Pinches Tacos...a better taco for the Strip when you need it

8200 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323)650-0614
Mon-Wed 11AM-Midnight
Thur-Sat 11AM-3AM
Sun 11AM-10PM

The Sunset strip. A place you love to go and also hate to go to. When you're there and want to be, it's THE place to party. When you HAVE to be there and DON'T want to be it can be the equivalent of sitting on the 405 at 5:05. The joy of the area is that there's lots to like about it even if you aren't there to party, such as shopping and great food. A new restaurant by the name of Pinches Tacos, right at the edge of the strip, is taking advantage of the night life street walkers (no... not "those" street walkers) that are hopping from party to party late at night.

What I like about this place is the fresh taste of the ingredients. The owners, the Anaya brothers of Cha Cha Cha fame, have really tried to keep things legit while at the same time making sure that the ingredients stand out as healthy (or at least as healthy as Mexican food could presume to be).

The place itself has fast food vibe to it where you walk up to the register and order your food and they bring it out. It does however have a great patio that's covered and the food is brought out to you.

Obviously this place is totally a taqueria, but they do serve more than that. The tacos themselves are not cheap but don't let that discourage you in the least. These tacos are filled to the brim with meat. Not fall apart and get you pissed off full, but mighty full. The carnitas shown above were nicely flavored and juicy. Many people's pork tacos fall flate cause they cook them a tad too long and they get prety dried out, but not so with Pinches.

The fish taco was not so much my thing. While it was packed I didn't like the fact that the salsa overpowered the fish all together. Definitely designed for the late night buzzed crowd.

Their flautas are pretty dynamite. Light and well constructed. The meat inside, delicately flavored and moist. All plusses and a sure bet when you can't decide on what to get.

The al pastor was pretty rocking and you could really taste the marinaded char on these. These have been the most consistent for me. I could load these up for a party and everyone would be happy (unless you don't "dine on swine").

Their mole tacos were special indeed. Very packed and slightly sweet which is refreshing from typical mole that has more of an earthiness to it. These were rich and very satisfying. These are wonderful, especially with the horchata they make.

The carne asada had just a hint of smoke and on occasion were juicy but for the most part were bordering on being a little dry. Though not my favorite in LA, I could hit these just about anytime.

As I said before, the tacos aren't that cheap. Ranging between $2 to $3 a taco it could get a little pricey if you're trying to go there when you could eat a small donkey, but those tacos are really packed and packed with good ingredients. There is parking too which is another miracle for Sunset. The final kicker is...they deliver! So next time you're partying on the Strip remember these tacos to send you on your way.

Free refills: On the soda yes, on the horchata no (I badly wish they did though).
Entree Price Range: Instead of quoting things...HERE'S THE MENU

The Spanish Kitchen ... midweek treat

826 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310)659-4794
Lunch: Mon-Sun 11AM-4PM
Dinner: Mon-Sun 6PM-1:30AM

With all this bustle to get ready for Thanksgiving I'm offering a reprieve right before the battle throwdown. A tradition of sorts, that for me at least is very Californian, is Taco Tuesday. Who designated this day of the week to offer up cheap tacos? The world may never know, but one such addition to the legions of taquerias is The Spanish Kitchen in West Hollywood.

For the size of the tacos and what's in them, their blanket price of $2 a taco is excellent. I mean, where else can you get lobster taco's for that much? Plus, they have some fun with their tacos. And hey, if you're going to have a selection of 13 tacos, you kinda HAVE to get creative.

Pictured above are the beer battered shrimp, shrimp with pesto (which ended up a stand out from the meal), grilled salmon and snapper.

Here's two of their steak tacos which we both loved. Nice quality meat and NO fat to chew on.

On this plate, first is the lobster (try it with the roasted pepper salsa), then beer battered white fish, two chicken tacos (the ONLY disappointment... please save yourself from blandness and don't order them, cause everything else was rockin), chorizo and potato (yum), and last but certainly not least the BBQ pork. The BBQ pork taco is rightly one of their signature dishes and is what I would go again and again to get by itself it was so tasty!

One tip I'd give as far as the ordering process. If you want to order a lot (max per person is 6), have them bring them to you 2 or 3 at a time so they don't get cold. That was our one bummer of the evening.

There's a bunch of salsas to choose from...none of them too hot and ALL of them flavorful, so be sure to mix it up. AND, if somehow the tacos aren't enough for you and you need some rice and beans, they've got you covered for just a little extra with a plate of good traditional Spanish rice and black beans. Plus, if you care to wash down your food with Sangria (or even go with friends and share a pitcher), theirs is quite nice(all flavor, no burn) and reasonably priced. So have fun guys and enjoy the holiday!

Refills: No, but they've got a great bar that's not overpriced
Price: $2 Taco Tuesdays

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: Irv's Burgers (a small ode)

8289 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323)650-2456
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-8PM
Sat 8AM-7PM
Sun Closed
CASH ONLY

To wrap up my week we have our, beloved of many, hamburger stand called Irv's Burgers. Many know the story, and for those of you that don't you can click on their page and read about the drama they've gone through in the past to now have come out (mostly) on top. To make a long story short though, Irv's was about to be turned into a coffee shop and people gathered in one voice to rescue this little underdog. Letters were written and emails were sent and Irv's got saved. Why would people really care all that much about a burger stand? Why would people actually be compelled to do something when it's just a little hut that makes burgers and fries?

This woman. Her name is Sonia Hong (owner of Irv's) and people like her don't exist. She may be one of the only people in LA that I know that expresses genuine non-stop cheerfulness. Does she have glum days? Possibly. But, I would never know it cause whenever I see her she reminds me that the potential for people to be incredibly full of love is possible. She is a bit of happiness personified. When you show up you'll notice that she talks to everyone as if she knows them and has known them for years (often she does), calling them by name, and the one's that she doesn't know by name she still treats like family...with enthusiastic sweetness and meekness. She is one of the few people that understands that a huge part about what makes people come back is "you". No other business can get another Sonia cause there's only one of her, and she is Irv's.

As for the burgers she puts together, she is a master. The kind of person who can walk away and talk and come back right on time to flip it. She just knows...cause she's been doing it that long. Notice the plate. They all come like that. When you taste it you realize it really was just for me. Also, an odd fact is that she uses the picture to identify the person who ordered it (yes that's what I look like in case you're wondering...at least on that day) . A customized burger that always knocks you down. The patty was put together fresh, as well as fresh ingredients for everything else, but really that's the most I can say about it. The mystery of Irv's is shocking, cause there's no real understanding of "why" it tastes so good by the looks of it. She has some kind of magic going on that makes her simple burgers taste so good...almost too good for how simple they are. Maybe they're done better by some magical means, like maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in her kitchen. Bottom line is that people come back for this amazing burger and to be around her. It is a testament to her and to the burgers that are so beloved that she had enough people rally to her aid when she needed it most.

There's an actual eating area that's covered (which rocks now that we're about to start getting some rain) and parking is street parking which can sometimes be menacing in West Hollywood but it's well worth it. Or if you don't feel like going out, you'll be shocked to know that they deliver. They are THE ONLY burger stand I know that delivers. Bless them for this.

To many people reading this, this is old news but to those who don't know or have never heard of Irv's please go on down and be amazed. You'll not only feel at home, but you'll be at home having a burger that is a thing of terrifying deliciousness. Sonia, if you're reading this, may you live to be 100 and have Irv's to show for it the entire time.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Burgers run from $2.91 to $4.58 but just get the #1 combo for $5.08

Kung Pao Bistro

7853 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Sun-Thurs 11AM-10:30PM
Fri-Sat 11AM-11:30PM

I am attacking this little post with great ferocity. Kung Pao Bistro, though a small chain (a third one is supposed to be opening soon) is worth a post for a couple reasons.

1) Obviously the food is worth a mention. It's pretty healthy...meaning healthier then most Asian spots. We started our meal with their spicy wontons that were more like huge dumplings mixed in a spicy chili sauce with spinach...very tasty. We then noticed that we could get half orders of quite a few of their dishes. For you our readers (and for our pockets) we ordered 3 half dishes to get the most of our dining experience. Orange Chicken, Moo Shu vegetable, and Kung Pao Shrimp came out quickly and with a smile. The half sizes were very good size. In fact they were so big that we kept on thinking they didn't hear us when we ordered the half size and brought out the full size by mistake...not so. One thing, if you get the Moo Shu, tell them not to stuff the crepes totally and to leave some on the side...yes there was that much. I would recommend going there and eating family style where you all share, cause the half sizes were plenty. Everything tasted fresh and you felt good afterwards (unlike many Asian meals where you feel like you ate a lot of oil).

2) The price was super cheap when you eat the half orders. Once again I would highly recommend this.

3) Parking is great there due to the fact that it shares the same parking with Whole Foods.

4) This location is great...it's in the middle of a lot of shopping areas (walking Santa Monica boulevard) and is just outside enough that you don't feel cramped in getting to where ever you're trying to get to.

The place is healthy and has a good vibe and when we went we saw a bunch of actors just eating and talking shop and the staff really didn't seem to mind them just kind of camping and taking there time. I may bring a tent next time I want some local Asian food.

Free Drink Refills: Yes
Entree Price Range:half plate average about $6 to $8 while regular plates and specialties $9 to $13