CHORIZO!!!

[BCM]

Hello Chowhounds!

I need your help. Where can I find good (uncooked) chorizo in the Los Angeles area? By good I mean, not too greasy, and just the right amount of spices. Will travel to East LA, Huntington Park, South Gate, if I have too :)

Home made style is preferred (Beef or pork)... So please include "carnicerias", and/or high end deli's. Thanks!

[Cinnamon]

Might not be what you're looking for but a great little tapas place in Playa del Rey (on Culver Blvd. a few blocks from the beach) called The Minotaure has a great chorizo dish. (Tapas-size portions)

[BCM]

Thanks Cinnamon! Will try when I'm in the area...

[montyshnook84]

any suggestions for a good market that would sell chorizo in West LA? Culver City, Santa Monica, Westwood or Venice?

[Servorg]

Try: http://www.chow.com/places/11385

[David Kahn]

Can't believe nobody's suggested Guelaguetza, which makes and sells my favorite (by far) uncooked Mexican style chorizo. Densely spiced and unbelievably good with fresh scrambled eggs.

-----
Guelaguetza
3337 1/2 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005

[broncosaurus]

I wonder how it would do in meatballs (1/3 chorizo, 1/3 ground beef, 1/3 veal)?

[JeetJet]

1/3 is too much IMO. Chorizo is STRONG. I use about 1/10 in chili to be used for chili dogs, burgers and frito pie. Just a taste in refried beans, but only the meat market qualities mentioned here.

[bulavinaka]

I think the idea is great - you can adjust the proportions as you go...

[BCM]

Thanks David! I knew they sold fresh bread and cheese in the Guelaguetza on Olympic, never been to the one on 8th street. Thanks for the rec!

[JeetJet]

For the meaty high quality meat market chorizo go to these places and also pick up the other items mentioned for each of them.

Tito’s Market (Meat Market and Argentina style subs with jalapeno, beef empanada, Hot chicken wings)
9814 Garvy Ave. (At the rear of Tito’s plaza)
El Monte, CA 91733
[phone]

El Caney Market (IMO, the best fresh marinated Asada for your backyard grill)
9869 Garvey Ave
El Monte, CA 91733-1269
[phone]

Los Toros Meat Market (Bags of the Best Chips and Salsa anyplace, Meats - Chicken, Chilies)
TWO LOCATIONS
5225 Peck Rd
El Monte, CA 91732
[phone]
AND
8210 Garvey Ave
Rosemead, CA 91770
[phone]

[BCM]

Thanks JeetJet. I'll be sure to try all your recommendations! Looking forward to try the carne asada... Thanks!

We have a few places close by that marinate good asada:

El Sereno Meat Market-
4944 Huntington Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90032
[phone]

La Tapatia Meat Market-
3319 N Eastern Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90032
[phone]‎

[JeetJet]

Thanks for the rec on asada. My sons and I will make the drive and do the grilling taste test. We really enjoy grilling asada from two or three different places at the same time while we get-together to sit, talk, have a beer and eat. When we are finished we vote on which asada we liked the most. Below is a post I made last year about asada. What I did not mention in that post was that we grilled asada from four places that day and El Caney took all the votes. We have done that several times and had a ball doing it each time. I look forward to trying asada from El Sereno and La Tapatia.

My post on Asada
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/397497

[Phurstluv]

If you mean the Spanish type, not Mexican, which tends to be raw and cooks up like sausage that's out of the casing, (crumbled) - you can also try Surfas, in Culver city. They carry a lot of authentic Spanish food, and I get my manchego cheese & serrano ham there.

Oh, I just read OP again, and see you do want the Mexican stuff. I would definitely try a mexican market or carneceria.

[Servorg]

If you like Spanish food products then it would be well worth your while to make a trip down to the mother ship of imported foods from Spain; La Espanola.

http://www.laespanolameats.com/Mercha...

[bulavinaka]

You can pick up some decent Spanish wines (markup is a little stiff though) and Saturday is Paella day... go then for maximum impact...

[BCM]

Thank you Phurstluv, Servorq and Bulavinaka. Will store for future reference :) Also, will forward to my brother in-law. He's from Bilbao, Spain. Thanks again!

[Neta]

Lanza Brother's market at the corner of Avenue 20 (?) and North Main Street in Lincoln Heights. Definitely N. Main not positive about the avenue. On the northeast corner. It is homemade, no grease and very good spicing. The market was sold about a year ago but the recipe was included in the sale.

[JAB]

Really? The market where they make sandwiches?

[Neta]

Yes that's the one. We used to take orders and make a chorizo run it's that good.

[BCM]

Thank you Neta! We go there all the time for sandwiches; it's just minutes from where I work. Much appreciated!!!

[Hughlipton]

Any of the Vallarta Markets or El Mercado in Eas Los Angeles.

[lad1818]

Second Vallarta. Or another source would be either of the butchers at the Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax.

[BCM]

Thanks HL and Lad! If I'm not mistaken there's a Vallarta Market in East LA, not too far from me. Thanks again! Is there a particular brand I should look for..? or it it the in-store, butcher/ meat section product?

[jencounter]

Butcher section OR at some, they hang it in a different section - it's a deli section with cheeses and fresh salsas sold in bulk.

Vallarta's is fantastic.

[BCM]

Thanks Jen! I'll be sure to grab some fresh salsa too!