La Fregada

So this was impromptu, like most visits!  Headed home after a long week of work, right off the 405 and Nordhoff.  I've seen this place change hands over the years, the new owners have been there for a bit.  I've been told I had to check it out by multiple sources.

The the bad, the facts...place is WAY too limited on options.  I've got no problem on focusing what you know, but you've got to have some options to sell tacos in the great City of Los Angeles.  Pastor, Asada, Carnitas, Pollo.  Yeah, that is all.  Salsa: red and green.  Tacos:  Small/Large.  They will make you damn near anything that you can think of with that meat.  They make a Guisado, which I normally will try, but there's is a "rotating" one that has different meats, pending on what they are trying to get rid of before it goes bad, which says, "hey, we are putting our left overs in here, we don't know what you'll get!"  Don't worry, they add vegetables...

The good, the facts...they have the small taco which is the smallest tortilla I've ever seen.  This thing is loaded with meat.  You get a heck of a deal for $1.  Nice job.  The "big" taco is a handmade corn tortilla.  This tortilla is great, not for a taco though.  If this was for a huarache, YES!  They do sell huarache, so I'd say if I go back, that is the direction I'd go.  For only $2 for the "big" taco, also loaded with meat, not bad.

SCALE:
1: Don't touch this, it is nasty, 2: Below average, I'd avoid, 3: Solid job, it is good, didn't blow me away, 4: Above average, nicely done, 5: Get off your ass and try this delicious shit!

Small taco: 3, the thing was loaded with meat, but was super tiny
Big taco: 2, loaded with meat again, nice size, but the tortilla is not made for tacos, it is better suited to be cooked longer and have more moisture on it.  It will absorb and taste so much better.
Salsa (verde): 2, spicy, which is great, but just not great.  It had way too much lime and way too much salsa. Also tasted a ton of vinegar.  Sadly a common mistake when making salsa verde.
Salsa (rojo); 1, The number says it all.  It was horrid.   They did not soak their peppers, they used dry which I normally love, long enough.  I mean come on, you have to blend it with more then water, salt and vinegar.
Asada: 3, solid.  Nice flavoring, cut was good, not over salted.
Pastor: 2, just ok.  Not bad, not great.  Meat tasted old and was overcooked.
Pollo:  Didn't try, it looked to be overcooked and I hate chicken that is overcooked.
Carnitas: 2, again overcooked.  It was dissolving too quickly.

Wrap up:  Place is ok if you are in a rush and need a taco.  If you have eight extra minutes, go up to Sepulveda and check out Rincon Taurino.  The service there will be quicker and the food is exponentially better.  La Fregada does an ok job as a mom and pop, but needs to go a bit further, or less when it comes to cooking.

Thanks for reading, see you next time!