Tacos 4 Ways
I had a lovely time in SoCal with my cousin, then on our cruise to Mexico with my other cousin (her sister) and her family. I have a bigger post in mind, but I’ve been home an entire week and haven’t managed to put that together, and I’ve barely managed to start coming by your blogs, so for now I will whet your appetite by showing you the tacos we ate.
Tacos – I love tacos, and enjoyed the many opportunities I had to enjoy them closer to and in Mexico. Living in California, we get really good tacos here, but it seemed like a good opportunity to try them close to the border with our neighbor to the South.
Surf and Turf Tacos in Oceanside. These were delicious, with steak and shrimp. My cousin had quesadillas that she could not finish, but I had no problem eating my tacos. I did not have room for the rice and beans, however, and wish the menu had said they would be served, I would have said to skip them. We had them at a little taco stand at the harbor while we waited for our dolphin watching tour to start. One of the shipmates on the tour was a 20 something man, and he was happy to help my cousin with her excess quesadilla problem.
Carnitas Tacos in Cabo San Lucas – I didn’t take a picture, but found this one online. Is it carnitas? Probably not, this looks like beef. But anyway, they were delicious.
Quesabirria Tacos in Ensenada – Ever since Birchie mentioned her Quesabirria tacos in San Francisco, I have been wanting to try them. Are there options close to us? Probably, but I took this trip to Mexico and SoCal as my opportunity. On this trip, I learned that crunchy taco shells are an American thing, and that soft taco shells are much more authentic. I always suspected as much, but I didn’t realize that I wouldn’t be able to find crunchy shells at all. In Mexico, Quesabirria tacos are often made with goat, but I wasn’t feeling that adventurous and had mine with beef. I’ve had goat before, it’s good, but that was not the day for it for me. Anyway, these were delicious and we had a lovely lunch.
Quesabirria Tacos in Oceanside. Now we’re talking. These are deep fried shells, DELICIOUS tacos. These were likely the least healthy and best tasting tacos we had on our entire trip, though I will say that I didn’t have a bad taco the entire time. We had these after our cruise was finished.
After coming home, I was curious as to whether I could find Quesabirria tacos here, and it looks like I can. It looks like they are fried on the griddle, rather than deep fried, which I believe ones in Oceanside are, but time will tell.
Have you tried Quesabirria tacos? If not, come see me, we’ll have lunch.
28 Comments
Birchie
I am always here for a taco report! There is nothing wrong with the Mexican food that we have here but OMG it was so much better in CA, and I can only dream of what it would be like closer to the source. The taco place that I went to in Sacramento also decided that I needed a giant side of rice and beans with my tacos, and luckily I was able to take it with me and have it for lunch the next day.
I enjoyed my vacation fling with quesabirria in SF but I feel that I need to see what you have on the other side of the Bay. I’ve never had goat either so for all I know it might be the best thing ever but uh, I am not jumping up and down to find out.
J
Birchie, a few doors down from the quesabirria place, there is a place with beignets that are supposed to be wonderful, and in the other direction is a wonderful ice cream spot. I’m just saying.
AC
Haven’t had many but I have liked what I’ve had. There is a taco truck aorund the corner, but we’ve only taken out twice in five years. Of course, it closes over the long winter.
J
In the summer, we have food trucks in our neighborhood every Friday night. Fun sometimes!
Margaret
Tacos are so customizable and these look wonderful. I would pass on the goat too although I’ve never tried it, so I can’t explain why. 🙂
J
I’ve had goat before, goat curry. It’s delicious, but lots of bones. In a taco I assume that would not be the case.
PocoBrat
I’m so glad you’re back and even gladder that you’re still in vacay mode… I hope you hold on to that bliss for as long as you can, J!
I promised to make pasta for dinner, but wish I could make tacos instead.
(I’m not much for meat now, but I grew up eating goat in India and it can be delicious!)
J
I wish I were in vacay mode. I’m in catch up mode. Sigh. Goat curry is delicious, that’s the only way I’ve had goat. Lots of bones though.
Nicole MacPherson
Yay, you’re back! I’m glad to hear you had a great time. I had these amazing vegan tacos in Maui at a place called Fred’s, and I’ve never been able to recreate that experience. Even when we went back, they weren’t as amazing as the first time. I dream about those tacos! They were mushroom, corn, and avocado, and they were so good.
Your card and seeds arrived! You are the sweetest! Thank you!
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
J
I feel like recapturing an experience rarely works for me. DON’T GO BACK to the wonderful Maui taco place! Which is sad, right?
Ally Bean
Quesabirria tacos? None around here, but I’m always up for a good taco. You have many where you are. I’m glad your vacation was fun. You seem refreshed just raeding your words here.
J
Thanks Ally, yeah, I had never heard of them before, but Birchie clued me in, and then it turned out my cousin and her daughter both wanted them too.
Allison McCaskill
I had quesabirria tacos for the first time last month! Then I made them a couple of weeks ago. I got corn tortillas and the recipe said to save the grease from the top of the birria and fry the tortillas in them, so that’s what I did, and they were really good.
I like pretty much any kind of taco except shrimp – I haven’t tried those, but they seem like the wrong texture to me. So glad your visit and cruise was good! It’s always hard to get back into the groove, I find.
J
Oh, the tortilla is fried in the grease? AMAZING!
Jenny
Ooooh… tacos. I do like a crunchy shell, but I’m not surprised they’re not authentic. I wonder how crunchy shells got to be a thing here anyway? Those deep fried ones look INCREDIBLE.
I’m glad you had fun on your trip! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
J
I feel like the crispy shells started closer to the US border, and then in the US we just took it to another level. I mean, we deep fry anything, so we shouldn’t be too surprised.
Suzanne
Tacos…… I am drooling. Every taco experience sounded better than the last! YUM! Quesobirria for life!!!!!! I had beef birria for the first time last spring, and then made it at home earlier this year and it was SO GOOD both times. My stomach is growling it is so jealous of your taco times.
J
I love that you made it at home. So many delicious options! I feel like tacos can be really rich and heavy, really light and veggie forward, and everything in between.
nance
Welcome home! I’m fine with tacos, but they’re not something I choose usually. Then again, I can’t say I’ve ever had authentic tacos. I will say that the deep-fried ones look tempting, but I’d probably feel so guilty eating them that I’d only have one and feel very Catholic the whole time.
Sigh.
J
LOL on feeling Catholic. I forget that the entire world does not have excellent Mexican food until I leave California.
Lisa’s Yarns
I actually had quesabirria tacos last night at a place by our hotel. I liked them but they were so heavy! I prefer a lighter taco experience. But I had walked a million steps so leaned into what sounded most filling and indulgent!
I love tacos. They are probably my favorite food. I love a good, homemade corn tortilla. We have some surprisingly good taco places here but they are typically ran by Latin immigrants.
J
Definitely heavy, you are right about that. But so tasty!
ernie
Oh, I’d love to just drop everything and meet Julie in CA for lunch. Sounds delightful. Esp if tacos are on the menu. I’m glad you enjoyed the cruise. Looking forward to hearing more about it. I love, love, love tacos. They can often be made GF, so I don’t have difficulty ordering at Mexican places. I’m unfamiliar with that taq(whatever), but I’m sure it is delish. I do not like spicy food, at all. So, I hope when I make it there for lunch – we find a place that isn’t too spicy. 😉
J
These were not spicy, birria is kind of like pot roast. So yummy!
Melissa
I have not tried Quesabirria tacos, but they look very indulgent. I love tacos and now you’ve got me wanting some. It is take out Friday today but we don’t have a good mexican near us.
J
Indulgent is right, I wouldn’t want to eat them every day (or every week) but they were really good.
K @ TS
Julie, you are making me miss California. I have not had a good taco, or Mexican food at all, in a long time! I was completely spoiled by the fact that I literally could just walk down to a taco truck from my house any time I wanted. I suggest you try the Fruitvale neighborhood (my old haunt) in Oakland. If you go on 12th street near the BART, there are a few taco trucks; my favorite is Sinaloa #2 (big orange building next to it) or you can go on International a block away and go to Aguachiles El Tamarindo https://maps.app.goo.gl/hLsPMtyo62rCGDzaA or if you want like Tiajuana style tacos, go to Taqueria El Paisa https://maps.app.goo.gl/mpFedFRrZpeS8bCY6 . Anyway, can you tell I like Mexican food? When people ask questions like what is the one food you would have on a desert island, my answer is always Mexican! Next time I am home, you want to go for tacos with me? 🙂
J
YES, let’s do it! Either Oakland or we can try the place here in WC if that is easier for you.