(Pictured left: Tacos de asada, al pastor, pollo and cabeza, appropriately highlighted with an imported Coke)2600 Durfee Ave, El Monte, CA
From 'Asia', with love....
Today I visited a place that had been recommended to me for quite some time. 'Tacos Del Chino' is apparently very popular for its tortas and burritos, however its name would lead you to think that the house specialty would be non other than "tacos." Promoting itself as "authentic Mexican food," I raised my eyebrow more than once before walking in.
I was in for a very pleasant surprise however, in spite of the humble taco shack that also offers nachos and smoothies. I was even impressed that the cook took our order, scurried off to the kitchen, and didnt bother to ask us for money. Guest pay after they are completely finished with their meal, giving it a sit down/fast food restaurant feel to it. The family and friendly atmosphere couldn't have been richer. My reviewing partner and I felt as though we really were in a small town in Mexico ordering tacos, from the taste to the hospitality. It's places like these that deserve to be patronized, rather than continuing to feed the beasts such as 'King Taco'.
Meat
The variety of the meats was abundant. The kitchen is in plain view from the ordering counter, with various pots boiling, stewing and warming the choices.
The asada was just plain delicious. Flavorful, nice small chunks that make for easy eating, no fat anywhere; in short, the prototypical asada chunk meat.
The al pastor reminded me of what I grew up with and recognized as authentic, real, and most importantly good al pastor. Dripping in its own juices, the meat was tender and flavorful. Possibly the best I've had to date on my journeys.
The chicken was ok...actually it was forgettable. It lacked taste, and by that I mean flavor (aka seasoning and or salt). It was soft but a bit fatty!
Finally the cabeza which was a slight disappointment. While it wasn't anthing near some of the awful meats I've encountered, it feels as though it lacked of the love present in everything else. Plenty of chunks of fat were present on the meat, and it wasn't really stripped as proper cabeza should be, but was sitting in the taco in one long stringy strip of meat. Lacking flavor and without proper presentation, this was the one meat I could have passed on, but even this aberration is easily overcome by the rest of the meats.
Asada - 9/10
Al Pastor - 10/10
Chicken - 7/10
Cabeza - 6/10
Score: 8/10, and had I gone for the birria or lengua instead of the cabeza, it may have even been higher...
Tortilla
While plain and store bought, they were not soaked in oil and fried to hold everything together. Warmed evenly and of appropriate size, I had no qualms with them.
Score: 9/10, since I couldn't really find anything I didn't like about them other than the fact that they weren't hand made.
Toppings
This was where the taco shined! Without question, these tacos are the best overall tacos I've had, possibly ever. Every bite was so full of flavors mingling with each other that I had trouble even distinguishing from the meats. The toppings were certainly the highlight of the tacos, which is very very hard to do. There was nothing unique about the toppings, which were standard fare of onions, cilantro and red sauce, but everything tasted so fresh and savory to chew that there was something very special in it.
The most intriguing topping was the sauce. I asked the chef about the sauce, and he confirmed my suspicion that it was made in house. When I first saw the sauce on the tacos, I immediately prepared my palette to be scorched, from a sauce that was full of seeds and with a red hue deeper than blood (both of which are immediate signs that you will soon hate your tongue).
Not wanting to deny myself from experiencing the tacos as they were served to me, I bit in and found that while the sauce had a slight bite to it, it was not spicy for the sake of spiciness, as other restaurants tend to offer. Instead it was full of flavor, smokiness and body. It was the perfect sauce for tacos. I now have a small container of the stuff sitting in my fridge. I plan on using it on every meal tomorrow. I would go back to 'Del Chino' just for this stuff alone.
Based on this restaurant's offerings for the toppings, I almost feel like retroactively revisiting all previous reviews to downgrade the points since this place puts the rest to shame. I won't do that though, in the better interest of fairness, but will definitely use this place as the mark for the future for all reviews. I can only write so much about how good the tacos were due to the little things here, but have to stress that this is the type of authentic and lovingly crafted food which makes us patronize a specific taco stand in spite of the abundance of locations everywhere.
The most intriguing topping was the sauce. I asked the chef about the sauce, and he confirmed my suspicion that it was made in house. When I first saw the sauce on the tacos, I immediately prepared my palette to be scorched, from a sauce that was full of seeds and with a red hue deeper than blood (both of which are immediate signs that you will soon hate your tongue).
Not wanting to deny myself from experiencing the tacos as they were served to me, I bit in and found that while the sauce had a slight bite to it, it was not spicy for the sake of spiciness, as other restaurants tend to offer. Instead it was full of flavor, smokiness and body. It was the perfect sauce for tacos. I now have a small container of the stuff sitting in my fridge. I plan on using it on every meal tomorrow. I would go back to 'Del Chino' just for this stuff alone.
Based on this restaurant's offerings for the toppings, I almost feel like retroactively revisiting all previous reviews to downgrade the points since this place puts the rest to shame. I won't do that though, in the better interest of fairness, but will definitely use this place as the mark for the future for all reviews. I can only write so much about how good the tacos were due to the little things here, but have to stress that this is the type of authentic and lovingly crafted food which makes us patronize a specific taco stand in spite of the abundance of locations everywhere.
Score: 10/10, with enough having been said already.
"After-effects"
None, save for hunger. I wanted more not long after leaving. I may go back tomorrow.
Score: 10/10 for actually having a positive after-effect; the itch to return.
Bottom line, this was the best taco I've had on my journeys thus far, and possibly the best I've ever had the more I think about it. From the moment I walked in, the humble couple who own and work the restaurant were more than eager to tend to us while being noticabely busy with several orders. I left the restaurant feeling as though I'd been there a hundred times before. It speaks for something when you go somewhere and you're treated with more than a scowl. They're certainly not running this place to make buckets of money, as the customer base seems small, yet highly devoted.
The only shame is that they deserve to have more business for the product that they're putting out. While definitely a bit out of the way, there's no reason to not eat here versus anywhere else. Although only a few reviews into my 'hunt' and in the face of being unfair to all of the restaurants which I have yet to review, this place deserves to be on the pedestal. They are the best tacos in LA until proven otherwise. But that certainly wont stop me from trying to find something better, after all, there's nothing wrong with several spots to get a great meal.
I do resent myself though for having gone in with my reservations for a nondescript location in a highly industrial area with a name as cheesy as "Del Chino" with nary an Asian person in sight. I never really expected to walk in and encounter, well....someone other than a Mexican couple serving typical, authentic Mexican fare, but the name is doing something for the restaurant unintentionally. At deciding to review the tacos there, it stood out due to its name. Now, it will stand out based on its food, and the odd naming convention will merely be a humorous annecdote. I neglected to ask the chef about the name, but after eating there today, I know that I'll definitely have more opportunities in the future to ask!
The only shame is that they deserve to have more business for the product that they're putting out. While definitely a bit out of the way, there's no reason to not eat here versus anywhere else. Although only a few reviews into my 'hunt' and in the face of being unfair to all of the restaurants which I have yet to review, this place deserves to be on the pedestal. They are the best tacos in LA until proven otherwise. But that certainly wont stop me from trying to find something better, after all, there's nothing wrong with several spots to get a great meal.
I do resent myself though for having gone in with my reservations for a nondescript location in a highly industrial area with a name as cheesy as "Del Chino" with nary an Asian person in sight. I never really expected to walk in and encounter, well....someone other than a Mexican couple serving typical, authentic Mexican fare, but the name is doing something for the restaurant unintentionally. At deciding to review the tacos there, it stood out due to its name. Now, it will stand out based on its food, and the odd naming convention will merely be a humorous annecdote. I neglected to ask the chef about the name, but after eating there today, I know that I'll definitely have more opportunities in the future to ask!
Bonus Points: (+1) For having a huge cooler filled with Jarritos and Mexican imports, including the über-rare large bottle of Coke!
(+1) For best overall taco taste, far and away, and at the best price yet
(+1) For best overall taco taste, far and away, and at the best price yet
Price: $1 / taco, $2 for large soda or Mexican drink such as horchata and jamaica
Wait time: 10-15 minutes
Distance (from downtown): 20-30 minutes outside of rush hour, 1hr during
Total Score: 39/40 (even in numbers, just about the perfect taco place!)
What I would order next time: Small confession: the food was so good, I didn't stop at the tacos and also had the torta with asada. Great opportunity to rub my belly and mutter "cerdoooo" (piggggy) to myself. I'll be doing the same next time, 2&2 of asada and al pastor, with a torta with whichever meat strikes my mood that day, with a large Mexican coke!
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