TACOMOLE (7.5)
Located in the food court at the California Mart near the intersection of W 9th St. and S Main St.
110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90079
(213) 300-0959
Veggie Burrito: $7.08 after tax
Measurements: 9″ circumference; 7″ length (standard size)
In the Fashion District Tacomole has been flourishing since 1985. Probably the best burrito I’ve had from a food court, with all of the punch and integrity you’d expect from multigenerational family cooking. Option for real pico de gallo, whole pinto beans, and everything you’d expect from a learned burrito maker. But, as a Burritophile, there is something missing. Maybe it’s their 3rd Division location in a food court that keeps their expectations and exposure down. This place will not blow your mind if you seek it out on a burrito quest, but it should. Clean, healthy, trustworthy, and off everyone’s radar. You should know about Tacomole.
Value: Depends on what you order, but generally pricey considering other options for burritos in the area
WIZARD’S SCORE: 7.5
AVOCADO GRILL (7)
217 N Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 962-3880
Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito: $6.53 after tax ($.75 to add guacamole)
Measurements: 8.5″ circumference; 7″ long (slightly smaller than average)
In Larchmont, one expects to see jogging moms, and dad’s with baby carriages, but not a decent burrito spot. Enter Avocado Grill, not a landmark for burrito enthusiasts, but better than many spots semi-coveted by the burrito elite. In the hopeless argument to determine who has the closest example of a Mission style burrito in L.A., Avocado Grill has been mentioned. Five adjectives: authentic, confused, clean, California, misunderstood. Dim lights, no smoke, no music; Avocado Grill leaves one wondering how, why, and again how this place has not been taken over by the Napoleonic Chipotle??
Salsa Bar: Red Sauce (far right/ left of the jalapenos) = thumbs above neutral; Green Sauce = thumbs significantly above neutral; hodge podge b-b-q red sauce (far left) = not sure exactly what they were thinking? They give you chips to enjoy their sauces, but none of their sauces have any business getting near a burrito. P.S. Nothing says “Gringo” like calling a pile of tomatoes pico de gallo.
Value: Great if you stay away from the specialty burritos
WIZARD’S SCORE: 7
TARASCOS (7.5)
3319 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 669-3300
www.tarascoslamexicanrestaurant.com
Vegi-Burrito: $6.59 after tax
Measurements: 9″ circumference; 7″ length (standard size)
Tarascos is the best example of a vegetarian burrito taqueria in the Silver Lake/ Echo Park area. Nice outdoor seating, ample parking and complimentary chips and salsa make it a great place to hang out. They have several types of veggie burritos, including a San Diego style California Burrito, so read the menu carefully before ordering. Their salsa is exquisite, particularly their chile de arbol salsa (pictured below upper right orange/ red) . The habanero is as hot as you’d expect from one of the spiciest peppers (pictured lower center). Tomatillo is mild (pictured upper left green). Their house salsa fresca tastes like they’ve been working on the recipe for decades (not pictured). They have whole black beans or re-fried pinto beans. Open until 3 AM on weekends.
Again, read the menu carefully, and order carefully
Value: Good for the area
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Thursday 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday 5:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m., Sat 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 a.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
WIZARD’S SCORE: 7.5
MAD BURRITO (6.25)
700 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90017 (MACY’S PLAZA UNDERGROUND FOOD COURT)
(213) 489-5503
Measurements: 9″ circumference; 7″ length (standard size)
Vegetarian Burrito: $6.59 after tax or Been and Cheese Burrito $5.49 after tax (Whole Black Beans Only)
In Latin “Salsa Bars Omnia Vincent” means: Salsa Bars Kick Butts. Mad Burrito should be: B.Y.O.B., bring your own burrito, but their salsa bar does kick butt. Probably better than any salsa bar you’ll find in a corporate food court. Macy’s Plaza, Downtown Los Angeles Business District, think Taco Bell (with actual edible food products), on steroids.
Nice thick red and green sauces, pico de gallo without jalapensos, sweet mango salsa (not pictured here), and many other fix-ins
Value: not good
WIZARD’S SCORE: 6.25
PAX WHOLESOME FOODS (6.75)
303 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
(212) 353-0862
www.paxfood.com
Measurements: 9″ circumference; 7″ length (standard size)
Vegetarian Burrito: $7.53 after tax
Au Bon Pain meets Whole Foods, but surprisingly one of the better burrito spots in NYC. Subway “have it your way” assembly line style construction with three types of decent fresh salsa. Black or re-fried pinto beans, grilled tortillas, and not too pricey. Local New York chain, not all locations have burritos, Murray Hill and Flatiron locations definitely do.
Value: Good for NYC
WIZARD’S SCORE: 6.75
TACO PLUS (7.25)
1525 S Bundy Drive Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 207-0793
9824 National Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
Measurements: 9” circumference, 8.5” length (longer than average)
Vegetariano: $5.76 after tax
Been-Rice-Cheese: $4.34 after tax
made with whole black beans or re-fried pinto beans
The front of the menu states: No MSG, Lard, Microwaves or Freezers. The new wave of burrito making is heading away from the noxious, lardy, low-grade poison many have come to expect from Southern California Mexican food, elevating and evolving into a healthier sandwich alternative.
Taco Plus is notoriously slow with orders, the slowest I’ve found with the exception of Woldwide Tacos. On my first visit I made the mistake of ordering the Vegetariano (fajita style), rather than the Been Rice Cheese, which better allows you to take advantage of the adequate salsa bar. The location on National Blvd is preferable in my opinion, primarily because of its better quality salsa bar.
Value: Excellent, if you order the Beans Rice Cheese burrito
WIZARD’S SCORE: 7.25
EL CHILE TAQUERIA (7)
7881 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 654-1099
Measurements: 7″ length; 8″ width (smaller than average)
Bean, rice, cheese and pico de gallo burrito $3.90 after tax
Beans: vegetaraian
Rice: chicken base
Simplicity. Affordable, straight forward Mexican food that is unlikely to be anyone’s favorite. Excellent vegetarian pinto beans (they call them refried, but they look stewed to me). Decent red and green salsa creates an amazing value and a pleasant experience. Located next to the Whole Foods in the same parking lot, and they deliver to the West Hollywood area.
VALUE: one of the best in the city
WIZARD’S SCORE: 7
EL TARASCO (7)
316 Rosecrans Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 545-4241
Measurements: vary from burrito to burrito, generally smaller than average which is: 9″ circumference; 7″ lenght
It will cost $7 or $8 depending on what you order and what you tip
Classic Manhattan Beach 10-counter seat diner style Mexican Eatery since 1965. Most notable for their plentiful salsa fresca, El Turasco serves straight forward no fluff vegetarian friendly classics, although most of the menu is meat. More of a wet burrito spot, and that’s what they do best, but they will wrap your burrito in foil to oblige. Not re-inventing the wheel, but good guacamole, soupy pinto beans, usually crowded, BYOB, open late night. Jack Kerouac would have loved this place.
leave a comment