Best Mexican Restaurant Dishes in Southern California

My love of Southern California authentic Mexican food is only second to my love of authentic Asian food. I've lived in Los Angeles and San Diego for many years, so I've been spoiled as far as both cuisines are concerned. While El Tepeyac in East L.A. is my overall favorite California Mexican restaurant, there are several others that I visit for one specific standout dish. They include a carry-out dive, a historical landmark/tourist trap, a popular chain, a roach coach, a frat boy bar, and a local San Diego fave.

The Carry-Out Dive

There are seven or eight King Taco stands in and around Los Angeles. When I was living on the eastside of Los Angeles, I'd always go the King Taco branch near Chinatown and pick up their carne asada tacos. And you know those tacos had to be special for the sheer fact that I was near Chinatown and I didn't pick up any of my favorite Chinese food. In fact, I would stick my neck out and say that King Taco's carne asada (beef) tacos are the best tacos in the world. It's the way they barbecue the beef that makes it great. Each diced morsel is as spicy and crunchy as one of my favorite Szechuan dishes, fried dried beef. The meat is then mixed with chopped raw onions and tomatoes, and when served it is ambrosia wrapped in a warm corn tortilla. I would usually order several of them.

But then, if I was really hungry, I'd order the carne asada burrito, about six tacos worth of savory meat and spices stuffed into a large flour tortilla. When ordering this small banquet, make sure that they don't add refried beans to the mix. It cuts back the zest and crunch of the beef.

The Popular Chain

What King Taco is to carne asada tacos and burritos, Rubio's is to shrimp burritos. There are probably about a hundred Rubio's restaurants and each one looks like a fancy McDonalds, but don't let that spook you. The freshness and quality of the food, particularly the seafood, speaks for itself.

When Rubio's began as one humble San Diego beach town taco stand, word of mouth spread and their Baja-style fish tacos soon became San Diego's signature fast food of choice, as much as the cheesesteak is to Philly.