Taquerias

[zoramargolis]

Zora,

I just returned from Ventura/Santa Barbara via LAX. I did not make it to Guelaguetza in LA, but I did make it to Super-Rica in Santa Barbara (where I stood in a long line and watched them make corn tortillas) and Cuernavaca Taqueria in Ventura (where the salsas were amazing).

Just about any dive-y taqueria in California is going to be an improvement over what's available in similar places here. Except Tito's in West L.A. It's extremely popular (with gringos that is), and the food is horrible. Little greasy, leathery turkey tacos and I think they mix their guacamole with mayonnaise--yick. Whenever we are in L.A., my husband and daughter love to torment me by demanding to go there. It's not far from Guelaguetza, so I tell them that I will drop them at Tito's and pick them up later, after I've had a delicious empanada de barbacoa.

I've never been to the place in Santa Barbara--it's very famous, though. Anyplace that cares enough to make their own tortillas is worth lining up for.