Ask the Locals
It’s cold, but I am sick of the 14 outbound. I pull the cord and hop off the Muni right where “Joe grinds his own chuck dailyâ€. I ain’t gonna get a burger, of course, but here I am in the Deep Mission. Excelsior Mission. Past Silver Avenue Mission. Where the hell do you eat out here?
Continue reading La Taqueria Menudo
If I hadn’t known to look here, I never would have known to look here. It’s in a typically San Diegan strip mall, tucked away in some unassuming corner. Apparently invisible, I know for a fact this location used to be at least two other taquerias in the past. And every time I tried it, I was totally satisfied. Credit goes to Stimy for originally turning me on to the location, back when it was called… Lolita’s, I think. Linda’s, maybe. Either way, it was good then, so I was anxious to see how it was now.
…Continued form La Posta
(Miss Taca enjoys her anonymity)
Don Carlos is another old-time hangout. The veggies always loved it, cause of their potato rolled tacos. I always loved it cause it was just down the street form the coffee hangout, The Pannikin and the food was always good. Plus, they are right next to Dick’s Liquors. The eternal adolescent in me still considers that the best liquor store name, ever.
There it is. They are in there. There are possibly some being made even right now. There is nobody in line. LUCK! The rolled tacos are going to happen, and happen SOON!
I am not alone, yet I do not make a good conversationalist. Doesn’t she know I can’t concentrate? Rolled tacos are on the way!
“You’re not listening,†she said.
All I could do was point at the window where the tacos came out.
“I know, it’s ok. You’re distracted. Rolled tacos happen.†She said it with a smile.
I smiled, grunted and went back to studying the menu.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had machaca. Near as I can figure it’s what a breakfast burrito should be. Well-cooked shredded beef with peppers, onions and eggs all scrambled up. While it’s not rare to frequent any one of San Diego’s 24-hour taco shops so late that dinner turns into breakfast, it is still a rarity for me to see beyond the holy trinity of carne asada, chicken or carnitas. However, in the name of science I knew I had to forage on.
Continue reading Roberto’s Taco Shop
Culture Shock.
Every time it’s a surprise. A delicious surprise, but nonetheless, a surprise. I always forget that things are a bit different down here. Burritos are not burritos here. I’m not sure if Northern California is the mutation or if it’s a Lo Cal thing, but either way you chew it, these tortilla-filled cousins are still both delicious.
I’ve spent a lot of years comparing and contrasting Mexican food from the two California’s and have come to some realizations. The burritos are better in the North, while tortas are better in the South. (Tortas are NEVER supposed to be served on sourdough, thankyouverymuch.) Rolled tacos just ain’t happening north of LA, so any visit to the southland needs them. I find myself getting stuck on tortas and rolled tacos, but this time I pledged to be different. The name of this website is BURRITOwings after all.
Perhaps it’s because of the law school down the street of maybe it has something to do with the every day chaos around Civic Center, but this gem of a burrito shack strikes a consistent balance between logic and madness. As the closest taqueria to BWHQ, I’ve watched the press-clean crowds murk through the street-damaged dwellers many times. Today was no exception, dodging undercover cops chasing obvious robbers, the Hunger hit, and as always, the little castle was there to help.
Continue reading Taqueria Castillito B
11/29/07
Not it.
La Corneta is clean. Too clean. These are not the burritos I am looking for. But I just had to try it.
First off, the burrito was cold…
Continue reading La Corneta
11/8/07
Where have all the good times gone?
It’s no secret that Can-Cun has fallen silent in recent times with sometimes good/sometimes not burritos. This day even the jukebox was quiet.
I’ve had my share of delicious burritos from here, and will continue to do so. However, now and for all time my expectations are lowered. Bland, dry, carnitas stacked together with rice and beans with as much care as any McDonalds cheeseburger. It’s not a corporate megalith yet, but perhaps the day is not too far in the future where super market shelves are stocked with “Authentic Mission-Style Burritos.” But then again, when that happens, Chipotle will win that battle, and then we all lose for sure.
So, for now, Can-Cun remains a mainstay, but the explorations will continue…