
If it’s friday night and you find yourself at Qué Ricos on Vermont and Melrose there is a chance you will run into the cholo, the caballero, the punk, the transient, the transvestite, the tweaker, the drunk. It’s a melting pot of debauchery at this 24 hr taqueria. Like syrup on an anthill it thrives, attracting all who want a cheap taco and a brief glimpse into LA’s underbelly.
But it wasn’t friday night. It was thursday afternoon and I had the place all to myself, aside from some crazy mister sitting at a corner table talking to his burrito. Or was the burrito talking to him?
I ordered three tacos -asada, al pastor, and birria but I got cabeza, birria and carnitas.No big deal, I’m a taco hunter. You want me to eat cabeza? You got it taquero. I take this challenge in stride. In fact I wanted cabeza and carnitas anyway! I knew you would change my order so I purposely ordered carne asada and al pastor when I really wanted cabeza and carnitas! hah! taquero you are one step behind the taco hunter.

Oh I wish these tacos would have been grand. Then I could have told my taquero "amigo you surpised me today, how did you know I wanted the cabeza?" Or maybe years later we would reminisce "taquero remember the time I ordered asada and al pastor but you gave me cabeza and carnitas?"
"Oh yes," he would say, "I did not even look at your ticket, I looked into your eyes and I knew what you wanted."

cabeza taco
But taquero in your haste to give me my tacos you left them in a pool of hot oil on the plate. So hot and greasy I had to use a fork to eat the meat off the tacos. Taquero, the carnitas was drenched in oil, the cabeza waxy, and the birria too oily and fatty to enjoy.
I am sad that it came to this really but from now on I must insist that my order be made as requested .No more mind reading taquero.

712 N. Vermont Avenue Open 24/7 Tacos $1 each
I salute you Bandini - you dare tread where the meek dare not go.
ReplyDeleteThe most fante-esque story so far. Love it!
ReplyDeleteQR is definitely more about the scene and the birria burrito than it is about the tacos. I don't know why there's so damn much oil in everything, but it tastes good.
ReplyDeleteOh, you make me lauuugh . . . .! And want a taco, all the time.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think I know what taquero you're talking about who screwed up your order so badly. I saw a customer get into it with him once because he put mayonnaise on the guy's torta when he specifically requested no mayo.
ReplyDeleteI always wondered if Que Ricos was good. Dang...I'll skip QR and head over to El Gran Burrito as my 24 hour joint instead. Thanks Bandini!
ReplyDeleteOooo...Bandini! Your tacos sound better than what we ate on Friday night. We were in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD as Que Ricos. We ended up at Joll-e-Bee. The best thing about this Philippino fast food joint is the plastic figure of Joll-e-Bee. He's just darling. And the decor is faboo. The food is kinda' bleah...fried chicken (just like KFC), bad burgers, a skimpy, limp ramen number and day-glow, flourescent desserts. I'd rather eat at Que Ricos! Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteGo to QRs for burritos, not tacos. Repeat: burritos, not tacos.
ReplyDeleteSome places know how to make a great taco but can't make a good burrito, and vice versa. This is one such place.
Peter is the QR expert. I believe him on the burritos.
ReplyDeletenext time I'm going goat burrito.
Sign in the window at QR tonight:
ReplyDeleteTAQUERO QUERIDO
EXPERIENCIA PREFERIDO
QR in the valley sucks.
ReplyDeleteThe yoga line was funny.
ReplyDeleteexperience *preferred*? that's why the tacos suck. low standards.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled up to one of these with a friend in the valley last night. I had a much better experience: correct order, good pastor, and no mindreading.
ReplyDeleteThe yoga line was funny.
ReplyDeleteOooo...Bandini! Your tacos sound better than what we ate on Friday night. We were in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD as Que Ricos. We ended up at Joll-e-Bee. The best thing about this Philippino fast food joint is the plastic figure of Joll-e-Bee. He's just darling. And the decor is faboo. The food is kinda' bleah...fried chicken (just like KFC), bad burgers, a skimpy, limp ramen number and day-glow, flourescent desserts. I'd rather eat at Que Ricos! Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteQR is definitely more about the scene and the birria burrito than it is about the tacos. I don't know why there's so damn much oil in everything, but it tastes good.
ReplyDeleteThe most fante-esque story so far. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI salute you Bandini - you dare tread where the meek dare not go.
ReplyDelete