phoenix - chandler: tortas el guerro

tommy tries the tortas at tortas el guerro in phoenix...


bistec torta and carne torta

tommy says: the bistec was ok and could've used more meat and flavor. the carne torta was quite tasty. the creaminess of the mayo and avacado contrasted so nicely with a spritz of tart lime and a kick from the salsa verde; the lettuce added a nice lil crunch. torta = spanish for tasty mexican sandwich!

tortas el guero
611 n arizona ave
chandler, az 85225

(480) 963-2633

west la: pink taco

tommy tries the trendy pink taco at the century city mall in west la...


burrito mojado with carne asada


carne asada and pork soft taco

tommy says: eh. not really sure what all the fuss is about. food was edible, but not much else. feels like a trendy chili's...

pink taco
10250 santa monica blvd
los angeles, ca 90067
(310) 789-1000

www.pinktaco.com

santa monica: tacos por favor

tommy gets messy at tacos por favor in santa monica...


carne asada, carnitas, and al pastor hard tacos


bistec encebollado

tommy says: pretty good. the hard tacos come with guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheese, and be a bit messy to eat. the soft tacos (not pictured) don't cut it - stick with the crunchy ones here. the bistec encebollado was pretty tasty, and the meat was pretty tender. one of the better choices for mexican on the westside.

tacos por favor
1406 olympic blvd
santa monica, ca 90404
(310) 392-5768

los angeles - west hollywood: gardens of taxco

tommy feasts at gardens of taxco in weho...


cheese quesadilla with guacamole


albondigas (meatball soup)


cheese enchilada
beef taco


garlic shrimp


beans, rice, guacamole


chicken in cilantro cream sauce with beans and rice


bananas and cream
cream sherry

tommy says: no written menu, the waiter just tells you what the dishes are (very entertaining, especially when he gets to the chicken that tastes like it was borrrrrrrrrrn in the sauce!). choose an entree, the other courses will just magically appear. all the food was fantastically amazing, even the unassuming cheese quesadilla tasted really good. favorites were the shrimp and beef taco. come hungry (its a lot of food) and come often (its muy deliciosa y sabrosa).

gardens of taxco
1113 n harper ave

west hollywood, ca 90046

(323) 654-1746

los angeles: el taurino

tommy gets spicy at el taurino...


carne asada tacos


carne asada combo burrito (steak, rice and beans)

tommy says: the hot sauce is super spicy and tasty and makes everything taste good. the rice and beans got in the way in the carne burrito, the plain all-meat burrito is probably a better bet, but the combo burrito was still good. the tacos were yummy too.

el taurino
2306 w 11th st

los angeles, ca 90006

(213) 738-9197

http://www.eltaurino.com/

west la: don antonio's

tommy checks out taco wednesday at don antonio's in west la...


carne asada and chicken tacos

tommy says: $1 tacos on wednesdays. the chicken and potato (not photographed) tacos were the tastiest. the salsa was so-so. the tacos themselves are ok, but when the price is factored in, pretty decent.

don antonio's
11755 w pico blvd
los angeles, ca 90064
(310) 312-2090

phoenix: fajitas

tommy passes out in a food coma after stuffing his face at fajitas in phoenix...


1 pound of cadillac steak


1 pound of shrimp

tommy says: very tasty and satisfying! the shrimp and steak fajitas are divine. order by the 1/2 lb... the chips, salsa, and tortillas are pretty yummy as well! suprisingly (and a relief), it is not a chain restaurant!! a must try when you are in the valley of the sun!

fajitas

9841 n black canyon hwy

phoenix, az 85021

(602) 870-4030

los angeles: paco's tacos

tommy cena a paco's tacos para la cinco de mayo pero no es muy bien...


margaritas and salsa


queso fundido and handmade tortillas


beef tamal and beef taco

tommy says: apparently paco's claim to fame is their handmade tortillas made on site... dunno why though because they were bleh. the taco and tamal weren't so great either. the salsa and margaritas were so-so... no repeat visits necessary.

paco's tacos

4141 s centinela ave

los angeles, ca 90066

(310) 391-9616
http://www.pacoscantina.com/

santa monica: la playita (guillen mariscos)

tommy develops a new addiction at la playita in santa monica...



la playita (aka guillan mariscos) in all its glory


ceviche

tommy says: the ceviche is laced with crack... that is the only explanation for the frequent visits of late... another gem on the menu is the mixed seafood cocktail. carnitas were so-so, shrimp burrito was ok, horchata is good. seriously though, the ceviche is addicting...

la playita

3306 lincoln blvd

santa monica, ca 90405

(310) 452-0090

los angeles: santa monica farmers market, little tokyo, san gabriel valley, taco truck

tommy breakfasts at the santa monica farmers' market, checks out the murakami exhibit, hits up jtown, treats himself to some pinkberry, dines at b2o, throws a few back at barney's beanery, and enjoys a midnight snack from the taco truck


breakfast at the farmers' market
http://www.smgov.net/farmers_market/sunday.htm



murakami exhibit
http://www.moca.org/murakami/



jtown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California



pinkberry
http://pinkberry.com/html/pbmain.php




dinner at b20 cafe
http://www.yelp.com/biz/b2o-cafe-temple-city



barney's beanery in old town pasadena
http://www.barneysbeanery.com/



taco truck in pasadena