I love tacos. When I'm not out in the city finding new taco places i'm splashing some marinated carne asada on my grill and eating tacos at home.
Part of the adventure when trying a new taco destination is not knowing what to expect . A taco is a simple creation but it can be interpreted in so many ways. No two taquerias prepare their meat and salsa the same way. Not all corn tortillas are created equal either. Which brings us to El Charrito. A new taqueria on Virgil Ave in East Hollywood.
I'm not sure of the taco history on Virgil Ave and although I am not a taco historian I do play one on this blog and I can with confidence assume that there was a time when outlaw taco carts roamed these lands. At one time this may have been the pantheon of taco exploration where taco merchants rolled out their fare and perfected their craft. They may have been surplanted by taquerias or they may have evolved themselves into taquerias.
dodgy menu
I ordered two asada tacos and took in the scene. The smell of burning rubber with workers in mechanic uniforms pushing stalled vehicles into their shops while stray dogs dodged two lane traffic and vendors sold pinapples and mangos from their carts. There was something happening here but I didn't feel a part of it. I felt like a spectactor to it all . I wanted to run across the street and help push the broken down vehicle into the garage, or dance through traffic to grab one of the stray dogs or stand next to the vendor selling fruit and tell him a joke but instead I ordered two asada tacos and took a seat on a stool at the counter.
Before picking up one of the tacos the first thing I noticed was how fresh the corn tortillas looked. Each taco had a fistful of charred asada on top of a single fresh homemade corn tortilla. I dressed my tacos with onions, cilantro and salsa roja from a container on the counter. It took eating a full taco to realize how tasty these tacos were. I think it was how fresh the tortillas were. Homemade fresh tortillas can really make the taco. The beef was a little greasy but there were no fatty bits and the salsa roja was very good and didn't overwhelm the taco. I was pleasantly surprised and I will be returning to El Charrito.
El Charrito is on Virgil Ave in East Hollywood one block North of Melrose Ave. Tacos are $1.25 each
Have you tried El Taco Nazo? There's one in El Monte, and another in Azusa. BEST fish tacos, IMHO. They also have some nice roasted jalapenos in the salsa bar. Give them a try when you have the chance! Paola, another taco lover
ReplyDeletethanks for the tip
ReplyDeletei'll add el taco nazo to my list
sooner or later i'm gonna start eating some fish tacos
tacos baja ensenada in whittier is at the top of my list to try
forget taco nazo. there's a place in long beach called Hole Mole on PCH. they have the best fish tacos anywhere...including taco nazo.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Hole Mole. But not on PCH. There's one on Obispo in Long Beach. Absolutely the best fish tacos in the world.
ReplyDeleteKathy
El Taco Nazo has the best fish tacos in the world. It's no wonder why they have been around for almost 30 years. My parents used to take us there, and now I take my kids.You should try them in El Monte, Azusa, La Habra or La Puente they are the best ever!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree about HOLE MOLE.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they are opening a third location a stone's throw from The Podcasting Studio... KaRi
TPSradio ThePrimeSpot.com
I've been to Taqueria El Charrito since the first time they opened and I fell in love with their food.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stress how fresh their food is made. I've tried everything on their menu and also on their hidden menu and it's just great! There's something for meat lovers and vegetarians. Tlacoyos, native of the Puebla region in Mexico, are topped with boiled cactus mixed with tomatoes and onions topped off with your choice of cream and cheese. The Tlacoyo is oval shapped stuffed with mashed black beans. The Tlacoyo is great for those who don't eat meat.
For those of you who do eat meat try the Quesadilla de Asada. It's a freshly made corn tortilla with carned asada, melted cheese, cotija cheese, cream, and lettuce. Then, top it off with some green salsa and savor the moment, it's delicious!
I agree about HOLE MOLE.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they are opening a third location a stone's throw from The Podcasting Studio... KaRi
TPSradio ThePrimeSpot.com
I have been to Hole Mole. But not on PCH. There's one on Obispo in Long Beach. Absolutely the best fish tacos in the world.
ReplyDeleteKathy
El Taco Nazo has the best fish tacos in the world. It's no wonder why they have been around for almost 30 years. My parents used to take us there, and now I take my kids.You should try them in El Monte, Azusa, La Habra or La Puente they are the best ever!!!
ReplyDelete