Michoacan

Dear OC Killers: Can You Stop Murdering People Outside Great Mexican Restaurants?

Last week, SanTana Police Department officials released video stills of two men harassing another man whom police say they'd go on to murder just outside El Chile Picante. And for the umpteenth time, I threw up my fists and screamed in frustration.See, Orange County killers have this nasty habit of ... More >>

Anaheim Man Shouldn't Have Used VW Beetle For Methamphetamine Delivery

Henry Bustos grew up exceptionally poor in a small village in Michoacan, Mexico and sold candy and fruit on the roadside to help his family survive.At the age of 16, Bustos entered the United States without government permission and worked at minimum wage for numerous Southern California constructio ... More >>

The 10 Most Over-Played Songs at a Mexican Wedding, California Edition

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Houston to do a book signing for my book, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. Afterward, I went with friends and fans to enjoy some awesome Tex-Mex at El Real Tex-Mex, and among those who attended were two colleagues/pals from our sister paper, the Houston P ... More >>

The Five Next Big Trends in Mexican Food in the United States

This Thursday, I fly to the University of Houston in what will be the official end of my Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America tour. It's been a great ride that has taken  me from the Bay Area to Texas about a million times, the South and virtually all other points, but while the tour en ... More >>

No. 5: Spontanaé Menu at Marché Moderne

South Coast Plaza typically isn't a haven for bargain hunters, but for several years the prix-fixe lunch at Florent and Amelia Marneau's Marche Moderne has had one of the best lunch specials in the county.Dinner for two at Marche can easily top $100, but like Rachael Ray taught us on $40 a Day, expe ... More >>

No. 6: Anything By Taco Maria

I have been known to wait outside Taco Maria for 20 minutes, desperate to be the first in line before the masses come. I've been known to drunkenly tweet that if you don't know Taco Maria, you don't know Mexican food, and fight with people over said sentiments. I've plugged Taco Maria God-knows-how- ... More >>

Why Do Chicanos Love the Aztecs?

[¡Ask a Mexican!] And what are some Mexican regional stereotypes of Mexicans?

No. 8: Pot Pie Purse at the Crosby

Aside from La Palma Chicken Pie Shop and a handful of chain restaurants (Claim Jumper, KFC, Marie Callender's), there just aren't enough places doing pot pie anymore. And if they are, it's certainly almost never beef pot pie.Comfort food in the wrong hands can be too much of a good thing--over-porti ... More >>

No. 7: Venison Filet Mignon at Mare Culinary Lounge

Mare is supposed to be known for its seafood. But you should know by now that Alessandro Pirozzi of Cucina Alessa fame has the golden touch, even with game meats, as it turns out. The venison filet mignon he serves at his newest restaurant, two cubes the size of a baseball sitting on opposite side ... More >>

No. 11: Picadita at Alebrije's Grill

You can join the thousands of non-wab Orange Countians who have visited Alebrije's on the corner of Main and Cubbon streets in SanTana, eat nothing but their legendary taco acorazado (which we named our favorite dish in Orange County in 2010 because it was), and you'd be in our good graces forever. ... More >>

No. 12: Blowtorch-Seared Mackerel At Izakaya Ku

The menu said the mackerel would be seared tableside; but I didn't expect the hand-held flamethrower. I admit it:I was nervous. I inched away in my seat a little when the waiter lit it and the thing whooshed like an acetylene torch. We were sitting in an all-wooden booth shrouded with noren, the tra ... More >>

No. 14: Tri-Tip Benedict at Rocq Cafe

Rocq Cafe has already established itself as the place in South County for intense, incredible macarons, but even the hungriest of cookie monsters (sorry! Had to go there!) needs a real meal sometimes.Much of Rocq's menu is on the lighter side--sandwiches, salads, housemade pastas--and those suffice ... More >>

No. 15: Porkabello At Bacon-A-Fair

As we approach the home stretch of our favorites, we look back on one helluva fair season. Between our team's participation in culinary chowdowns (Go Dave!) to our interviews with Robert Irvine and Fabio Viviani, one thing is clear: It's all about the grub. Usually deep fried, and always incredible, ... More >>

No. 17: Sashimi Sandwich at North Shore Poke Company

The picture you see above is crappy, and it shows only a quarter cut. The sandwich isn't much to look at anyway. Its appearance isn't important. What's important is that it is possibly the best dish at North Shore Poke Company, which is little more than a cold station with the proprietor, Shawn Gole ... More >>

No. 18: Kotlety i Zrazy at Moscow Deli

I'm sure I'm going to take some flak for this being as high in the list as it is, and I have my defense ready: I eat this at least once a month, and I don't work anywhere near Costa Mesa. It's because it's so perfectly done that I drive so far to get this Russian home-cooking standard. Is it som ... More >>

No. 20: The Karma Burger At Mick's Karma Bar

Like how the Thompson Twins were neither related nor named Thompson, the "karma" is as ambiguous as the fact that they don't serve alcohol (and that they close by 10 p.m.). Mick's has a number of factors going against it, even before we try to explain where this is located on the ground floor of an ... More >>

No. 21: Breakfast Hash And Eggs Waffle At Bruxie

When folks ask us where our favorite place is for breakfast, we fail to mention Bruxie. Why? Partially because we forget (we're only look young). It's not like they're notorious for only the most important meal. But we're glad that we do, because one of our favorite bites is served on the weekends t ... More >>

No. 24: Nemesis at The Viking Truck

There was a time when we couldn't get enough of the luxe loncheras. Eventually, we got bored and took a break. Maybe five months passed before we even contemplated a truck stop. So in the last year, we've had our fair share of catch up with mobile meals. An entire menu devoted to sausages is enough ... More >>

No. 25: Tuna Empanada at Puerto Madero

Even with fantastic sandwiches packed with charred Argentinian sausage, lengths of skirt steak, or a buffet of meats and cheeses, the star on the menu at Puerto Madero is a simple fish pastry. Tuna salads and sandwiches might be in other people's lunch bags, but one of the best ways to savor th ... More >>

No. 27: Any Fried Spuds at Umami Burger

The meticulously-crafted, flavor-formulated burgers at Umami are the main draw, but whether you love or hate the Japanese-influenced twist on classic Americana, it can't be argued that every great burger needs an equally great potato pairing to truly shine.Fortunately, the Umami cooks are skilled in ... More >>

No. 28: Lunch at Playground

You'd think there would be a lot of food choices in an area as concentrated with workers and residents as Downtown SanTana, but you'd be wrong. Good Mexican is out of the question, you can only eat so many arepas at Mil Jugos or Soul Burgers at Memphis before you're all doughy inside, and the Crosby ... More >>

No. 30: Four-Course $7 Lunch Special at Olé Spain Delishop

It's been a SanTana-heavy list for me in this round of 100 faves, but we gotta speak the truth, and SanTana has really emerged in the past year as a destination not just for Mexican food but for ALL sorts of food--and it's only going to get better. That's why I love Olé Spain Delishop so much--not ... More >>

No. 31: Starving Artist Sandwich With the Fixins' at the Crosby

Apologies for the crappy photo above, but the lighting at the Crosby is never bueno...We're all still waiting for the Crosby guys to open their much-anticipated Grilled Cheese Stop, so in the meanwhile we must content ourselves with the genius that sparked this restaurant: the Starving Artist at the ... More >>

No. 33: Chocolate Dome Cake at AnQi

The garlic noodles at AnQui? Of course. The tamarind crab? Legendary. Cocktails? Superb. The South Coast Plaza eatery can always be counted on for a great, inventive dinner--a recent addition is tongue tacos made from a wonton shell--take THAT, Glen Bell!They also have a molecular gastronomy section ... More >>

No. 35: Carlsbad Aquafarm Oysters at Slapfish

If Slapfish only served these oysters and nothing else, it would already justify the restaurant's existence. And co-owners Andrew Gruel and Jethro Naude know how special these babies are. Gruel--who was a program manager of the Aquarium of the Pacific's sustainable-seafood initiative--is an advocate ... More >>

No. 37: Chocolate Soufflé at Bistro Bleu

Just as at any place offering soufflé, you should order it at least a half-hour in advance at Bistro Blue. But at $6 (as of this writing), this soufflé automatically distinguishes itself as the most reasonably priced in the county. Thank owner-chef David Kesler for that. This ex-chef from The Ce ... More >>

No. 40: California Burrito at Taco Pronto

We have no shortage of burrito joints in our fair county, and yet one type famous in our neighboring county makes itself noticeably absent here: the California burrito.What's that? You've never heard of a California burrito? Let's just say it's not named that because it has a cornucopia of our state ... More >>

No. 41: Kohryu Ramen at Kohryu Ramen

Japanese parents don't name their children after themselves. There are no men named Junior walking around Japan. Yet Japanese businesses have no problem calling their house specialty after the name of the shop. So it is with the Kohryu Ramen at Costa Mesa's Kohryu Ramen. With two new heavyweight ra ... More >>

No. 44: Shao Shan Tsai at 101 Noodle Express

The wonderful beef roll at Irvine's101 Noodle Express, or any other dish for that matter, is enhanced with the spicy-salty condiment of green pickled Chinese vegetables, cilantro, and fresh serrano chilis called shao shan tsai. It sits on your tabletop in a small clear container which will be nearl ... More >>

No. 48: Comida Corrida at Lindo Michoacán No. 2

We are now more than halfway through our march toward our favorite dishes in Orange County. It's run the gamut from Japanese to Mexican, from American comfort food to post-Ramadan fast food. When we get to the end, you'll know it's time to go pick up your free copy of this year's Best Of issue i ... More >>

Chef Carlos Valdez: El Rey del Baja California Sur

For decades Baja California Sur has been defined--unfairly-- by the OC on the Sea of Cortez tourist spot: Cabo San Lucas, where American spring breakers go to suck down margaritas, eat nachos until they burst, perform graceless acts at wet t-shirt contests, and develop pre-melanoma lesions under the ... More >>

On the Line: 'Sushi Dave' Fernandez, of Sushi At the Venetian Gentlemen's Club, Part One

​Sitting down for lunch at Twisted Vine in downtown Fullerton, Dave Fernandez and I talked about family, restaurant reviews and great wines. It wasn't quite a business meeting, more like two friends sharing a bite to eat. Of course, he periodically checked his iPhone for incoming reservations, men ... More >>

Five Things You're Doing Wrong With Mexican Food

Flick user Ryan Leighty​We love Mexican food 'round here, and not just because I'm doing a book on the history of Mexican food in the United States. It's the native cuisine of Southern California, something many Americans have seamlessly assimilated into their day-to-day lives--and an easy subject ... More >>

The Mini-Monarcas of OC

A Mexican first-division soccer team looks to groom its next generation of talent in Santa Ana

Birrieria Chivo de Oro Is the Golden Goat

[Hole In the Wall] This Santa Ana eatery will scare away OC Register readers—more birria for us!

Dumping In the Desert

[¡Ask a Mexican!] Also, a racist tries to bait Gustavo, part MCMXLVIII

Five New Years' Resolutions for Orange County Diners

Flickr user tinfoilraccoon​New Year's Day is coming. In the interest of the gastronomic improvement of our fair readership area, I offer the following set of suggested New Years' resolutions for the diners of Orange County.

Spanish in the Workplace, Part Ninety-Eleven

[¡Ask a Mexican!] What better way to learn Spanish than shutting your yap and watching 'Sábado Gigante'?

Tacos Jerez Represents

[Hole In the Wall] Zacatecan specialties make their way onto the menu of this new Huntington Beach eatery

Five Questions with the Rapper for Las Mujeres, Ms. Krazie

​When America Ochoa immigrated to the United States from her native Michoacan, Mexico, she, like many others, eventually settled in the Orange County city of Santa Ana. Before ever coming to the States, however, she developed an interest in music and awakened to the possibilities of Mexican ra ... More >>

¡Ask a Comida Critic! What is OC's Regional Cuisine?

​From Spencer two cubicles away from me:So I'm going to [vacation spot], and will be hosted by a family. Apparently, it's a cultural thing that guests treat their host family with food from the region they're from. What can I give them?The obvious answer would be any of our ethnic cuisines that yo ... More >>

How Far Can Dexter Holland's Gringo Bandito Go?

What started as a gag gift by the Offspring singer is becoming a serious business

[¡Ask a Mexican!] Reconquista for Dummies

Chile de Arbol Salsa at El Camino Real

El Camino Real in Fullerton needs no real introduction to Weekly readers; we've given it much love over the years for its weekend menudo that draws in Mexican mamis too tired to cook and the fact that Kobe Bryant is known to haunt the place. It's probably the best, for lack of a better term, "normal ... More >>

¡Ask a Mexican!®

Alcoholism among Mexicans: A blight as terrible as Carlos Mencia

Masas of This Domain

Where to Get the Countys Best Mexican Tamales

This Hole-in-the-Wall Life

Edible Pillows at Rivera Mexican Food

!Ask a Mexican!

This Week in Comida

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