Wanted to check out a new spot in the area so we decided to eat here. I've never been to a torteria before and had to step out of my comfort zone as there aren't burritos on the menu like that a non-Chicano might fall...
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Wanted to check out a new spot in the area so we decided to eat here. I've never been to a torteria before and had to step out of my comfort zone as there aren't burritos on the menu like that a non-Chicano might fall back on.
The atmosphere seemed kind of like a diner, playing what seems to be Spanish rock music in the background with a heavy emphasis on Volkswagens buggies as there is a wall of photos of them and the front half of one by the entrance as a little photo op.
Unfortunately, there were no English menus at the moment, and it was a bit daunting since there were so many different options of tortas, but the customer service made up for it as the staff was more than happy to help explain the difference between this place and an ordinary taqueria.
We ended up getting a couple tortas, a gordita, and machete after asking the folks to cook up what they think is a good spread for a couple first timers.
The tortas all came nice and toasted with aesthetic grill marks to add a bit of crisp and toasty flavor. At first, the bread seemed rather thick for my liking, and I was afraid it would be dry, however it did a great job absorbing whatever amazing sauce they slathered on it. The meats we had layered inside each respective torta was chicken, steak, and a unique potato/sausage patty. The chicken and steak were cooked perfectly with a smoky charred flavor and the marinade really came through. The sausage patty was initially odd for my liking but had a satisfying texture. Each torta was a little heavy but was balanced out with the nice crunch and acidity from the pickled vegetables. Overall, a great combination of flavor, textures, and temperatures.
As mentioned earlier, the staff also fixed up my first ever gordita and machete. We initially asked if they had any quesadillas and he informed us that the machete was the closest thing they had to it. I was surprised to see a large blade shaped corn tortilla with large slices of juicy steak and crumbled cheese. This composition was similar to the gordita, except that came with finely chopped meat and onions/cilantro inside. I was most impressed with the corn tortillas as I've never had anything like it. They were about roughly 1/3 cm thick and crispy with a slight eggy flavor which was unlike any other I've had before.
I'll be sure to come back to try the other dishes they have to offer. 👍