California Official Visitor's Guide 2021 - 30

bites
32
MISSION
BURRITO

30 Taco Trucks Los Angeles
Local food trucks have a decades-old history in L.A., though hip newcomers like
chef Roy Choi's Kogi BBQ trace their roots back only a decade or so. Today, these
colorfully painted rigs emerge from parking spots all across Southern California,
making them an indelible part of both the dining and cultural landscape. No
trip to L.A. is complete without a late-night run for tacos from a nearby truck.
Every neighborhood has a few, though Tacos Leo in Mid-City and La Isla Bonita
in Venice count themselves among L.A.'s best. Plan to spend $1 or $2 for carne
asada or suadero tacos, and if you see carnitas on the menu, get it.

31
Santa Maria BBQ
Santa Barbara County

Cooking over smoke and ﬂame is a timeless human tradition
with endless regional variability. On the Central Coast,
that means leaner cuts like tri-tip and linguica sausage, a
heritage that traces its roots back to the early vaqueros who
traveled north through Mexico hundreds of years ago. This
type of cooking is now known as Santa Maria-style BBQ,
named after the picturesque valley in Santa Barbara County.
There, weekend grills ﬁll up fast with abundant red oak logs,
particularly at places like Jocko's in Nipomo, which sits
conveniently next to a cattle-grazing area. For a truly retro
version of this cuisine, head to Cold Spring Tavern in Santa
Barbara-and prepare to wait in line with lots of locals.

30 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

One of San Francisco's
biggest culinary draws
is found in the Mission
District, home to the
city's signature burrito
style. The thriving neighborhood is alive most
nights with locals and
tourists merged together
en masse to enjoy places
like La Taqueria or rival El
Farolito, where famously
overstuffed burritos
come loaded with meat
(usually carne asada),
beans, rice, salsa,
guacamole, cheese, and
more. While the West
Coast's original burritos
have a rich tradition that
spans the length and history of California, these
Mission-style treats are
unique to the city, and
a part of weekday lunch
culture as well as the
late-night food scene.
Late food critic Jonathan
Gold once called them
" monstrous things
wrapped in tinfoil. "

33
LITTLE SAIGON
GARDEN GROVE
Orange County is
a haven for Disney
devotees, beachgoers,
and anyone interested
in fantastic Vietnamese
food. The Little Saigon
district is a collection of
restaurants and shops in
The OC's Garden Grove
area, home to 200,000
Vietnamese people and
enduring restaurants like
Pho 79, winner of a 2019
James Beard Foundation
Award for longstanding culinary excellence.
Restaurants run the
gamut from family banquet halls serving spring
rolls to smaller spots
specializing in regional
delicacies like mi quang,
the central Vietnamese
noodle dish found at
places like Ngu Binh Restaurant in Westminster.

FROM TOP: PASCAL SHIRLEY, AHIRAO PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

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California Official Visitor's Guide 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2021
