Guava blossoms have an exotic, heavenly fragrance. Their heady scent, the autumn air and the steam…read morerising from a grill marry sweetly to tantalize your senses as you near Our Lady Talpa church, in East LA at sundown.
Long before the new Los Angeles magazine's issue "The best Mexican food in Los Angeles" featured a centerfold story about Tacos Guanajuato, Pancho V. (my mentor in all things Mexican food) advised me to give this place a try.
The butterfly-fluttering feeling you get when your favorite author publishes a new book or when the sequel to your favorite movie is released, is akin to the way I felt coming here for the first time.
It's Wednesday night at 10 PM, Julia and I are giggling like schoolgirls as we exit my car. The area feels safe where we are given a VERY warm welcome.
All smiles, like we are old friends, the chef shakes my hand beneath a canopy while the open air shakes hands with a hot grill. Allow me to introduce you to Ulises, Pepe and Fernando. -The family. I accept a sample of the Jamaica - Hibiscus Aguas Frescas. A great palate cleanser for the good things to come.
I know what to order, having read my mentor's review. Volcanes ($1) with pastor ( marinated pork) and grilled pineapple. Volcanes are small, light as air, crunchy corn shells covered with bubbling hot melted cheese and your choice of grilled meat, grilled pineapple, guacamole, vegetables, salsa etc.
The chef will mastermind your configuration if you forfeit your control to him. I love to be dominated so I relinquish all my decisions to his wise authority. He chooses avocado, pastor, and grilled pineapple for me. Good choice!
"Please have a seat!" our hosts urge my girlfriend and I, so we do. Suddenly, music is playing. Thanks! Wait! Magic?
(This is good stuff guys) *insert drool* Prepare your tongues to experience textural overload when dining here. The volcanes deliver a light crunch of corn, scalded melted cheese and sweet grilled flavors. Be sure to order another one a minute or two before you finish the last bite, else you might be overcome with regret.
There is no contest. The volcanes are far superior a choice to the tacos we sampled. The pastor (marinated pork) is tender and well seasoned, the lengua (tongue) is tender but a little plain and the asada (steak) is lean but also might leave you wanting the pastor.
The condiment bar offers cucumbers, cilantro, onions and a few varieties of salsa for you to improve your bounty. Nothing is too spicy here. A handy option for those of you with delicate tummies.
Enjoy a wonderful night out in the intoxicating guava-scented air, experiencing gastronomic bliss. Give your worried finances a holiday here, where all these items are only one dollar.
Tomorrow you can can break the bank, cutting into your steak on fine china, tipping an actress, and waiting in vain for the valet. But! Tomorrow, you might be wishing you were here. Where they treat you like family, the guava blossoms are blooming and everything goes right; just like magic.
If for any reason, you find this review, useful, funny or cool. I forfeit all credit to Pancho V. who found this place for us: http://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-guanajuato-los-angeles#hrid:9qPVfOLlV57F5NSEzVB4Pg Put your finger on the pulse, by following him. Don't have a yelp account yet? He is a great reason to sign up.
Tacos Guanajuato welcomes phone calls. You can make sure they are there, order catering services or let them help you plan a party. Visit them @ 4th and Savannah at sundown. Take me with you ;-)