before i came to san diego for the first time in 2006, i was convinced i didn’t like mexican food. why? not only did i grow up in alberta, which has almost no good mexican, but i’d only eaten at chain taco shops (i’m looking at you, taco bell/taco time!) and had no concept of how good it could be.
suffice to say that when i tried real mexican food**, my mind was blown. rolled tacos? horchata? potato burritos? spanish rice and refried beans? the sultry smokiness of mole? fffuuuuuuuuuck.
breakfast burrito, trio of veggie enchiladas @ rancho's
in case you are in san diego or vancouver, here are my favourites:
sd-
rancho’s, ocean beach & north park
taco surf, pacific beach
cotixhan (great for a grease-buster potato burrito lovefest)
pokez, for that authentic-skeevy-delicious vibe
vancouver-
le taqueria (more traditional)
bandidas (more local-fusiony goodness)
and for the vegans/home cooks among us, i offer viva vegan by terry hope romero. this book is the bomb.
**caveat: i have never tasted mexican food as a meat-eater, but i’ve had incredible veg*n versions of regular stuff.
apparently edmonton now has good mexican — tres carnales. i’ve never been, though… i am fond of the more salvadorian (with a bit of mexican) place called el rancho, so if you are ever up there, do track them down!
oh damn! i’d love to try them out. i’ve only had salvadorian food once, but it was gooood.
pupusas!!!
exactly what i was thinking of!