Boca Del Rio is one of those taco/burrito stands that locals love and others wonder what the big deal is. It’s like when I say that I love Tito’s Tacos burritos and my friends from Pasadena call me a noob, or when someone from Sherman Oaks recommends Henry’s Tacos and the rest of us wonder what‘s so special about ground beef hard shell tacos for $2.50 a pop . We frame these experiences differently and we usually have stories that go along with them. For me, it’s the family trips to Tito’s Tacos when I was young, and then bicycle trips with friends for a bean and cheese burrito. I’m sure people that grew up with Boca Del Rio, or Henry’s Tacos have similar experiences.
The tacos at Boca Del Rio come topped with sour cream, guacamole, cabbage, salsa, and grated cheese. For the traditionalists that prefer: onions, cilantro, chile salsa, this seven layer taco is going to be overkill. The menu has a list of meat options you would find at your local taquaria: carne asada, carnitas, al pastor, cabeza, and lengua. I ordered carne asada and carnitas and when asked if I wanted everything on them , I agreed. Give it to me the Boca Del Rio way, I said.
carnitas & carne asada $1.75 each
Cheese, sour cream, and guacamole with some protein taste pretty good together and before you realize how average the tacos are, your taste buds are having a pretty good time.
The carnitas was dry and flavorless, a fact that probably goes unnoticed because of the other flavors of the taco masking this deficiency. The asada was better, the beef was heavily seasoned and had some bite to it, but there was still too much going on with the taco. Tacos are the sum of their parts, but when a taco has so many parts it just becomes a tortilla with a lot of stuff on it and it ceases to hold itself up for criticism.
Wrapped up in a burrito with some beans these ingredients may find more harmony. So another trip may be needed to finally try the meat burritos. Or maybe I am like the outsider who leaves Tito’s Tacos shaking his head wondering what the deal is. Maybe I’ve yet to find the deal at Boca Del Rio. Maybe it’s not there for me to find.
2.5/5
Boca del Rio
1163 N Hacienda Blvd
La Puente, CA 91744
Rate Boca Del Rio
A seven layer taco?! Whoa, that does sound like it's too much to handle. Actually, it sounds more like a tostada. How can a taco with that much stuff fold?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try the cheese,sour cream,and guacamole combo on my tacos. Usually I just stick with onions, lettuce, and cilantro.
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog!
,... god! i'm dying now to go to cali and have a taco tour!
We have some pretty good tacos stands here in Houston too :)
<3
I grew up in Hacienda Heights and have been to Boca several times. We usually go for the burritos, never the tacos. Like you, I prefer my tacos simple with onions, cilantro and salsa.
ReplyDeleteA seven layer taco?! Whoa, that does sound like it's too much to handle. Actually, it sounds more like a tostada. How can a taco with that much stuff fold?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try the cheese,sour cream,and guacamole combo on my tacos. Usually I just stick with onions, lettuce, and cilantro.
I lived in LP and I know of no one that likes this place. It's usually a last resort if other places are packed. "Taquisa" which is about 3 minutes up the road on AMAR is light years ahead of this place. Also, ANY TACO TRUCK ON AMAR EVERY NIGHT.
ReplyDelete