The best way to do Los Angeles is with locals. Seriously. No one knows of better places to eat than those who live somewhere and have ventured out of the usual food comfort zone. In Los Angeles, it’s easy to step away from the fast food joints and chain restaurants. New food experiences abound around every corner. Every flavor. Every culture. It’s all there…somewhere…just waiting for you to step inside and give it a try.
When I ventured to Los Angeles, I let my friend Indy and her husband Evan take the reins and show me good places to eat. We all know I’m a bit of a challenge when it comes to eating out. But not in Los Angeles. California is a different beast.
After arriving in Los Angeles, it was already time for lunch and I was famished. We had tossed around ideas of where to eat prior to the trip, but that all went to the wayside. Mexican was the overall feeling of the group, and since I ditched my Mexican restaurant plans in Vegas the night before, this was just what I craved. Their suggestion: Hugo’s Tacos.
It was a short drive from their home in The Valley to this little taco stand. It looked a bit shady from the outside, but that’s part of the thrill of these little eateries. No indoor seating…it’s all done outside. Perfect, because the weather that day was beautiful, sunny, and ideal for a meal on the deck.
It took me a moment to peruse the menu board, but I finally decided on my meal of choice. Since this was a taco stand, I figured I would go with the tacos…which on the menu are labeled gluten-free. Better yet…they can be done vegan-style. Yeah…I was one happy diner.
I decided on two different types of tacos: a Mixed Veggies and Herbs with Jalapeño and Tomatillo Salsa and a Soy Chorizo, Potato and Zucchini with Jalapeno and Tomatillo Salsa. I made it a combo, which included chips and salsa plus a drink. Diet Coke for this girl, please!
I settled in with friends and waited for my order to come up. When it did, I totally understood why they were so excited about taking me to this place. Not only was it friendly to my food allergies…but it also catered to the vegetarian part of me. How many places can do that successfully. And, to top it all off, the food was amazing.
I tried the Soy Chorizo, Potato and Zucchini taco first. The soy sausage had the right hint of spice, and the salsa was the perfect compliment to it. I never would have thought of putting potato or zucchini in a taco, but these were the perfect match for the soy chorizo. Honestly. The cool texture of the sauteed vegetables meshed perfectly with the bite of the vegan sausage. The Mixed Veggies and Herbs taco was next. I loved this. The veggies alone would have been bland, but mixed with the herbs, they took on a new flavor level. The hint of heat from the salsa was the perfect pairing with this taco. Again, not something I normally would have thought to put in a corn tortilla, but it worked. It was a taco experience like no other.
The chips and salsa were the perfect compliment to this taco fiesta. The cool pico de gallo mixed with the corn tortilla chips gave the right mix of salty and sweet. Just what you would expect from proper chips and salsa. Not what you would expect from a tiny taco stand in Los Angeles. But they say the best things come in small packages. I couldn’t agree more.
I left more than satisfied with my lunch that day. It was the ideal place to eat in a city that never ceases to amaze me with it’s culinary culture. I wish more places like this existed in the Midwest where I live. I guess for now, I’ll just have to return to Los Angeles for more treats like this.
Good things really do come in small packages. If you don’t believe me, get to Los Angeles and try this little taco stand out. Hugo’s Tacos may be small, but they serve up big flavor in a big way!
The Celiathlete 