WEST LA: Tacos and Soup?

[WORX4FUDE]

Okay, so I love two things in a sick kind of way: Taco's and Soup. I just got an account here so I can get the scoop on what the best places are for both Taco's and Soup. And no, they don't have to be in the same restaurant. Don't tell me Tito's, cuz I'm trying to find an alternatives (26 year search, no results so far) to standing in 20 minute lines all hours of the day. Thanks, and bon appetite!

[nosh]

If you go to El Super Taco for tacos, you can stop in at their sister restaurant a couple of doors down, Monte Alban. A couple of posters on a "favorite soup" thread mentioned them.

But I have your answer for an all-in-one: Taqueria Sanchez. Down on Centinela, south of Washington before Culver, on the west side (parking in back). Excellent, very inexpensive tacos -- the carnitas and al pastor are very good, but their specialty is the shrimp. Good salsa bar. And I've seen many of the locals chowing on some very rich-looking soup, filled with vegies and other ingredients. I suspect that they may do a special soup on weekends or Sundays, but they do have some soup available all the time.

[WORX4FUDE]

NOSH!!! You are the ONLY one I know who praises Taqueria Sanchez. I WORSHIP that place. I used to live one block south, off Lindblade and Inglehood. The Sopes are EPIC! Thanks for the tip... I never thought to ask about soup! ROCK ON!

[bsquared2]

It's not WLA, but Tere's on Melrose and Cahuenga has great tacos and fantastic noodle soup. Tere's is more like homecooked food and the owners are usually there at lunch . They make their own tortillas as well.

[WORX4FUDE]

I do NOT want them at the same time. I would like two or more places that are masters of their ONE craft... artisans. A soup nazi... and, well, a taco nazi. Any more suggestions?

[Servorg]

Since your original post in early Sept. which of the places recommended have you tried, what did you have and how did you like it?

Have you checked out Bandini's taco hunt blog? You could spend the remainder of your days just following in his tacosteps.

[WORX4FUDE]

El Super Taco: Decent tacos... didn't see any soup. Gualaguetza, near Trader Joes, on Palms: very good mexican fare, didn't try soup. And finally, a place which came suggested offline, called Tlapazoola (i believe), on gateway and barrington, in west los angeles. AMAZING tortilla soup. [end communication]

[Raymondo]

Can't go to far wrong following Bandini's advice. http://tacohunt.blogspot.com/

[voodoochild]

And that's how I found El Super Taco. Also believe what Bandini has to say about Tacos Por Favor's chorizo and cheese tacos. They are THAT GOOD, I just went to El Super Taco first because you said West LA, not Santa Monica.

Eat at both!

[GutenAppetit]

Paco's is a fine choice for Mexican food, particularly seafood, plus they have delicious Albondigas (Mexican meatball) soup. I haven't had their tacos specifically, but I recommend the garlic shrimp. They make their own fresh tortillas. There is one in Mar Vista on Centinela near Washington Blvd., and another near LAX on Manchester just east of Sepulveda.

[pbswordgirl]

They only make it on the weekends now, but the Albondigas Soup at Tia Juana is first rate. Big chunks of fresh carrots and zucchini and dandy, little meatballs floating in delicious broth. I eat it there and get some to take home, too..

[umeakai]

I finally went to Sabor a Mexico in Culver City based on the recs from this board and the tacos were excellent - good tortillas, filling, and worth the wait. Also, their salsa bar is excellent!

Sabor a Mexico
8940 National Blvd

[slacker]

Their caldo de pollo is also excellent! Excellent tacos AND soup.

[Clyde]

if you are by beverly/la brea the fish grill has awesome fish tacos and great salmon chowder soup. you could get both in one place.

[Skunk2Racer]

The talpa on Pico, Good Albondigas, Cocido, Posole, caldo de pollo is so so. Don't know about the menudo I can't stand tripe.

[Jwsel]

And fantastic tacos de asada and carnitas. (These are listed as "special" tacos on the top right of their menu, and are different from the regular taco platters.) The asada, especially, has great flavor. It is served on a large, flat tortilla with pico de gallo. It's my favorite taco on the Westside.

[tritip]

Tacos Por Favor in Santa Monica. Chicken Soup most days. Menudo and Birria on the weekends. More known for tacos than soup.

Guelaguetza in Palms, Oaxacan like Monte Alban but one or two extra soups on the menu.

[voodoochild]

Right next to Monte Alban is El Super Taco. They're in the same strip mall.

Go there as soon as possible!!! They have numerous types of tacos: fish, carnitas, suadero, cabeza, pollo, chorizo, you name it. I've never had a bad experience there. Tacos are only $1.10 each, every day. My boyfriend and I have been going there at least once a week since we discovered it. And it's open really late on the weekends too, with no lines.

It's a couple blocks east of Bundy on Santa Monica Blvd. Enjoy!

[Evan G]

Just to be specific, it's the strip mall at the northwest corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Brockton.

[wilafur]

actually, it's in the northeast corner of the intersection.

u-zen is at the northwest corner.

[Evan G]

Bah--that's what I get for listening to the radio while replying.

[vinosnob]

2nd the rec for El Super Taco. Also, on Gateway near Barrington, try Tacomiendo...

[nosh]

When did the tacos at El Super Taco go up to $1.10 from a buck?! Damn. I have also been a fan of theirs. I like the al pastor and the carnitas -- the carne asada has been inconsistent, usually really good, but a couple of times grey, chewy and awful. Note that they garnish their tacos with grilled onions instead of the usual raw chopped, which are available at their salsa bar. My favorite item there is the habanero salsa, orangeish and labelled "very hot" -- a few drops mixed with their red salsa gives it a tasty kick. I do notice that their specialty offering appears to be the tortas -- they have a couple of presses and that's what I see a lot of regulars eating.

[a_and_w]

I strongly agree with the El Super Taco and Monte Alban recs. My advice is to order the soup at Monte Alban, head over to El Super Taco for the tacos while you're waiting, then return for the soup. Having done something similar (i.e., order food to go at both) the timing should work perfectly.

[BIM]

If you're in that neighborhood you should really go across the street and try Pili's Tacos. Great barbacoa, carnitas, al pastor and lengua tacos. And I suppose weekend menudo and birria stew counts as soup!

[Moomin]

Ah... but you can have them both at the same time.

Monte Alban. Tacos de Barbacoa and Consome Ranchero (or tortilla soup if you want to go for something a little heartier). Mind you, the selection of tacos is limited to Barbacoa only (Tacos Enchilados, also on the menu, are not tacos as most Americans understand them), and there are only two soups.

... but they are arguably the best soups in town, and the tacos are pretty terrific if you like slowly braised goat (and why wouldn't you).