53390 Tue Mar 04 20:28:31 -0800 2003 27 2 Los Angeles Area 0 274034 I've spent most of the past 40 or so years living and eating (generally too much) in Los Angeles, and I think I have a reasonably good sense of much of the city's food, with the giant glaring exception of East Los Angeles. My downtown office looks out across East LA, and nearly every day I regret the fact that my knowledge of this area's chow is pretty much limited to La Serenata, La Indiana, and Raspados Zachatechas. Can those of you who know this area well help me to remedy this deficiency? What are the top five places in Boyle Heights/East Los Angeles that I really need to try, and what should I order once I get there? (And, as always, thanks for helping out a fellow hound.) Tue Mar 04 20:28:31 -0800 2003 0 David Kahn 1 274042 My vote: Tacos Baja Ensenada 5385 E. Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90022 Get: Fish tacos. Tue Mar 04 21:07:52 -0800 2003 274034 0 Joe B. 2 274094 Especially on Wednesdays when the fish tacos are $0.89 each!!!! Hey! That's today. Wed Mar 05 17:30:22 -0800 2003 274042 0 MPKen 1 274050 El Tepeyac (see thread not far below). Go hungry. Order something called the Hollenbeck burrito, or so I am advised (my non-Hollen burrito was just fine). Tue Mar 04 22:55:37 -0800 2003 274034 0 gj 1 274058 Mi India Bonita for cocido and homestyle cooking Gallo's Grill for chicken brochettes Siete Mares for siete mares (7 seas) seafood soup King Taco for sopes & al pastor tacos Nena's Place for menudo Tue Mar 04 23:22:36 -0800 2003 274034 0 Ernie 1 274071 Linda's Mariscos on Olympic near Indiana for Shrimp Cocktails...... Al & Bea's on 1st St. (across from post office) for Bean & Cheese Burritos........ Taco Room on Valley Bl. near Cal State for Vegetarian Burritos & Cocidos and their salsa bar!!...... Blue Truck on Breed St. (one block North of Cesar Chavez & Breed - Breed is one block West of Soto)for Ceviche Tostadas........always there for lunch...they have chairs to sit & eat......cops, students, usc med folks are all there....... Ana Maria's on 1st. & Indiana for Mole, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo and Mojarras Fritas....... La Mascota on 3rd for Chicken and Green Chile & Cheese Tamales.......... Go for the Green Salsa at King Taco instead of the red......it's where the flavor's at! IMHO El Tepeyac's food is just ok.......and their salsa.....yecch.....looks and tastes like mud.... no flavor......and the lines~!!!!!! Don't tell Manuel I said that!!!!!!!! I'll get no shots of tequila while waiting for my breakfast order!!!! Wed Mar 05 11:52:37 -0800 2003 274034 0 slowrider 1 274097 I really agree about the Baja Tacos on Whittier. AB FAB. Also Ana Maria's on 1st. St. I must believe you've tried the green chile burritos at El Arco Iris on York Blvd. Family run for the last 35 years at least. All my kids were raised on those burros and they still go back when they're in town. When I visit LA from San Diego, I bring a dozen back with me for the office. My boss called and asked if they shipped? Sorry to disappoint. I remember visiting the place across the street from Tepeyac, can't remember the name, but used to get irked because they didn't peel their green chiles? Who can swallow that stuff? Don't cross the street. You in LA are really lucky you have such an abundance of good Latino food to choose from. San Diego is right across the alley, so to speak, from Mexico and has some of the most abominable gringo style Mexican food imaginable. Not really surprising considering the number of people living in San Diego who haven't even been across the border. Dios mio. Wed Mar 05 18:56:18 -0800 2003 274034 0 chilepm 2 274098 Having grown up in San Diego, I have to agree with you. It's really weird how few authentic Mexican places are there (fortunately Mexico is very close if you want the real deal). Don't even get me started on Roberto's or Rubio's. But San Diego's gringo Mex is pretty good if you're into that sort of thing. However, I'll take East L.A. over Old Town any day of the week. Proof of your point: readers' polls in San Diego magazines consistently feature results like: best burger - Burger King; best Chinese food - Pick Up Stix; best pizza - Domino's. Blame it on the Navy and Marines. Wed Mar 05 19:16:05 -0800 2003 274097 0 Chris G. 3 274118 Funny, I have a recollection of Thi raving about some little taco place (maybe under a bridge somewhere) in San Diego. Thi, does this ring a bell, or am I just making it up? Thu Mar 06 01:14:41 -0800 2003 274098 0 David Kahn 4 274120 you must be talking about el porvenir- the most delicious carnitas & chile relleno burritos i've tasted. Thu Mar 06 01:48:50 -0800 2003 274118 0 petradish 5 274130 I'll be in S.D. next month. Where is this place located ? Thu Mar 06 12:43:40 -0800 2003 274120 0 l.g.i. 6 274132 1786 national ave 619.233.4038 Thu Mar 06 13:10:52 -0800 2003 274130 0 petradish 7 274135 Thanks for the recommendation. I'll try it next time I'm down south. I'm always glad when someone points out a few exceptions to the norm. Thu Mar 06 14:36:06 -0800 2003 274132 0 Chris G. 7 274138 We are quite away from East LA aren't we? But well worth it considering the dearth of goodies in San Diego. Logan Heights is San Diego's barrio. I've had good and bad meals there but am very anxious to try El Porvenir. Thanks for the address/phone #. Now, back to ELA. Yes, Ciro's used to have good flautas . I'm compiling a list for when I head up that way, may never get into town! Speaking of which, where is the best birria? Thu Mar 06 16:10:21 -0800 2003 274132 0 chilepm 8 274140 How do you define birria? Some of my friends from Mexico City say it's made with beef, while people I know from southern Mexico and Central America say it's made with goat. I prefer the goat version. Can't vouch if it's the absolute best in town, but Guelaguetza (near downtown L.A.) makes a very delicious bowl of birria, Oaxacan style. I also get an incredibly rich and flavorful birria (especialidad de la casa) served with fresh, handmade tortillas from an El Salvadorean restaurant in Stanton (located at the corner of Knott & Cerritos). I wouldn't say it's worth a trip from down south, but it's really good if you're in the area. Haven't tried any birria in East L.A. yet - it's my destination for tacos, tortas, tamales, cocido, pozole, albondigas soup, etc. Thu Mar 06 16:36:24 -0800 2003 274138 0 Chris G. 9 274143 Birria is tradionally goat. I like the Oaxacan style (almost anything), have never tried Salvadorean but will do so on your recommendation. Thanks. Thu Mar 06 19:44:04 -0800 2003 274140 0 chilepm 10 274147 I'm confused. I've ordered birria before and when I asked what kind of meat it was, was told beef. In the Mexican supermarkets goat is sold as chivo and in the english-spanish dictionary goat is cabrito. Birria tastes great but what is it and what does it mean? Fri Mar 07 05:17:26 -0800 2003 274143 0 steve k 11 274148 it's goat meat....... not beef........ the restaurant you went to was having a little fun w/ you...... Fri Mar 07 10:37:44 -0800 2003 274147 0 slowrider 12 274150 The whole, is it or is it not goat, question pops up on Chicago too. See the thread linked. Still, for what it's worth, birria referes to a dish, not the ingredients. There is surely birria of lamb. I just yesterday had birria at a place whose menu consisted of birria and birria taco's. I believe that birria is the great "lost" Mexican dish. It was nothing that ever appeared on the first and second generation Mexican menu's. Partaking of birria (hell, even knowning about it/being able to pronounce it), seems to be the litmus test for "real" Mexican food. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/111382#602796 Fri Mar 07 14:00:35 -0800 2003 274148 0 Vital Information 13 274151 I think the ingredients vary by region - as I mentioned earlier my friend Manuel (who runs a restaurant, El Campos, in Calimesa - excellent carnitas) is from Mexico City and insists that birria is made with beef. To confuse matters even further, he says barbacoa is made with goat. I once ordered birria at La Casa Garcia in Anaheim (granted, not the most authentic place around), and was served beef. The El Salvadorean restaurant around the corner from me makes birria with goat (advertised in the window as birria de chivo). They serve it two different ways: en su jugo (in it's juices, like a soup or stew) or with the juices strained. I also find birria de chivo in restaurants specializing in the cuisine of the Jalisco and Oaxaca regions. Sometimes I've found birria made with lamb (borrego) or pork (puerco). But usually when I ask someone from Mexico what birria is, they will *insist* it's either goat or beef. Fri Mar 07 14:30:57 -0800 2003 274150 0 Chris G. 13 274156 It sounds like it is made w/ different types of meats by all the replies indicating such....... I've only had/heard of it w/goat......... Whenever a party is gonna happen and someone's making birria - it's understood that we are gonna have goat birria........never knew there was any other.... Must now try and search some out and see how good it is.........I can't imagine it being as good as goat though...... Fri Mar 07 18:01:22 -0800 2003 274150 0 slowrider 2 274103 The place across from Tepeyac (not a big fan of their gigantic gloppy burritos BTW) sounds like Ciro's? Never had anything their beyond the good flautas . . . but will make a point to watch out for those green chiles! Wed Mar 05 19:53:49 -0800 2003 274097 0 Ernie 3 274111 Ciros tiny taquitos were a big disappointment, bland. Head to Olvera St. instead (though they seem to have been downgraded a bit too...I think when the city jacked up the rents it really hurt a lot of those places). Wed Mar 05 22:10:33 -0800 2003 274103 0 gj 4 274115 That's too bad to hear about Ciros, it's been a few years since last visit. It's been a while since Olvera St. too, which stand do you recommend? Pepe's in Alhambra has some consistently good and satisftying taquitos, with a very chunky guacamole heavy on the tomato chunks (though could use a pinch of salt) Thu Mar 06 00:25:46 -0800 2003 274111 0 Ernie 5 274125 Can't remember the name, but the place about 4-5 stalls from the North end of the street has always been our favorite. There are however several others that I haven't tried in ages. The first stand on the north end seems to get buy on location, I'd guess. Thanks for the Pepe's tip, I'll have to try them. Thu Mar 06 07:17:39 -0800 2003 274115 0 gj 2 274105 nice to see el arco iris on york get a good mention. we just moved to that neighborhood recently and have been going there from time to time. it does seem to be an institution. disclosure: a friend of my husband is one of the owners (the 3rd generation) which is why we went in the first place, but we keep going back b/c we like the food and the family. i hv not tried the green chile burrito -- yet. maybe this wk...... Wed Mar 05 20:58:29 -0800 2003 274097 0 fat kitty 1 274126 Don't forget La Parilla on Cesar Chavez between St. Louis and Chicago streets. In MHO it's one of the best. Also Mi India Bonita for their tortas and especially their pozole (Saturdays only???). There is also Senor Fish on 1st and Alameda which is almost in downtown L.A. Thu Mar 06 09:55:35 -0800 2003 274034 0 Neta 1 274190 For my money I love going to Los Cinco Puntos at Cesar Chavez & Lorena. It is more like a deli than a restaurant but you can buy the best carnitas and home made tortillas in town there. Wed Mar 19 19:30:02 -0800 2003 274034 0 Jason V.