La Torta - And the Quest for a Carne Asada Torta

**** La Torta has closed

Since I've been living in San Diego, I've developed a taste for Mexican style Torta's, basically a Bolillo (Mexican Roll) cut in half and stuffed with some kind of meat, say Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, and such. One very popular local chain is La Torta:

La Torta specializes in what else, Torta's, and feature about 35 different Torta's on the menu, many of them very "Americanized", like the "Hawaiiana" that features, Ham and Pineapple. Not my cup of tea, but apparently someone must order it! The problem with having too many items on the menu is that it leads to major bouts of indecision; which happens to me quite often at La Torta. I've got my mind set on say, Carne Asada, and end up with say a Mole Torta ($6.75):

Though smaller in circumference than the "usual" torta, it makes up for it in height! To date this has been the best Torta that I've had at La Torta. Filled with moist shredded chicken in a mild chili based sauce; slightly spicy, very moist, and seasoned well. The roll which is baked in-house, was a bit on the dry side and the "Home Fries" tasted of stale oil. Pay attention to them "fries...."

On the following Saturday I arrived at the College location right outside of San Diego State University, just as the "rolls" were finished, and got a fresh one, with my Carne Asada, ummm ooops, Chipotle Chicken Torta($6.75):

Again the menu got the better of me and I ordered this. Notice the "home fries" this time; guess they got them from a different home. They're totally different from the ones on my previous visit! The roll was nice and hot, toasted and crusty on the outside, and soft and doughy on the inside. The chicken was, bleh, tasted like shredded chicken with hot sauce, sure didn't have any "chipotle"(smokey jalapeno) taste. I did have alot of avocado on this sandwich which really tasted nice and creamy.

Now that SDSU is back in session, I don't dare go back to the College location and "parking hell". So now that summer is over, I switch to the suddenly laid back Pacific Beach location, this time with the Missus in tow:

As soon as she saw the menu she told me "I don't liiike it, too many choices!" "But they have pictures!" "Really now, how many different kind of tortas can there be?" Yes, too many choices are a bit of a problem, you should see her in Vietnamese Restaurants..."how 'bout number 190, please...."

She finally settled on the Jalapeno Chicken torta with no cheese ($6.75):

This basically was a grilled chicken sandwich with chopped jalapenos, no biggy really! Needless  to say the Missus was not impressed. She did like the warm and toasted roll. She also enjoyed the potatoes, though we found that you better eat them fast, they got soggy real fast. But as a whole, no big deal. So what did I get? Well I finally got that Carne Asada Torta ($6.95):

The "Carne Asada" here tasted like thin sliced rib eye or a similiar cut, lightly seasoned, on a nicely toasted roll. I enjoyed the sandwich except for the cheddar cheese; I'd appreciated some other more creamy cheese, maybe provolone or something similiar. Hey a Philly Cheesesteak Torta sounds might good!

Some notes on La Torta; most Torta's come with "The Works", that would be lettuce, tomato, and onion. Most also have a pretty generous amount of avocado. The food can vary wildly and are pretty pricey as Torta's are concerned, from $6.50 to $7.75. But at least they come with some type of "fries". So if you've got a hankering for some almost Gringo style Torta's, give La Torta a try!

La Torta
5854 Montezuma Road
San Diego, CA 92115

4864 Cass St
San Diego, CA 92109

Comments

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

Seems like a little too much to pay for something that's just "bleh".

[MEalcemtric]

Kirk-damn if those pictures dont make me drool. Nothing like a freshly baked bun and some meat to make a good meal. Too bad it seems like La Torta's food doesnt seem to taste as good as it looks (judging by your review). But hey, as always you gave them several shots to nail it before you wrote about this place.

[clare eats]

Yep we defn don't get them in Oz boy,

mmmm hungry... wouldn't mind one...

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - I guess it depends - a sandwich and chips from Subway will set you back about the same, and I'll take this any day. But I could have 2 pupusas and a great tamale for this price - I'll take the pupusas or even a bowl of pho'. BTW, if I recall the when we first moved to SD, these sandwiches were like about 5 bucks or so.

Hi Mealcentric - You probably think I'm a glutton for punishment, huh? I had eaten here before but not in several years and didn't remember the food. After that first sandwich I thought that there was some potential there. For that last meal we had a $6 off coupon, so that was worth it!

Hi Clare - Don't think you're missing much in this case! You know after looking at the photo's I'm thinking "how many half sandwich pictures can one look at?" I probably should have been a bit more creative.

[milgwimper]

The picture of the round fries make me drool, eventhough they weren't anything special. Too bad, the pics looked good though!

[Green Turtle]

I think I'll stick to the mom & pop taco shops that sell tortas for $3-$4 (but without the home fries, which my waistline would appreciate anyways).

[Jo]

Those definately look rather iffy Kirk. Certainly not the value of a banh mi. Which Mike happens to love all of a sudden! In my opinion, bollios are best, fresh from the bakery and dipped in the yolk of a basted medium egg cooked in EVOO. Quite the perfect combo there if you ask me!

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - Can you say carbs????

Hi Green Turtle - Some of those Mom & Pop places make good Torta's - though alot of them put a ton of refried beans on the Torta - until the bolillo is soggy and mushy...

Hi Jo - I could eat my hand between some good fresh bolillo's

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

Yeah it is a carb bomb, but good fries are so worth it. *looks at hips* Well maybe not. LOL Now I have the urge to eat a torta, but I just finished lunch, and it was really good. :)

[Pam]

You've got me hankerin' for tortas now. I've never had one--it's always been on my "must try" list, and now that pupusas are out the way...

Hmm, good idea for a future post!

P.S. Those round home fries really do look good--too bad they didn't taste that good!

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - Need a dessert torta, do you?

Hi Pam - Oh my, you live in SoCal and haven't had a Torta? I hope you get a good one! The fries were pretty good at first, but deteriorated quickly into a soggy state.

[Jo]

My dad used to make the best fried potatoes ever. He would peel either russetts or white rose (I'll have to investigate to tell you for certain which). Then they would be cut into 1.5" (approx) cubes and put into a colander, squeeze juice of 1 lemon over and toss well to coat, sprinkle liberally with salt. Allow to drain 15 to 30 minutes. Peel & cut onion into similar sized pieces. Heat olive oil in deep heavy pot to about 250 - 300 (yea, it's on the cool side). When oil is hot, gently pour in potatoes & onion. Allow to "boil" gently until desired level of brown. The lemon & onion really make these scrumdillyicious!

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - Sounds delish!!!

[Jo]

Oh my, is it ever! This was the "de rigur" side Daddy made with pot pies. Small wonder I love pot pies huh?

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - And so does Pepper!!!!

[Jo]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me! I don't think he'll be getting one anytime soon though. We are trying to empty out our freezer so that we can sell it. We are having a pina colada/blackberry sochu party tomorrow night to get rid of the sochu and lighten up the rum bottle! ;o)