Results tagged “mexican”

Downtown LA’s Grand Central Market is a Recession Obsession institution. If you’ve never been, grab a crisp five dollar bill, and you’ll purchase a great meal. Grab a crisp ten dollar bill and you’ll find that nirvana known as Food Coma.

Today’s Recession Obsession is a gluttonous walk down memory lane, a walk to Campos Tacos in Venice, where a plate of hard-shelled chicken tacos, chips, and a drink is $7 after tax. While this Campos location might look like a dime-a-dozen Mexican hole-in-the-wall with a scary bathroom, to this author, it represents the birth of a love affair, and LAist’s latest Recession Obsession.

After opening a second location in Hollywood last year, Loteria Grill is readying a new one in Studio City, according to a land use committee agenda (.pdf) with the Studio City Neighborhood Council. This Wednesday, the group will discuss and possibly make a motion in regards to the restaurant's application for a full line alcoholic beverage license. Loteria, which has a space on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Blvd., is also planning to obtain a permit to allow for live entertainment between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Mobile food trucks, revealing their location on Twitter, who serve taco-fusion, is in. This is no longer news. It's getting competitive on the streets, and the novelty is decreasingly novel.

Authorities in Santa Barbara County have confirmed that a wildfire which has currently scorched over 75,000 acres was set within a Mexican drug operation's cooking area, according to LA Now. The blaze began on the pot farm, and it's believed "the assailants are still in the forest area trying leave the forest by foot," as the fire rages uncontrolled. The "La Brea fire" started on August 8th, but is only at about 25% contained right now. Although firefighters are working to deprive the blaze of new fuel to burn through, hot temperatures, low humidity, and difficult terrain have made this battle a challenge. Over two hundred homes remain on evacuation.

The taco is as friendly a Recession Obsession dish as can be consumed. At best they're warm, flavor-dense, transcendent, and $0.50 to $3 each. At worst -- I don't need to tell you. We've all been sold a few ghastly tacos. FYI, you can throw them out before they taint your lips.

The writers at Forbes, who reference Los Angeles as a "sea-side city," have deemed that the best kind of street food offered here are fish tacos. Forget burritos, Portland nabs that. Forget the eclectic assortment of non-traditional street food like Kogi BBQ, the Green Truck, Sprinkles, etc. Seattle wins that category. And forget all the reindeer sausage that lines L.A. streets--Anchorage Alaska wins that. Here's what Forbes has to say: "This sea-side city’s most ubiquitous street food is a fairly recent creation. Fish tacos—fried fish wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with a variety of creamy sauces—were introduced to Los Angeles in the 1980s. Since then their popularity has spanned all classes of dining establishments, from high-end to fusion, though arguably the best ones to be had are still off the street." They recommend taco trucks on Olympic Boulevard east of Downtown L.A. and, of course, The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada in Los Feliz. What do you think? Comment below...

Not even 24 hours after a post on LAist about Baja Fresh's suspiciously sounding Kogi BBQ-like menu spread through Twitter, the Orange County based company has changed their word usage and released the following statement by Chuck Rink, president of Fresh Enterprises, which owns Baja Fresh:

A Baja Fresh with margaritas, korean tacos, new salsas and step by step ordering like you do a Chipotle? That's what the Cypress-based company is testing in Irvine, according to Nancy Luna, the Fast Food Maven of Orange County. She also notes that one of the franchises in Huntington Beach recently received an alcohol permit, which might be one of the 13 locations that gets the liquor upgrade, according to the chain. The Kogi Korean tacos won't be from the famous truck, but definitely seems inspired by them. According to a blog dedicated to Orange County Mexican food, Baja will let you choose a meat--spicy chicken ($6.59) or Korean BBQ steak ($6.99)--for two dishes: The Baja Korean Taco Platters ($6.59) are two tacos with corn tortillas garnished with Kimchi slaw and sesame salsa Roja, served with cilantro lime rice, black beans, chips and salsa. Their Korean BBQ Burrito will consist of sesame salsa Roja, served with cilantro lime rice and kimchi slaw.

It's safe to say that Kogi BBQ has started a trend: fusion, Twitter and deliberate locations. Don Chow Tacos, obviously inspired by Kogi, has been around for about two months and last night they were found at the Downtown Art Walk.

We actually haven't tried this recipe out, but a guest writer over at NachosNY, a blog that came from one man's love of the scrumptious snack, takes on what Los Angeles nachos should be all about:

The Official Recession has been upon us for fourteen official months. It’s still not a reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a million inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is meal (or activity) that is fantastic whether times are good or bad -- because it's just that damn good. We last loved on fish tacos, and LA institution Zankou Chicken. Today, we...

If you turned your radio dials to Indie 103 this morning and overheard a stern, visceral message of immediate termination between each song, then you’re already aware of the fate of one of LA’s most popular alternative stations.

Well, that's what Casa's public relations folk are saying. But we'll let the public (and Yelp) decide its uniqueness starting tomorrow when Casa finally opens in downtown's California Plaza next door to MOCA on Grand Avenue (we've penned the area as Performance Row).

Dear Recession: With leading economists recent declaration that our great nation has been in one of you since December 2007, our emergence into December 2008 can only mean one thing. It’s time to celebrate your first birthday. Happy Birthday Recession!