66391 Sat Feb 05 17:15:38 -0800 2005 35 2 Los Angeles Area 0 358884 It seems as though Mexican fast food in LA has changed quite a bit over the years. It is hard to find anything other than Baja style carne asada type joints. What happened to red Chile style burritos with big chunks of beef smothered in cheese? Is there any place other than El Tepeyac (had high hopes but left disappointed)that has really good "red chile" "chile rojo" or "chile Colorado" burritos? Sat Feb 05 17:15:38 -0800 2005 0 Louball1 1 358890 Lupe's 12 kinds of Burritos in East LA has great Burritos. The Red chile Burrito is very tasty ( and also very hot). Chunks of beef , red chile and beans in a good size burrito, Theres always a crowd at lunch but its worth the wait. They are on Third st just east of the 710 (down the st from King Taco). Sat Feb 05 17:48:49 -0800 2005 358884 0 moondoggie 1 358903 El Coyote's "Monty's Burrito". El Compadre on Sunset across from Guitar Center has one. Also Barragan's and Don Cuco have them. These are all "old school" gringo-mexican places. Sat Feb 05 20:20:58 -0800 2005 358884 0 2chez mike 1 358920 I actualy like Tito's Tacos for their beef burrito with cheese added. Tasty Also try Burrito King Sunset & Alvarado or the one on Hyperion Sun Feb 06 00:41:57 -0800 2005 358884 0 Burger Boy 2 358924 Yeah, with Tito's burritos, I put some of their "guacamole" and salsa on it....then scoop out the drippings with the chips...sometimes put a chip inside...not healthy, but good and messy. Sun Feb 06 01:01:59 -0800 2005 358920 0 Xericx 3 358961 Tito's must have the worst "Mexican" food I've ever eaten. I'm not sure why all the raves on this site from, ahem, foodies. Sun Feb 06 14:51:50 -0800 2005 358924 0 Tate 4 358972 We're not foodies, we're chowhounds! This site specifically distinguishes foodies from chowhounds - follow the link below to this site's FAQs: As to Tito's, no one ever said it serves authentic Mexican food. From the periodic threads on this board where Tito's is debated, it appears that most of the Tito's supporters (me included) are LA natives (me included) who like Tito's for various reasons but who also understand why others may not like Tito's. Most of the non-LA natives don't like Tito's and don't get why anyone would like Tito's. Of course the foregoing is full of generalizations. That's just the way it is. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/misc/faq.html Sun Feb 06 17:04:29 -0800 2005 358961 0 Debbie W. 5 358977 Tito's is like a throwback to when mom would have "Taco Night." It's kinda tasty but certainly not Mexican food. Sun Feb 06 18:04:59 -0800 2005 358972 0 JJ 6 359070 Tito's may not serve ``Mexican'' food, but it does in fact serve Mexican-American food, which is a different thing, and not necessarily less worthy. At least Tito's is true to itself, which is more than one can say about nine-tenths of the ``authentic'' Mexican places touted on this board. Tito's burritos are exact products of the California sixties. Although my vote for old-school burritos still goes to Lupe's in East L.A. Mon Feb 07 13:44:53 -0800 2005 358977 0 condiment 7 359071 Tito's is not Mexican-American food, it is white trash food. Mon Feb 07 13:46:04 -0800 2005 359070 0 Cuatehmoc 8 359113 Please define what is "white trash" about Tito's. Mon Feb 07 16:07:28 -0800 2005 359071 0 Ron C 9 359121 Piss-weak "salsa", lots of sour cream, yellow cheese, and sour cream, etc. All they need is ranch dressing for their food. Mon Feb 07 16:23:48 -0800 2005 359113 0 Cuatehmoc 10 359148 Don't like Tito's. Eastside rips Westside. We get it. Next thread.... Mon Feb 07 17:38:04 -0800 2005 359121 0 cagey 10 359327 The owners are Mexican-American, the cooks are Mexican-American, the recipes are Mexican-American, and about two-thirds of the people in line are Mexican-American. Tito's may not be to your taste, but that doesn't make it white trash. Tue Feb 08 12:43:22 -0800 2005 359121 0 condiment 11 359338 The meat Tito's use smells like Taco Bell dog food. You will find Mexican-Americans everywhere in Los Angeles, even at Del Taco so I don't know what your point is, but Tito's is still white trash food. Sorry it sucks and you like it. Tue Feb 08 14:11:28 -0800 2005 359327 0 Cuatehmoc 12 359398 This guy's rap has been all about how lame westside mexican food is in general (Tito's notwithstanding), so give it a name. Tito's was, is, and always will be an acquired habit (or Ptomaine Alley) depending on your individual assessment. Wasn't this thread about old school burritos? (For the record I've never had one at Tito's - always stuck to the glorious horse-meat tacos). Now Fernando's Burrito at El Indio I'll vouch for. Tue Feb 08 19:42:05 -0800 2005 359338 0 cagey 13 359430 The truth does hurt I suppose. And "old school" Mexican to me means Aztec or Nahuatl. Tue Feb 08 21:48:58 -0800 2005 359398 0 Cuatehmoc 14 359432 ...and your favorite boite featuring Aztec cuisine is.....? Tue Feb 08 22:10:10 -0800 2005 359430 0 peg 15 359466 The chapulines at Guelaguetza are very good in a pre-Columbian way. You should try some. Wed Feb 09 01:50:08 -0800 2005 359432 0 Cuatehmoc 16 359488 Old school "crop pests" aren't on my menu, thanks. Very old school though, I must admit. I'm fairly fond of huitlacoche quesadillas.... in a pre-columbian sort of way. Wed Feb 09 09:39:56 -0800 2005 359466 0 cagey 17 359524 Grazing beef can be considered a "crop pest" too if they start eating your fields. The huitlacoche is definitely pre-Columbian, but the dairy in the quesadilla is not. Wed Feb 09 13:54:00 -0800 2005 359488 0 Cuatehmoc 18 359555 ... I'm still a product of the 20th century I suppose. I've actually also had sopa huitlacoche (my wife makes it from time to time) and it's a bit more of an acquired taste. Whoever decided that fungus-ridden food might be good to eat (yoghurt, cheese, and mushroom eaters included) were brave, adventurous souls..... or very hungry. As one might say, "One person's corn smut is another person's dinner." Wed Feb 09 15:10:56 -0800 2005 359524 0 cagey 19 359617 Since I started this thread I thought it would be appropriate if I went to Tito’s so that I could accurately weigh in on the controversy. So I drove down to Culver City on a mission to find out whether Tito’s was a hidden gem or poor quality purveyor of “taco bell dog food” like meat Upon careful analysis I find that they are a little bit of both. Their red chili burrito (I think they call it “meat burrito”) was actually pretty good and an appropriate response to my query for an old school red chili (not carne asada burrito). After quickly disposing of my burrito in the car, I was compelled to get back in line and try the tacos. I took home a few tacos and have to say the first few bites were pretty decent but than I started to notice the meat had kind of a strange texture to it. It was over cooked and beyond shredded…more like “fuzzed” beef rather than “shredded” beef. And, I hate to say it, but if you catch a strong whiff it does have a bit of an odd odor. Still I ate and kind of enjoyed both of them. I guess the question is would I go back there? If I were going to make the effort to drive to Culver City again, I think Johnnie’s Pastrami would be a better use of my time and stomach. Wed Feb 09 18:08:45 -0800 2005 359555 0 Louball 20 359633 You hit the nail on the head. "Fuzzed beef" is the polite way of describing it to be sure. It's so wrong that it's right for some of us who grew up with it. Oh and I wouldn't get too hyped up about Johnnies (except for the crinkle cut fries). Pastrami is about a 6 out of 10, imho. You're better off at the Hat. At least you had the courage to brave Tito's and live to tell about it. Wed Feb 09 18:56:32 -0800 2005 359617 0 cagey 21 359839 Agree about Johnnies being nsg, though the outdoor firepit is nice early in the a.m. if you're very, very drunk (possibly when you're sober as well, but I wouldn't know.) Thu Feb 10 14:19:58 -0800 2005 359633 0 Dave 5 358990 Yeah, I hated Titos the first 3 or 4 times I got dragged there. Then I just got addicted to something that can't be explained really. The grease, cheap meat, fried shell, and the bland tomato salsa all seem to blend perfectly for some weird reason. Sun Feb 06 22:40:16 -0800 2005 358972 0 Xericx 6 359027 I happen to like the peppery salsa. Goes well with a lot of other leftover dishes. Bland? Hardly. Mon Feb 07 10:26:55 -0800 2005 358990 0 cagey 5 359075 I like Titos too. As an aside, regarding foodie v chowhound from that link, add to that description that chowhounds are apparently snobs if they think they are better or really any different than foodies. Puh lease. Mon Feb 07 13:59:18 -0800 2005 358972 0 former LAer 5 359178 Hi Folks- We have removed some of the postings that were comparing/contrasting "foodies" and "chowhounds". If you would like to continue that discussion, please do it on the Not About Food board. Please keep the focus of this thread on finding great burritos. Thanks. Mon Feb 07 18:52:16 -0800 2005 358972 2 The Chowhound Team 4 359046 I used to live around the corner from Tito's. Put me in the "Tito's sucks" camp. To me it's the worst food around. Just MHO Mon Feb 07 12:33:37 -0800 2005 358961 0 Jimbo 3 359105 El Terasco has the best burrito in town, IMHO. The "Super Junior Deluxe" for $5 can't be beat. Seriously. Manhattan Beach on Rosecrans location is more "Old-Skool" but the Marina location near the end of Washington has more seating. Link: http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/140415/manhattan_beach_ca/el_tarasco_restaurant.html?cslink=search_name_noncust&ulink=search__searchslot1_520__0_profile_2_1 Mon Feb 07 15:54:57 -0800 2005 358924 0 Gregariousrecluse 4 359259 The burrito by default is ground beef. For a dollar more you can get asada, carnitas, chicken, etc. . . Yummm Mon Feb 07 22:46:19 -0800 2005 359105 0 Wes 1 358958 It's a bit of a drive, but Las Fuentas has great "gringo style" burritos. Also, they are HUGE!! Located on the corner of Reseda and Vanowen (in the valley). Sun Feb 06 14:32:23 -0800 2005 358884 0 ash 2 359051 YUM!! My FAVORITE place. Try their Burrito de Bistek Encebollado!! They are just east of Reseda on Vanowen. Just be sure you have time, there is pretty much always a line. Mon Feb 07 12:52:19 -0800 2005 358958 0 WildSwede 1 359052 La Fiesta Grande and Mijares, both in Pasadena, offer them. Mon Feb 07 12:53:42 -0800 2005 358884 0 WildSwede 1 359073 Manny's El Loco is good for these types of burritos. They have a few locations in Los Angeles County, mostly in the San Gabriel Valley. Mon Feb 07 13:50:21 -0800 2005 358884 0 Ernie