As promised, my take on Chicago tacos at this time. I had the good fortune to be hosted by a foodie during my stay. One day we wound up at Carniceria Leon, a deli/meat market/taqueria in Wicker Park. The joint had Al Pastor skewered on a giant spit; as such, I knew I was in the right place.

Five second review: Generous portions, hybrid salsa, delicious tacos. I was expecting the requisite “con todo?” query, so it was bit of a surprise to hear the guy behind the counter ask if we wanted them served “with onions y cilantro?” but, being the only white people in the joint at the time, nice of him to change it up for us.

The last time I had pastor served from a spit, I was in Boyle Heights. Tacos were served on a makeshift table. The prep station was a minivan’s passenger door area. The whole operation was situated in an automotive repair lot. »continue reading The Al Pastor Invitational: Wicker Park v Boyle Heights

Last weekend I paid a visit to Chinito in Boyle Heights. After a brief, cerveza-fueled respite from the heat in his kitchen, we embarked upon a culinary and cultural mini-tour of sorts in the neighborhood with but one destination in mind: THE BUSIEST TACO TRUCK IN TOWN™. Read all about it after the jump…
»continue reading The Busiest Taco Truck in Town

He calls himself Chinito. Last I looked, the derogatory term means “Little Chinese man” within Latino communities. He is Japanese. “That’s what the neighbors all call me,” he proffers by way of explanation.

“Little Chinaman!?” I’m incredulous.

“Yeah. Close enough.”

Chinito lives in Boyle Heights, not far from Self Help Graphics. His neighbors raise roosters. Yesterday he broke the news that the Latin Playboy is now up for lease, lucrative three- months-free offer tacked to its shopping cart-barricaded door. Today’s an altogether different story. From Chinito in the Heights and, by association, all of us gathered here in the Sandalwood Conference Room at the Marina Del Rey Courtyard Marriott, we give you:
The Down-And-Out Bear of Boyle Heights (cue downtrodden cartoon music)