Taco Shop Conversations

I'm back in the states now-- sitting at a taco shop waiting on some Carne Asada fries. It's ironic but all that time in Southern Mexico made me miss my border food. Granted, we were eating really good food but there's something about burritos wrapped in yellow paper, weird combinations of ingredients and the bright colored booths with local ese gang grafitti scrawled on them that will always hold a special place in my heart.

The people that work at these places are saints. So many idiots (including me and my friends) come through here acting really assenine. The people behind the counter just unflinchingly take orders and serve the food, watching a futbol game or novella on a tiny tv behind the counter. All the while, people of all sorts come in and out, ordering their usual order-- people usually have a "usual". Right now mine is a bean and cheese burrito with guacamole, rice and lettuce--just to change things up (although carne asada fries are in regular rotation).

Even now there's a guy in here telling his friend about his encounter with the cops, how he told them he was just "looking for the va-jay-jay". I'm sure I've been overhead saying some outlandish things myself though.

These are little border town sanctuaries. In san diego, someone might recommend Santana's. They're alright but since they changed their name to MXN (so stupid) you can taste a difference.

Everywhere neighborhood (that's worth anything) has a couple local hot spots. Right now I'm at Rojelio's- a recent find. Speaking of Carne Asada fries, this place has the best. I usually get carne asada chips because I don't like how the fries get all soggy and with all that carne asada, guac, cheese, and whatever else, you need something crunchy that your teeth can keep track of-- at least I do. Rojelio's, right in the tuck a few strip-mall doors down from Vons on College and El Cajon has fries of the perfect crispiness...automatic win. Extra points for having Sope's (not that good here but impossible to find). You'll notice after a while that you go to different taco shops for different things- some have killer taquitos, some have the best California Burrito.

If you talk SD taco shops you'll always get a different answer as to who is the best but you can't deny the sheer number and consistency of the "Berto's". There are so many Berto's. Basic Berto's such as Alberto's and Roberto's all the way to exotic things like Filibertos, Alanbertos, and Rolbertos. You always know "______-berto's" is going to be open and you know they'll serve the clientele.

I'm finishing up my jamaica and just slammed my plastic fork down on my yellow paper-covered plate which means our time together is over. Until next time...