A couple of Saturdays ago, during the big rainstorm, a couple of good friends and I decided to do a taco crawl. The weather refused to cooperate, howling wind and pouring rain, but I gotta give it up for JohnL and TammyC, they handled the dripping canopies and pouring rain like troopers, and we managed six stops, and about a dozen tacos a piece (including a coupla gobernadors, etc). In need of a stop where we didn't have to suffer through water pouring onto our tacos, and us. I suggested La Fachada. It had been a whilem and I thought after doing the mariscos thing, a coupla street sized tacos would make for a nice change of pace. Of course, the La Fachada I'm mentioning is the trailer parked in the lot of the restaurant.
And they were doing some pretty good business, even on a stormy Saturday......
Each of us went with tres (three) tacos. I selected Birria de Res (spicy braised beef), lengua (tongue), and cabeza (beef head), a buck-sixty each.
Much of it was like I remembered, the tortillas, even though hand made (pressed), tasted mass produced. The birria was on the stringy side, and the chili flavor was a bit muted. The lengua was a bit too waxy. The cabeza was very nice though, moist with an intense gamey-beefy flavor.
One thing that I didn't recall, was how spicy the pickled onions with habanero were...... pretty darn hot! The salsas are tried and true, nothing spectacular, but it met my expectations. Overall, a nice stop. So a couple of weeks later, I was in the area, and decided on a nice breakfast of a couple of tacos.
This time it was (from let to right) carnitas, adobada, and cabeza(again).
The real winner of the bunch was the carnitas, crisp, rich, and full of flavor, it really hit the spot. The adobada was pretty weak and too tough. The cabeza was even "beefier", and perhaps a bit less fatty/greasy.
I really enjoyed the carnitas, and may make it a point to drop by more often then the every coupla years thing I've been doing. Funny thing is, I've never been "in" the restaurant, as I've always eaten at the taco cart, so I can't help you there.
A couple of weeks after our taco crawl, JohnL contacted me...... at the end of the email he wrote "maybe over some tacos LOL I've been taco crazy ever since...." Looks like we'll go for more than a dozen next time?
La Fachada
20 25th St
San Diego, CA 92102
Hi Kirk - question - what is the difference b/w adobada vs al pastor? When i ask for al pastor at Mexican places, most times, they'll just say 'oh we have adobada, same thing'. I thought al pastor had pineapple or some sort of citrus flavors in it right?
I like your 'taco crawl' concept!
Posted by: Faye | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 10:19 AM
Hi Faye - In San Diego taco shop terms it is usually the same thing. The thing you really want is to make sure it's grilled on a vertical spit. Anything on vertical spit is usually called Al Pastor. Adobada can mean different things depending on region, but here it is usually the same achiote based paste/marinade... versus the more stew like Adobo.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 10:24 AM
yummy! the photos came out so nice.
Posted by: Lynnea | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 01:25 PM
ack! craving tacos now :)
Posted by: kat | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 03:01 PM
Hi Lynnea - Thanks.... they are a bit too bright....
Hi Kat - Time for you to head out to Ola!!! ;o)
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 03:15 PM
Oh man I'm think I am taco-ed out.
Made fish tacos last weekend and had it all weekend. I was surprise that fillet flounder was up for the task.
Posted by: bill | Friday, 26 February 2010 at 05:39 AM
Hi Bill - FLounder is a nice firm whitefish, and would do good in fish tacos.
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 26 February 2010 at 07:18 AM
hmmmm 12 tacos eh? that's a lotta tacos! sigh, you have set my craving for the day...
Posted by: foodhoe | Friday, 26 February 2010 at 08:36 AM
Hey FH - Actually it wasn't too hard to do....
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 26 February 2010 at 02:09 PM
Wow those tacos look delicious, and what a fun idea to do a taco crawl. Can't say I've ever tried that myself, but have to admit it would be pretty fun to do! My favorite place here in Phoenix serves some great crispy tacos, and when I head to Mexico (to Puerto Penasco) I have to always stop at this by the road cart (looks almost exactly like the ones above). Mmm authentic!!
Posted by: Kaila S | outdoor kitchen | Tuesday, 02 March 2010 at 10:04 AM
Hi Kaila - I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Great tacos are so delici-yoso.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 02 March 2010 at 12:47 PM
Hi Kirk, I was here last night with friends.. first time. I really enjoyed my carnitas tacos too! :)
Posted by: Dennis | Tuesday, 06 April 2010 at 09:10 AM
Hi Dennis - You're on quite a "taco kick" recently!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 06 April 2010 at 12:22 PM