street food
posts displayed by tag
Travel Food Guide: What to Eat in Tulum, Mexico
Apr 27 2011
Ever since my Flor de Michoacan paleta post, I’ve gotten a ton of requests for more Tulum restaurant tips. Instead of writing a bunch of emails, I decided to make a little eating guide with some food photos I took when I visited the small Mexican beach town last Christmas. For part 1, I’ve included all the places I love in the puebla (as opposed to the beach).
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so if you have Tulum food advice, help a fellow traveler and write it in the comments.
El Tacoqueto, Av. Tulum (it’s a red building with a thatched roof)
Popular with locals, El Tacoqueto is a place we always make sure to visit every time we’re in Tulum. This little red, thatched-roof restaurant is located on the main drag and offers some of the best “home-cooked” food in town at great prices—two people can eat for about $10. When you walk in, you’ll see a big, open kitchen, where women reside over large stainless steel pots of soups and stews. There’s no menu, so just walk up to the kitchen and take a look before you order. The mole is great (pictured at the top of this post), the soups never miss, and sometimes they even have chile rellenos.
Street Food: Handmade Flautas at Balbina in Boyle Heights
Aug 09 2010
With the Breed Street food vendors now dispersed, you really have to drive around Boyle Heights to find the best stuff. My tactic is to search out the stands with a bit of a crowd, the thinking being that most people won’t stand in line for bad food.
That’s not a foolproof theory, but it proved accurate when I spotted Balbina on a recent Friday night. On a corner, just off E. First St (email me for exact location), Balbina serves up a a full menu-which includes flautas,pambazos, huaraches, sopes and quesadillas, to a steady stream of regulars and newbies like me. The promise of thick, hearty tortillas handmade on the spot are a big part of the allure.
Highland Park: The Taco Stand with No Name on York Blvd.
Jul 12 2010
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
