Tacos in Venice?
I am staying in Venice for a long weekend, near Abbot Kinney. Can anyone recommend a good taco place in the area? Must have good margaritas as well.
-
-
-
I have to admit I debated posting this rec in order to keep it to myself:
La Isla Bonita taco truck, parks between 4th and 5th on Rose btwn 11am-5pm, every day but Thursday- absolute best Al Pastor tacos in Venice, $1.50ea, and awesome ceviche tostadas for $2. This is classic, first-wave LA taco truck grub.
Then, head up Rose to La Cabana for your margaritas- skip the house version and step up to the cadillacs. La Cabana isn't the best for food, and isn't the most authentic place out there, but they are funky inside, and have been there forever.-----
La Isla Bonita
3630 Saviers Rd, Oxnard, CA 93033›3 Replies -
-
Thanks for the recommendations and the feedback on finding good tacos and margs in the same spot. My group would certainly be willing to go to two different spots for our taco and margarita fix, so if that changes the recommendations I am all ears!
Also, we are from Chicago, so we're new to the concept of food trucks - sounds like that might be our best bet for tacos?
›6 Replies-
re: lchifoodie
I've heard that the standard of Mexican cuisine in Chicago has been on the upside for the past decade or so. Still, I don't think you'll be disappointed with what we have here (LA's Mexican food traditions of course go back to the Mission and Rancho days, and at a more accessible level starting post WWII in the Westside).
The new breed of food trucks were plentiful along Abbot Kinney (a main drag in Venice) until the brick & mortar businesses along that popular stretch got so fed up that they are actively making it extremely difficult for the trucks to even park on the street. One place that almost always has a food truck is in the parking lot next to The Brig, at the corner of Abbot Kinney and Palms Blvd. The owner of The Brig (David Reiss - a local foodie of sorts who has at least a few fingers in quite a few food and drink related ventures) likes the food trucks, and so he is willing to acommodate one to a few trucks on his lot. One will usually show up around mid-afternoon and stay until the wee hours. However, you're in luck if you want more traditional Mexican food truck fare.
La Isla Bonita Mexican food truck has been a staple in Venice I think since the 80s - for sure since the 90s. They usually park on Rose Avenue, between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue some time in the late morning and usually scoot out by the late afternoon. They rate pretty high with the local and working population around Venice. Another truck (and IMHO better) is La Oaxaquenia Mexican food truck. Like changing of the guard, as La Isla Bonita leaves, La Oaxaquena shows up around 6PM to whenever. The set up on LIncoln, about a block south of Rose (about four blocks walking distance). As the name implies, Oaxacan food can be had at this truck (memelas, tlayudas), but they have a whole list of standard Mexican taqueria items and fillings (al pastor, carne asada, lengua, chorizo, etc).
A taqueria called Bennie's recently opened up on Lincoln (at Sunset Avenue) as well. They're okay. I had high hopes for them, as they have the vertical rotisserie to properly roast and serve a traditional al pastor, but my tacos were prepared from al pastor pre-cut and sitting in a steam table pan. One needs to get the al pastor sizzling and sliced right off the spit (along with some bits of pineapple) in order to take in the full flavor. Still, this may be worth a try as my experience there was about a few weeks after they opened - they've been open now for three or four months. Maybe call ahead and find out when the rotisserie is actually fired up?
One place in the Westside with a long pedigree (I think since 1947) is Gallegos Mexican Deli on Venice Blvd, one block west of Centinela in Mar Vista. Located in a typical corner strip mall, they offer some great traditional Mexican cuisine. Their specialty (at least to me) is their barbacoa, but I have to admit that everything I've tried there has hit a nice balance of seasoning, flavor and texture. I usually get their burritos and various tamales, but their tacos are good as well. They have a small salsa bar, but each salsa hits a perfect note for what it is supposed to accomplish. And the tortilla chips are probably the most perfect I've had in the Westside. I almost always get an extra bag and their guacamole to go.
Other (and very respectable) Chowhounds have already made mention of really good taco recs - Tacomiendo, Casa Linda's (on Abbot Kinney - I haven't tried it myself), Taqueria Sanchez, Tacos Por Favor (mostly known for their chorizo queso taco), and La Playita (also on Lincoln, two blocks north of Rose) all come to mind.
Border Grill - the one that echoparkdirt mentions - is probably at the zenith of finding a place that will serve a nice taco with a nice margarita. I can't tell you that it is the most authentic of the places mentioned, but the food is of very high quality (they tend to offer some very traditional along side some fusion or higher end plates - sometimes mixing traditional with nontraditional), and the two founders (Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger whose names are joined at the hip) are very passionate about food.
Other than the tacos, I still think Casa Sanchez will give a visitor the fullest effect of the grand Mexican dining experience. The extremely well appointed casa-style interior, the entertainment, and the margaritas will score high - maybe do a taco crawl around Venice and its surrounding communities and end up there...
-----
Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401Taqueria Sanchez
4541 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066Tacomiendo
11462 Gateway Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064La Playita
3306 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405Gallegos Mexican Deli
12470 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066Tacos Por Favor
1406 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404La Oaxaquena
1234 Lomita Blvd, Harbor City, CA 90710La Isla Bonita
3630 Saviers Rd, Oxnard, CA 93033Casa Linda
1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291-
re: bulavinaka
echoparkdirt
Dec 28, 2010 10:53 AM
bennie's is such a tease -- it looks like it could be a great place from the outside and the kitchen but i thought it was meh
if i was looking to emphasize the margaritas, i would go to Cabana on rose , which is lots of fun and looks exactly like you want your margarita place to look -- red leather booths, colorful interior, patio, etc. the food, however, is not its strong point.
-
-
-
re: lchifoodie
If you are open to the idea of separating the margarita from the taco's, I would second B's reco of doing Casa Sanchez for the drinks. It's definitely a nice place with a full bar, maybe get some light snacks and appetizers if you're still hungry after the taco crawl.
Although I like the food and concept, I find Casa Sanchez's entree's to be a touch dumbed down and slightly expensive for what it is. We prefer other places for refined Mexican, but it's the best we can do the Westside. Be warned that the mariachi band can get very loud and overwhelm any attempts at conversation. We usually ask for an outside table so we can talk and eat in peace.
If you are going to do taco's first and end up at Casa Sanchez last, it's probably easiest to start at Taco's Por Favor and work your way south down Lincoln. Have fun!
-
-
re: QualityMart
For the OP: Casa LInda, corner of Abbot Kinney and California Ave - right across the street from Abbot's Habit Coffee house. It's about three blocks north of Venice Blvd. I haven't been but I think QualityMart's tastes are first rate. The place is owned by the folks who run Hal's a few doors to the north, which has been an Abbot Kinney standard way before the street was uber-cool.
-
-
-
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Casa Linda on AK. It's a taco "joint" more than a restaurant, but I think it has some of the tasiest tacos in the area. 2nd only to some of the trucks. The tacos are a little bit greasier than I'd like, but holy cow is the meat cooked with some amazing flavor.
Tacos Por Favor in Santa Monica is another local favorite.
Note: places that serve margaritas tend to not have great tacos. The best tacos are at either trucks or places like the two mentioned above that aren't really full-on restaurants. Yeah I love kicking back margaritas at Casablanca or La Cabana or Lula's, but you go there to drink more than to eat great mexican food.
-----
Tacos Por Favor
1406 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404Casa Linda
1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291›5 Replies-
-
-
re: Servorg
I agree, and the chowpup in me tells me to get my taco fix at a more Chow-like source that serves first rate tacos, and get my margs and some apps somewhere else, but I know it's just not the same if one is hankerin' for both. Logistics shouldn't be so complicated but... Ciao Bob mentioned in another thread that he likes bringing his own margs to Mariscos Chente, and serves up house's staff along with his group - not a bad idea, no?
-
re: bulavinaka
Servorg
Dec 28, 2010 06:15 AM
I agree with MC if you are hankering for Marlin tacos, but if you want a greater choice of carne you are out of luck. We actually like the "Americanized" tacos at Don Antonio's on Pico, which isn't very far from the Venice area (and has a full bar as well).
-----
Don Antonio's
11755 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 -
re: bulavinaka
Ciao Bob
Dec 28, 2010 07:51 AM
Yes, bulavinaka, thanks for remembering my MC M.O.; and, when I am really lazy, I just buy the pre-made jug of Cuervo Margs at Costco and zip up to Chente, rather than make my own. It makes for a very satisfying solution to a vexing problem for me. I queried Jonathon Gold on this topic, which he called "one of the true philosophical questions of the age," in an Ask Mr. Gold piece in the LA Weekly not too long ago
http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/20...I second your Paco's recommendation. Paco's food is good enough, probably better than what the OP can get, routinely, in Chicago and has a fine -- but not first class -- margarita.
for a very satisfying evening.
-
-
-
-
-
-
I've found it much easier to find the style of tacos with the soft tortilla, versus the type of taco with the fried tortilla (dorados or flauta style), to be far more prevalent and available at places that don't serve margaritas - mostly taquerias. Also, the fillings tend to be far more diverse. When the demand for margaritas with Mexican food goes on the priority list, the choices for taqueria-type tacos shortens the list dramatically IMHO, particularly in the Westside. The places you will find that do both will pretty much be second or third tier Chow recs at best.
Servorg has mentioned Casablanca, a pretty good sit-down type of Mexican seafoodish kind of restaurant. I haven't been in over a decade, but they used to offer tortillas that were made on site and live entertainment. Another is La Cabana almost kitty-corner from Casablanca. The food is better at Casablanca, while the hours and margaritas are more abundant at La Cabana.
Another few choices would be Tlapazola Grill on Venice, just east of Abbot Kinney. They are Oaxacan-ish/fusiony hybrid Mexican dining with a good tequila list and tacos on their lunch menu. The quality in general is good, but the food is considered to have less soul and authenticity than more traditional places.
Moving over to Venice-adjacent you'll find Paco's which is very popular because of their combinations (which includes tacos), their margaritas (mostly slushy style), and the ladies who press out make fresh tortillas (much like Casablanca). There is usually a line here for dinner and on weekends in general, so go early.
Casa Sanchez is a few blocks down the street from Pancho's. While they don't offer tacos on their menu - they only serve dinner as far as I know - they do offer flautas - a semi-deconstructioned tacos dorados - and their margarita list is adequate. The reason I mention this place is because not only is Casa Sanchez the nicest most well appointed of Mexican restaurants in the Westside, they usually have some kind of live entertainment as well - very talented folks. And if you feel like having taqueria-style tacos and want your margaritas too, start out at Taqueria Sanchez which is literally across the street, and is also owned by the same Sanchez family. You can get your taco fix there, and mosey across the street and finish off with some cocktails and live entertainment.
-----
Taqueria Sanchez
4541 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066Tlapazola Grill
636 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291›3 Replies-
re: bulavinaka
I beg to differ with the comparison between Casablanca and La Cabana....its been a couple 'o years since ive been to Casablanca and though i might agree the food is a bit better, there corn tortillas were nothing to "write home about." On the other hand, La Cabana does make great thick corn tortillas, on site. Neither makes memorable comida but the tortillas at Cabana are well worth the trip!
-
re: lapizzamaven
I should have qualified my memories of both places. My memories of Casablanca were pretty much for dinner where I was coherent. My memories of La Cabana were, well, I don't have much of a memory of those visits because I was pretty shit-faced. It's been a long time since I've been drunk enough to be hauled into La Cabana, so let's have your rec stand.
-
-
-
Servorg
Dec 27, 2010 09:07 AM
You might give Casablanca a try and see what you think.
-----
Casablanca
220 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291›2 Replies-
re: Servorg
echoparkdirt
Dec 27, 2010 12:09 PM
casablanca has wonderful tortillas, but i found everything else rather uninspiring. the taco truck at lincoln just south of rose is good for dinners. i love the fusion-taco trucks that often visit Abbot Kinney at nite. I haven't found a fantastic mexican place on the westside like the incredible My Taco in Highland Park, but I do think that Border Grill food is fantastic. Actually, there's my recommendation -- Border.
-----
Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401My Taco Restaurant
6300 York Blvd Ste 4, Los Angeles, CA 90042
-
