RINCON OAXAQUENO

So I was driving through LA the other night after a long day at work.  Where to go for dinner.  I just let Dolly guide me through the chilly night on the bike.  Late nights all week have prevented Tacoteering and writing about it.  I was not going to let anything get in the way of my Taco Destiny.  I can tell you that Taco Destiny took me to Little Armenia which is a part of Hollywood if you are unfamiliar.  I will be back in the area.  Right off of Western, North of the 101, there is a number of great trucks lined up and some promising looking restaurants.

I loved the smells driving through LA that night.  Smell is the sense that triggers memory the best.  It did for me.  The air was cool, there was a light mist.  Traffic wasn't too bad.  Food was everywhere, at least I could smell it.  I smelled Mediterranean, Mexican, burgers, I mean it was just one great thought after another.  Pulling into this parking lot was no accident.  It was true Taco Destiny.  I was going to stop at one of the trucks I passed, but it was a little cool on the bike and I didn't have a sweater or jacket.  I thought it might be nice to sit down.  The place looked big enough to sit, but small enough not to compromise quality by buying into "main stream" crap.

When you walk in, you won't be disappointed.  Decor is simple, pretty cool.  I dig it.  There is NO English spoken in here.  The lady working the front spoke not one word.  At least she acted like she didn't.  Another table spoke very little Spanish, so another table translated to her.  It was part of the entertainment for me.  The menu was a lot more extensive then I had anticipated.  They have a ton of great things.  It was hard not to get the real goat Barbacoa.  It was tempting, but I stuck to the "street tacos."  Large tortillas.  They were some damn huge tacos.  The options meat wise were good.  Nice stuff.  I went with the norms.  I love cecina, as I'm sure you've seen in past blogs, I was excited to see that they made it.  They serve you chips, which were pretty good.  The salsa they serve is fantastic.  Smoky, spicy, yummy. I liked it a lot.  Dried chiles that were hydrated perfectly then blended with cooked tomatoes and onions, really nicely done.

RATINGS:
TASAJO: 2, I love tasajo, done right.  They were WAY off here.  So much cinnamon and clove, two things I'm normally a fan of.  They were way heavy handed.
CABEZA: 3, good, but a little chewy.  Not bad enough to drop a point, but not good enough to hit a 4.  They marinate it with lime and it really seemed to bring out some good flavors.
POLLO: 4, shocker!  I was really into it.  Boiled, then sauteed.  It had crispy edges and was not at all dry.  I would get this daily if available.
CECINA: 4, tender, cooked to perfection.  I loved it.  I saw asada at the table next to me and was even more excited with myself for my choice to go with the cecina.  It is so good.  Salty and sweet. Check it out if you are driving through Hollywood.
SALSA: 4, I talked about it a bunch just above.  I really think they did a nice job here, and for this I'm thankful.

I drove by so many places, Dodger Stadium, thumbs up to the Dodgers!  Through a good part of LA.  I got through quick.  I almost stopped at a number of places.  I'm glad that this place was the stop.  Not the best I've been to.  It is no Los Cinco Puntos, it's not Rincon Taurino, not even close to El Faro, but good.  If you are in that part of Hollywood, stop by, tell them the Order sent you.

Thanks everyone for reading, hope you have a fantastic weekend, hopefully writing from Houston next week!  Stay Excellent

El Faro, Sylmar/San Fernando, CA: WOW

To every ying, there is a yang.  A time to reap, a time to sew.  Yesterday was one of the worst visits I had to a restaurant in my entire existence.  If you did not read about it, check it out and fulfill that morbid curiosity that is looming inside of you.  Bask in your happiness of not having to endure the foul tastes and experience that I had to call "lunch" on Thursday.  Know this, Karma has come back to me today and apologized.  I have again fulfilled my Taco Destiny for the day.  It is amazing how much brighter the sun shines today.  The warm glow of its rays just make me feel better and better.  I think I even heard birds chirping a song for me as I left this rare gem, found in the foothills of Sylmar, CA.

El Faro is a recommendation from a genius of a woman.  A truly brilliant lady that has forever changed all of our lives by sharing this information with the right people.  Rosa Mora had passed the knowledge of this place onto me through my mother as they work together.  I have been thinking about going for some time, and the time became today.  I needed a "pick me up" after yesterday's fiasco.  I hoped that El Faro would deliver.  If you are familiar with the 118-210 interchange, then you are close.  It is right off of McClay, and I mean right off.  Just head toward San Fernando and just before you hit the sign, on the corner of McClay and Bromont you will find this place, you are welcome for passing this on.

Menu is good.  Great options, but sticks to what they know.  I can assure you, that if you walk in, see the spit going round and it looks right, it is.  I had to look around and noticed no grilled pineapple.  OK, I'm still interested.  You could smell this place from down the street.  Even if I was slumming it in my mommy's Lexus.  I know, I missed Dolly too.  The only thing that kept me going is the Blue Suede Shoes I'm wearing and channel 19, Elvis Radio on XM.  FYI, food flies out of this kitchen.  I barely finished paying and my food was ready.  I saw everyone's food coming out like this.  What a treat to see this team work like this.  Real teamwork.  I love it, it makes it so much better for my experience to see this.  My anticipation and excitement grew as I got my plate.

I had to head over to the massive, two picture salsa bar.  Red/Green salsa, fried jalepenos with salt on them, sauteed onions, cilantro, raw onions, limes, cucumbers, and on and on and on.  I was so excited I started to salivate more and more.  I mean this was exciting, really exciting.

This leads us to the table and the eating which was more then delightful, so without further a due, the Ratings...

RATINGS:
SALSA VERDE: 5, So spicy, so delicious, layered with flavor after flavor.  This coats your tongue from front to back and hits your throat with a delightful tingle.  It is a hot one, not for the fair tonged.
SALSA ROJO: 4, I liked it a ton, but 5's are not easy to come by, I mean they have to knock my socks off.  This stuff was good.  Juallios are involved and they were soaked in vinegar for sure, worth trying, I'd say it is a great compliment to the chicken and leaner meats, check out the verde for the fattier meats.
SALSA BAR: 5, no way this place could have gotten better.  This thing had it all and I'm about to weep just writing about it.
POLLO: 3, solid all the way through.  It was really good.  Light, seasoned, not overcooked.  I think it is very good and has solid neutral flavors that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
TRIPA: 4, they know what they are doing.  One bite and you will taste what I mean.  This stuff was succulent.  If you don't like tripa or think you don't, try this, you might have your mind changed.
LENGUA:  4, what?  There is another above 3?  I'm shocked too, but when someone deserves it, they get it.  This stuff is something special.  Soft, but good, cut nicely, not too big, not too small.  Boiled, then hits the flat top is my guess, nicely done.
ASADA: 5, I'll preface this with, I don't know if we'll ever see a 5 on Asada again.  This is a hard one for me to say above 3.  They cook with something, I'm not sure what, but I'm going back to taste it out.  This is not your abuela's Asada.  this is some interesting, complex stuff.
PASTOR: 5, yeah, I mean it.  This is Rincon Taurino good.  I mean, the business, right here.  They put cold pineapple on top, didn't think I was going to enjoy, I normally don't, but I was proven wrong at first bite.  WOW, great job.

A fried little corn tortilla finds its way onto your plate.  It is perfect.  Great for scooping and tasting the salsa, but not distracting.  The guys and gal working there are great.  I was talking to them post meal and loved their time.  I really think that if you are experimenting with tacoterring, you need to check this place out, you will not be disappointed.

A very special thank you to Rosa Mora.  She directed me towards this place and says they have a truck that upholds the amazing integrity that the restaurant has.  Rosa, you will forever be a friend and advisor of The Order of the Taco.  If anyone has sent me a place, I'll get there, Rosa set the bar pretty high on this one!  Thanks Rosa!

Thanks to everyone who is following and getting the blogs sent to their email, please tell your friends, enemies, acquaintances and passer byes!  Stay Excellent Everyone.