera Street downtown Los Angeles. I've written about them twice in our food blog, http://pbetouffee.blogspot.com/
2006/04/fire-in-belly-is-not-from-
chili.html
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awesome pics...
your blog is an amazing resource!
Can't wait to try some of the places you've recommended!
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I worship you and your mission. I am your hapless accolyte. Or however you spell it. I can only hope to follow in your footsteps (and find the damn taco trucks you're referring to)
And I went ahead and linked you to my blog. Don't worry, nobody reads it...
Onward!
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This isn't necessarily related to this blog entry, but I recently moved to LA from Texas and have been on a Breakfast Taco Hunt.
I know breakfast burritos are big in Cali, but so far I haven't seen and breakfast tacos. And yes, there is a difference.
Has anyone found breakfast tacos in LA?
If so, where?
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bandini, i gave this place a shot and it's pretty good. i really liked their shrededed beef Loco taco over the carne asada. i had some taquitos, but they were average. another good pick.
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Bandini! Where have you been? Is your car broken? Do you suddenly not like tacos anymore? have you switched to burgers? Where are you? We need MORE taco reviews!
Missing you!
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hehehe thanks for your concern Ellen :)
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Manny's is aiight, not bad, but not great eigther. slowrider mentioned Cheo's (on Alhambra Rd.) and gulpie mentioned La Golondrina (on Huntington) not far from Manny's...both are much much better. Try em out, bandini...you wont be sorry.
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Most of you are wrong... THe golondrina is in EL sereno.. On huntington dr. across from the mcdonalds and next to food4less. Those tacos are pretty good BUt u must go a little further down huntington and visit "El Ranchito" taco truck, best carnitas tacos and good burritos.. open really late.. later than most taco trucks.. check it out.. Its next to big saver foods.
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try El Ranchito on Huntington. It's a little bit west of Golondrina, much better tacos there. Actually, best tacos I've had are there. Tacos de carnitas. Great Burritos de pastor too. Nobody ever mentions El Ranchito =/
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Manny's is the best in the west! Great tacos. Everything is great at Manny's! The taquito's are full of meat topped with a generous amount of REAL AUTHENTIC guacamole with chunks of avocado. The best burrito's around too. Ask for double wrapped tortilla, to hold the delicious monster together. Kids love the flavor of the home cooked frijoles. I found this great taco stand through my brother-in-law who is an L.A. Sheriff's Deputy. You know it's good when the Police are lined up to eat there! I live in OC & my son is an actor. My son always insist we stop on our way back from Hollywood. Making me hungry just thinking about it! YUMMY! If your in the OC I recommend ALERTO'S on Brookhurst in Fountain Valley next to Sam's Club, South of the 405. Best carnitas burrito around.
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iv'e been to a manny's in west covina. i was quite disappointed. the tortilla was crappy, the asada was dry, and the salsa roja was like whatever. I wonder if both manny's are operated by the same person.
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Aaaah Bandini - The adventures of the wandering taco eater!!!