Highland Park: The Taco Stand with No Name on York Blvd.

Jul 12 2010 · 7 comments · Best in LA, Highland Park, Mexican, Street Food, Tacos

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Highland Park has been called “the taco capital of Los Angeles” a well-earned title, considering the innumerable taco trucks, stands and shops that line its streets. No matter your poison— al pastor, carne asada, tripa, chorizo, cabeza…you’ll find it here without much trouble.

While most of the “Best Tacos in HP” attention gets lavished on La Estrella, my vote goes to the unnamed stand on York Blvd. and Outlook Ave., which serves one of one of the best al pastor tacos I’ve ever had. No kidding. They’re juicy and a little fatty with a sweetness that’s complemented by the heat of fresh salsa. We actually found this place during an obsessive search to find some worthy tacos after a trip to Mexico City ruined us.

They set up at night in front of the tiny blue East LA Auto building across the street and a few blocks up from Villa Sombrero. The stand features a spit topped with the very necessary slab of pineapple. If you’re lucky (or if you just ask nicely), you’ll get a big, sweet, citrusy chunk sliced along with your pastor, which is chopped up and cooked to tender-with-crispy-bits perfection while you watch and yearn.

The only downside is that the tortillas are not made on the spot. They are, however, dipped in the grease of the giant pan where the chorizo, tripa and maybe a corazone or two, sizzle. The result is a moist, greasy (but not too greasy) tortilla with a slight meaty taste. Delicious and addictive.

-Valentina

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7 Comments

  1. Gastronomer

    On:

    Yow! What a tempting find! Love that they dip the tortillas in a grease bath before serving it up 😉

  2. SinoSoul

    On:

    Did ja peep Bandini’s piece on Leo’s (La Brea/Venice)? And do they griddle the shaved al pastor on the plancha? Cuz if they do… that’s an automatic out, no?

  3. eastsidefoodbites

    · author

    Dude (and yes, it’s still cool to say that), I’m not going to shun all pastor griddled on the plancha because one place in Venice doesn’t do it. Leo’s looks awesome, but this place is on York Blvd. They’re practically in different countries.

  4. SinoSoul

    On:

    Haha!

    Clarify: I detest al pastor finished up on plancha, and dock al pastor severely for not being shaved straight of spit. Griddling really changes the texture of the pork, and infuses the meat with remaining asada/buche/whatever grease from cows. Iunno… There are a few places in EasLos that straight shave, but you’re right, they are definitely harder to find.

    Gotta check this place out. Thanks!

  5. eastsidefoodbites

    · author

    Hmm, well then you probably wouldn’t like this even more becausethey dip the tortilla in this pan where they cook all the organs. Definitely not the pure pastor flavor you prefer.

  6. streetgourmetla

    On:

    Hey Valentina,
    Funny. Hmmm, al pastor checklist? Dock for the griddling, automatic out? I bet Tony has that list printed out in PDF. Maybe an app?

    Al pastor, or adobada, as it’s called in other states is done in every state in Mexico. First, the taquero must be a specialist, and highly skilled. He would not be mingling meats, Tony, because he’s not supposed to be cooking other meats, he does al pastor and nothing else. So, you can put the little list down there and move on, you’re not likely to score with a hack for a taquero.

    In Mexican culture, you don’t sit there helpless while the taquero shaves your al pastor onto the plancha, man up and say you want it from the spit. In different parts of Mexico they like it dorado, crispy, it’s a choice of the customer.

    If your taquero has to griddle because the pork isn’t cooked properly, then refer to rule number one, he isn’t a specialist, OR he’s not ready to serve.

    Ultimately, it’s about the flavor of the pork. Shaved directly from the spit? Doesn’t make it tasty unless a bunch of other things also are in place.

    The snobbery is not really justified,Tony.

    Valentina, you’re right not to shun al pastor JUST because it is fried. No automatic out, it’s just crispy.

  7. eastsidefoodbites

    · author

    Well stated, Bill. Can’t wait to find some LA pastor that’s up to snuff. I’ll still eat these ones in the meantime, though.

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