{
    "version": "https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1.1",
    "title": "Tortillaphilia",
    "home_page_url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/",
    "feed_url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/json\/",
    "icon": "\/Arrrrriba\/Resources\/touch.png",
    "favicon": "\/Arrrrriba\/Resources\/favicon.png",
    "language": "en",
    "authors": [
        {
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/",
            "name": "Tortillaphilia"
        }
    ],
    "items": [
        {
            "title": "Tacos California",
            "description": "Burritos + Riot Grrrls + Nirvana = Love.",
            "date_published": "2025-06-26T11:58:46-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-california",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-california",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/b347f719-b5e1-4a39-873d-464f8a8e4192_500x374.jpg",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>One of life\u2019s small misconceptions is that Riot Grrrl \u2013 the eighties\/nineties feminist punk movement \u2013 originated in DC. While it is true that the scene found early footing there, its beginnings can be traced to the other Washington capital: Olympia.<\/p>\n<p>In many ways, Riot Grrrl was a precursor to grunge, if only for a short time span. Counterculture DIY flourished during its ascendance, and feminist zines like <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bust_(magazine)\">BUST<\/a> went from being flimsily photocopied publications to receiving mainstream magazine makeovers. Riot Grrrl may not have the same name recognition as grunge, but its cultural significance cannot be understated.<\/p>\n<p>You can dig into the Riot Grrrl scene fairly deeply \u2013 find some links at the bottom of the post \u2013 but in short, it\u2019s a fitting example of how Olympia often gets unfairly slighted.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/b347f719-b5e1-4a39-873d-464f8a8e4192_500x374.jpg\" height=\"374\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Magazine\"><figcaption class=\"box\">Bikini Kill: Zine and leading Riot Grrrl band.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This all is a rambling digression to get to my initially intended thesis. For its size, Olympia has a legit food scene, one that includes my favorite taco truck:<\/p>\n<h4>Tacos California<\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s all in the burritos or, perhaps more accurately, the meat. While many trucks deliver serviceable carne asada, Tacos California serves something more elevated, something closer to a proper pepper steak. The meat is tender and cleanly spiced with black pepper and requires little in terms of sauces and other accouterments. You can get those, of course, if you go with something like the \u201cSupreme Burrito,\u201d but if you want to keep it streamlined, stick with the subtleties of the regular one.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"double\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/e3fdfdf3-1e14-4b79-9ed3-822ea1ca8fcd_480x640.jpg\" height=\"374\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Burrito\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/eeec42a3-48fe-4ae8-b2a0-3914fd386696_480x640.jpg\" height=\"374\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Tacos\">\n<figcaption class=\"box\">A well-prepared tortilla on the left. The tacos on the right \u2013 enjoyed by Intern Jon \u2013 give you an idea of what the meat looks like.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This is where I was going to pivot and wax poetically about Quality Burrito as a second stop on a burrito bang-bang before learning that the place shut down just a month ago. It\u2019s a bummer, and if a place upheld the Riot Grrrl vibe perfectly, it was the QB. To wit, these were the types of portraits that covered their walls.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/ea47bd7c-9b6a-4afc-9fe0-603bce11698d_500x500.jpg\" height=\"374\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Faces on wall\" style=\"width: 100%; height: unset;\"><figcaption class=\"box\">They literally had hundreds of these.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So, for now, check out Tacos California \u2013 in this case, the one on <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Jt5tfPT7LvC7Y1z87\">4th Ave<\/a> \u2013 and, if you\u2019re feeling saucy, <a href=\"https:\/\/theawesomenessdigest.substack.com\/p\/the-olympia-pizza-digest\">try a few pizzas<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n<h4>Meanwhile, Just Up the Street\u2026<\/h4>\n<p>During grunge\u2019s infancy, Nirvana\u2019s Kurt Cobain spent time in Olympia, sporadically sharing a house with Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna. It was here \u201cSmells Like Teen Spirit\u201d was coined after Hanna graffitied \u201cKurt smells like Teen Spirit\u201d on a wall. Cobain wouldn\u2019t actually learn that Teen Spirit was a deodorant until after they released the hit song.<\/p>\n<p>The house, which is on the Olympia Historical Society\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/olympiahistory.org\/kurt-cobain-apartment\/\">pop-culture list<\/a>, is located at <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/88recNRWQNdMjgi98\">114 Pear St NE<\/a>, a few blocks from Tacos California. It\u2019s not a super exciting visit, but it\u2019s worth the two-minute walk nonetheless. You can even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/rooms\/12012498?source_impression_id=p3_1737057887_P31tqtNBUC0018q5\">Airbnb it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/tacos-california\/d5631c41-0361-42a2-84d7-cde315394ade_2048x1536.jpg\" height=\"374\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Man with record\" style=\"height: unset; width: 100%;\"><figcaption class=\"box\">An old rocker stands in front of Cobain\u2019s house, fittingly with a maxi-single of \u201cSmells Like Teen Spirit\u201d in hand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>For More Rioting<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Moxie<\/strong>: <span>Amy Poehler directed an adaptation of <\/span><em>Moxie<\/em><span>, a coming-of-age comedy that centers on a new generation\u2019s relationship with Riot Grrrl. The film is set in Spokane and even has a shout-out to the city\u2019s storied record store, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vinylworld.org\/record-shop\/4-000-holes\/\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">4000 Holes<\/a><span>. <\/span><em>Moxie<\/em><span> \u2013 and its banging <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/moxie-movie-soundtrack-songs-artists-guide\/\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">soundtrack<\/a><span> \u2013 streams on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/title\/81078393\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Netflix<\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>A Couple of Good Articles<\/strong>: <span>NME\u2019s \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/blogs\/nme-blogs\/brief-history-riot-grrrl-space-reclaiming-90s-punk-movement-2542166\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">A Brief History of Riot Grrrl<\/a><span>\u201d may indeed be brief, but it is also comprehensive. New York Times\u2019 \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2019\/05\/03\/arts\/music\/riot-grrrl-playlist.html\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\">Riot Grrrl United Feminism and Punk<\/a><span>\u201c playlist is worth a look, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Sources<\/h4>\n<p><span>Riot grrrl. (2024, December 28). In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Riot_grrrl\" rel=\"nofollow ugc noopener\"><em>Wikipedia<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>This post originally appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/theawesomenessdigest.substack.com\/p\/on-olympia-riot-grrrl-kurt-cobain\">The Awesomeness Digest<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Mexican Seoul",
            "description": "Mexico meets Korea: Love ensues.",
            "date_published": "2025-06-23T11:11:11-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/mexican-seoul",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/mexican-seoul",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/mexican-seoul\/IMG_5210.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>There are those who claim Korean tacos are a bygone fad, and to them I say, \u201cGood day to you.\u201c Who cares what is or isn\u2019t in style? Good food is good food, and Northeast Seattle\u2019s Mexican Seoul is just that. Good. Great, even.<\/p>\n<p>The permanently placed truck recently opened by Project 9 Brewing, where they deliver a pun-filled menu. \u201cS<strong>e<\/strong>oulful flavors\u201d and \u201cal pas<strong>kor<\/strong>\u201d make me snicker, but then, I\u2019m an easy target.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/mexican-seoul\/IMG_5210.webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"842\" alt=\"Taco on a plate.\"><figcaption class=\"box\">Al paskor! Come on!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mexican Seoul gets most everything right, with a particular focus on balanced flavors. The base, from tortillas to protein, is traditional Mexican fare, but with a Korean twist. The aforementioned \u201cal paskor\u201d is probably the most illustrative example, where, at first glance, the meat looks like regular \u201cal pastor\u201d until a bite reveals a soft gochujang marinade. It\u2019s sort of an uncanny valley, but in a good way. Toss the meat on double corn tortillas, add a selection of toppings from the kimchi-salsa bar, and you\u2019ve got yourself a multi-cultural meal.<\/p>\n<p>With the toppings, you can be particularly creative, mixing east and west. Helpfully, Mexican Seoul has a legend that shows everything from spice levels to recommended accoutrements. As I was in the mood for something with a kick, I assembled \u201cThe Firecracker\u201d \u2013 pickled jalape\u00f1os, chipotle gochujang, and a spicy poblano sauce. Flanked by cilantro and onions, the flavor profile was on equal footing with anything that could conceivably be served straight from the truck.<\/p>\n<figure><a href=\"\/depos\/mexican-seoul\/b74e79dc-e411-457b-9a6a-c7aab0cf05a5_1024x768.webp\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"\/depos\/mexican-seoul\/b74e79dc-e411-457b-9a6a-c7aab0cf05a5_1024x768.webp\" alt=\"sign\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>The \u201cVampiro\u201d is a creative variation on the street taco, with the addition of crispy melted cheese to give the tortilla a proper crunch. That might sound minor, but it adds more to the taco than you might expect.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, Mexican Seoul\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mexicanseoul.com\/order\">ordering system<\/a> is online only \u2013 you scan an on-prem QR code, which takes you to the menu. Pick your items, pay, and you\u2019ll get a place in a virtual line. Keeping track of where you are is easy \u2013 the website shows your current spot \u2013 and you\u2019ll receive a text message when your order is up. A no-interaction process, in other words, and any introvert\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n<p>Fashionable or not, who cares? Mexican Seoul delivers a high-quality take on Korean tacos, the type of goodness no one should deny themselves.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>This post originally appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/theawesomenessdigest.substack.com\/p\/korean-tacos-from-mexican-seoul-and\">The Awesomeness Digest<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Tacos La Cuadra",
            "description": "Strong contender for the Puget Sound\u2019s best al pastor.",
            "date_published": "2025-06-18T15:24:54-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-la-cuadra",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-la-cuadra",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/tacos-la-cuadra\/IMG_5157.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>There\u2019s something admirable about La Cuadra\u2019s gusto. As the taco truck\u2019s al pastor went viral last summer and fans lined up around the block, King Co. Public Health shut them down no less than five times for \u201cunpermitted mobile food vendor violations.\u201d Yet, the people kept coming, and La Cuadra kept serving \u2013 well enough to garner enough popularity to open a brick-and-mortar location in Kent. Clearly, they\u2019re doing something right.<\/p>\n<p>As for the title of this post, calling La Cuadra\u2019s al pastor the best in Seattle is not a hyperbole, at least not as it stands today. If there is a better pick, I have not been able to find it \u2013 and I have looked.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"\/depos\/tacos-la-cuadra\/IMG_5157.webp\" alt=\"Tacos on a plate\" width=\"600\" height=\"590\"><figcaption class=\"box\">I will argue that pineapple is a taco\u2019s crown.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For those not familiar, al pastor is essentially Mexican shawarma. Spit-grilled marinated pork, typically served as tacos with a chunk or two of pineapple thrown on top. Straightforward enough, at least theoretically \u2013 I rarely find that the execution lives up to the promise.<\/p>\n<p>At La Cuadra, though, they got it down.<\/p>\n<p>Here, the meat can best be described as succulent, a flavor explosion not dissimilar to pork-flavored Pop Rocks (presumably). The marinade is pepper-forward \u2013 classic black pepper at that \u2013 flanked by chilies and an intensely acidic pineapple juice. Al pastor done right, and nearly certainly the best I\u2019ve had this side of Guadalajara.<\/p>\n<p>Eating it plain on a couple of tortillas and calling it a day is all you need, but tossing on some stash from La Cuadra\u2019s pepper bar doesn\u2019t hurt either. You\u2019ll find the usual suspects \u2013 cilantro, chopped onions, and so on \u2013 alongside a red salsa with a serious kick. Powerful without drowning out the flavor of the meat \u2013 a companion and not a competitor. It\u2019s the type of harmony I can get behind.<\/p>\n<p>So, yes, La Cuadra does have its share of gusto, but it\u2019s not all bluster. Or, more accurately, there\u2019s no bluster at all. La Cuadra is the real deal, be it their truck or their brick-and-mortar location \u2013 this al pastor is worth the hunt.<\/p>\n<p>You can find La Cuadra in Kent on <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/oNLfF7jyi6kC1B8D7\">24602 Military Rd S<\/a>. As far as a web presence goes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/la_cuadra_tacos\/\">Instagram<\/a> looks to be it \u2013 check it out to find where their trucks are. They usually start at 7 pm, and I have often seen them up and down Rainier Ave.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This post originally appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/theawesomenessdigest.substack.com\/p\/tracking-down-seattles-best-al-pastor\">The Awesomeness Digest<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Fonda La Catrina",
            "description": "Great location; decent tacos; excellent esquites.",
            "date_published": "2023-12-08T11:00:19-08:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/fonda-la-catrina",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/fonda-la-catrina",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/fonda-la-catrina\/fontana.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>Georgetown\u2014the oft-forgotten Seattle neighborhood, off the public transit lines, hiding below the I-5. The people who do love Georgetown really do love it, though, and for those searching for Mexican food, there are choices to be had. Maybe the most popular pick is Fonda La Catrina, which sits right on the main strip.<\/p>\n<p>How does the spot fare, quality-wise? Not too bad, though also not quite what I wanted from such a prolific restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, there are things to like here. I always approve of having \u201cpoblanos con queso\u201d on the menu\u2014they\u2019re light in substance yet still pack a lot of flavor. With Monterey Jack and half an avocado strewn over the poblano peppers, they even rival the gusto of chorizo. The three tacos aren\u2019t downright spicy as served, but a drizzle of the accompanying salsa elevates the Scoville factor\u2014customize to your own liking.<\/p>\n<p>What did not work out as well were the tortillas.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"\/depos\/fonda-la-catrina\/fontana.webp\" alt=\"Tacos on a plate\" width=\"600\" height=\"590\"><figcaption class=\"box\">Close-up: Notice the three tortillas melded into one super-tortilla.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong, they were flavorful and you can see them being baked in the open kitchen. These are fresh tortillas.<\/p>\n<p>Presumably, mine were plated too quickly, and the three tortillas had melded together. In other words, they weren\u2019t handheld tacos and instead had to be ingested using a knife and fork. A quick survey of the room would suggest this wasn\u2019t a one-off blunder.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t the end of the world, of course, and the tacos were good. Good, but not quite good enough for me to entirely forgive the gaffe.<\/p>\n<p>Truthfully, if I were to recommend only one thing from the menu, it was the esquites. Corn in a fresh mayo and lime sauce with a dusting of spices makes for a light, yet flavorful dish. Sort of like the tacos but a step above in quality.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "El Kiosko",
            "description": "Not the best California burrito out there, but it does the job.",
            "date_published": "2023-11-15T06:09:19-08:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/el-kiosko",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/el-kiosko",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/el-kiosko\/IMG_3827.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>Leave it to the Californians to properly <em>\u2019mericanize<\/em> the burrito, at least in spirit. Fries might be French or Belgian (depending on who you ask), but stuffing them into a burrito? That\u2019s American ingenuity right there.<\/p>\n<figure><a href=\"\/depos\/el-kiosko\/IMG_3827.webp\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"\/depos\/el-kiosko\/IMG_3827.webp\" alt=\"Burrito on a plate\" width=\"640\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"box\">An exercise in maximalism.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As for El Kiosko\u2019s take on the California burrito, it is something that isn\u2019t entirely a homerun but is serviceable enough to give a try.<\/p>\n<p>Nobody can accuse this burrito of not being an ode to maximalism\u2014it literally bursts open at arrival. Whether that\u2019s a good thing or not is subjective, but it\u2019s a bit too \u201cextreme\u201d for my liking. A little modesty never hurt anyone.<\/p>\n<p>Inside, the fries are a step too far on the al dente side, a fairly common problem with the California burrito. You don\u2019t want the fries to be mushy, and commonly, you\u2019ll find them borderline frozen. That\u2019s not the case at El Kiosko, but they could have stood to be a smidgen more tender.<\/p>\n<p>The sour cream game, too, is somewhat overzealous. There\u2019s a lot of it, enough to nearly overpower the carne asada, which is a little sad. The meat is tasty on its own.<\/p>\n<p>And that is the issue with this burrito\u2014a touch too much of everything. In all fairness, it never reaches the point of being completely ridiculous, but had the burrito maker been less enthusiastic\u2014and more aware of the fries\u2014we\u2019d be talking about a great burrito as opposed to one that is just good.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Carnitas Michoacan",
            "description": "A major letdown and a giant mess of a taco spot.",
            "date_published": "2023-11-02T09:29:21-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/carnitas-michoacan",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/carnitas-michoacan",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/carnitas-michoacan\/t1.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>You gotta hand it to them: Dropping \u201cCarnitas\u201d into their name shows confidence. Assertiveness. Perceived dominance, even. Carnitas originated in Michoac\u00e1n, and it\u2019s admirable that this North Beacon spot doubles down on what conceivably is their specialty.<\/p>\n<p>Conceivably. What quality the carnitas hold is still up in the air, as I never got to try them. Who knows if I missed out on something special? Going by the tacos I did receive, I doubt it.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe it was my fault. I ordered delivery, which can be a shaky proposition, but seeing Michoacan\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnitas206.com\">website<\/a> proudly displays an \u201cOrder Now\u201d link, I feel like I was operating within acceptable boundaries.<\/p>\n<p>At &#36;3.49 a pop, the tacos are a smidgen more expensive than their truck brethren\u2014that\u2019s fine. And it would be even more OK if I received all three tacos. Instead, I was delivered only two\u2014the carnitas were left out\u2014in a less-than-stellar presentation.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"\/depos\/carnitas-michoacan\/t1.webp\" alt=\"Messy tacos in a box\" width=\"1024\"><figcaption class=\"box\">I mean, really\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I get it. A bumpy ride\u2014a <em>very<\/em> bumpy ride\u2014could be the culprit, and with some goodwill, I managed to reassemble the tacos. That\u2019s when it became clear that one was missing, and that\u2019s far more difficult to excuse.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, had the tacos at least been acceptable, I could have lived with it, but oof. We\u2019re talking stale tortillas\u2026 <\/p>\n<figure><a href=\"\/depos\/carnitas-michoacan\/t2.webp\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"\/depos\/carnitas-michoacan\/t2.webp\" alt=\"Torn apart taco in a box\" width=\"1024\"><\/a> <figcaption class=\"box\">Careful as I was, a stale tortilla couldn\u2019t do the most basic of task.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2026 with cardboard texture incapable of holding chewy, bland lengua, inconsistently chopped onion, and a passable chorizo. The latter was not enough to add much of anything to the meal.<\/p>\n<p>At this point in my life, I rarely bother writing about low-quality food. I find it dull, and the Yelps of the world are littered with angry opinions. Once in a while, though, something like this comes around, and it\u2019s my civic duty to let the world know, particularly when Michoacan placed on the Times\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/life\/food-drink\/our-food-critic-ate-500-tacos-around-western-washington-to-pick-his-top-30\/\">top 30 list<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are good tacos, there are bad tacos, and there are messy tacos\u2014Michoacan exists firmly in the latter two categories.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Carmelo\u2019s Tacos",
            "description": "A strong contender for Seattle\u2019s best Mexican food.",
            "date_published": "2023-10-24T11:21:59-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/carmelo-s-tacos",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/carmelo-s-tacos",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/resources\/\/3147.jpeg",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>Gushing over a quesadilla might seem unseemly for a tortillaphile\u2014it is, after all, the more banal of tortilla-based dishes. But the heart craves what the heart craves, and my heart unapologetically craves Carmelo\u2019s quesadillas.<\/p>\n<p>So, as to not get ahead of myself, it\u2019s helpful to have an idea of how Carmelo\u2019s ordering system works. Here, you walk up to a kiosk, place your order, and head inside a convenience store to pick up your food. There\u2019s even a small bar area where you can sit and enjoy your meal.<\/p>\n<p>The system is a little Soup Nazi-esque, except friendly. Soup Allies, if you so like.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"three\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/resources\/\/3147.jpeg\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/resources\/\/3147.jpeg\" alt=\"Quesadillas\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/carmelo-s-tacos-1\/2.jpeg\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/carmelo-s-tacos-1\/2.jpeg\" alt=\"Tacos\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/carmelo-s-tacos-1\/3.jpeg\" class=\"lightbox\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/depos\/carmelo-s-tacos-1\/3.jpeg\" alt=\"Pac-Man outside the stand.\"><\/a>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Digression aside: At the bar, you have a perfect view of how the magic happens. The tomatillo salsa is prepared right in front of you, as are the tortillas\u2014both glorious in confident, no-frills flavors. That is no backhanded compliment, and it is something of an emerging mantra around these parts. If you can return the palate back to its core and still make it flavor-forward, then bravo. It\u2019s an underappreciated balancing act.<\/p>\n<p>With the addition of tender meat and a well-charred tortilla, you have a package that is something truly special.<\/p>\n<p>And let\u2019s toss in a special side recommendation for the veggie tacos. Often, these are served with some hastily saut\u00e9ed vegetables, but not surprisingly, Carmelo\u2019s steps up the game. The veggies are diced uniformly, and the flavors are carefully balanced. Again, a palate that is scaled back to let the base flavors do the talking.<\/p>\n<p>Carmelo\u2019s might just be a contender for Seattle\u2019s tortilla crown. Banal as the quesadilla may seem on paper\u2014when done right, it\u2019s a work of high art. And Carmelo\u2019s is an artist of a Mexican food.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Taqueria La Original 2",
            "description": "Maybe it\u2019s the original, but \u201cthe original\u201d doesn\u2019t always mean \u201cthe best.\u201d",
            "date_published": "2023-10-20T10:19:48-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/taqueria-la-original-2",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/taqueria-la-original-2",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/taqueria-la-original-2\/Original.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>Taqueria La Original 2\u2014The Original Taqueria 2? A paradoxical name, for sure, and I can\u2019t help but admire the chutzpah of calling yourself the <em>original<\/em> taqueria in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, be it the cradle or not, I\u2019m not sure Taqueria La Original can be called a top-tier taco truck, at least not within Tortillaphilia\u2019s purview. It\u2019s good\u2014<em>good-plus<\/em>, even\u2014but not quite great, and it\u2019s hard to quantify exactly why that is. I don\u2019t have any huge quibbles with the tacos, and even though I don\u2019t downright love them, I at least have an infatuation with them, foibles aside.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/taqueria-la-original-2\/Original.webp\" alt=\"Tacos in a container\"><figcaption class=\"box\">Snug as a bug in a rug\u2014to the point it was hard to get my hands on the tacos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The chorizo is spicy enough not to need any additional salsa, which is good\u2014chorizo should have enough of a punch to stand on its own. Yet, it\u2019s not enough to make up for the over-generous use of salt which robs us of what could have been a <em>great<\/em> chorizo experience.<\/p>\n<p>The tortillas themselves are fine vessels for the toppings, no problem. That\u2019s not a given\u2014we\u2019ve all been victims of soggy tortillas falling apart in our hands. Solid as they are, I do wish they had a pinch more flavor, as they\u2019re fairly bland.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, and weirdly: While four tacos for &#36;11 is a good deal, getting them out of the container is difficult. The box clearly was not designed to hold that much food, and for a hot second, I was afraid I would tear asunder the tacos. Treat them gingerly, and you\u2019ll be OK.<\/p>\n<p>I really don\u2019t want to come out sounding too negative about Taqueria La Original 2, as they\u2019re perfectly good. And they should be visited by every tortillaphile. Make them part of a taco crawl down Rainier, and they will hold their own against many others.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Jackalope Tex-Mex & Cantina",
            "description": "Nineties aestethics married with a modern, northwest take on Tex-Mex make for a winner.",
            "date_published": "2023-10-18T09:04:22-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/jackalope-tex-mex-cantina",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/jackalope-tex-mex-cantina",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/jackalope-tex-mex-cantina\/Relleno.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>We semi-recently featured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.awesomenessdigest.com\/p\/jackalope-tex-mex-and-cantinas-brisket\">Jackalope\u2019s brisket enchiladas<\/a> in our parent publication, The Awesomeness Digest, and were suitably impressed. Big Tex-Mex flavors married with Pacific Northwest grunge sensibilities made for good eats. And, much that was said about the enchiladas can be said about Jackalope\u2019s chile relleno, too.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/jackalope-tex-mex-cantina\/Relleno.webp\" alt=\"Chile relleno on a plate.\" width=\"640\">\n<figcaption class=\"box\">It\u2019s basically a work of art.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing particularly subtle about the dish\u2014it\u2019s a flavor punch, yet one that manages to stay on the right side of the line. Even with added brisket (and get the brisket with any dish you can), it doesn\u2019t cross over into overload country. The flavors are big but distinct, centered around the lightly fried pepper. <\/p>\n<p>Cheese: There\u2019s a lot of it. Probably unhealthily so. Yet, it is strikingly light and it melds well with a salsa that\u2019s more fresh than hot. You could conceivably delude yourself into thinking it\u2019s a healthy meal.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the feat, really\u2014Jackalope stuffs its chile relleno with bigger-than-life flavors yet balances them such that you yourself don\u2019t feel stuffed. It\u2019s almost poetic.<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of reasons to make Jackalope a regular stop, relleno and enchiladas aside. They have a queso that you want to be friends with and rockfish tacos that songs should be\u2014and possibly have been\u2014written about. The nineties-rock aesthetics are top-shelf, too.<\/p>\n<p>Frankly, Jackalope is the one to beat when it comes to creative takes on classic dishes in a sit-down environment. That four-Mushroom rating? We don\u2019t give those away willy-nilly.<\/p>\n<p>And Jackalope is handily a four-Mushroom establishment.<\/p>"
        },
        {
            "title": "Tacos Chuck\u00eds",
            "description": "Fresh flavors and original (yet grounded) ideas.",
            "date_published": "2023-10-16T09:52:08-07:00",
            "id": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-chuckis",
            "url": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/tacos-chuckis",
            "image": "https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/tacos-chuckis\/c.webp",
            "authors": [
                {
                    "name": "Remi"
                }
            ],
            "content_html": "<p>This local chain serves up classic tacos with just a smattering of finesse. Its namesake chorizo taco comes topped not only with cheese and guacamole but also a grilled pineapple. It\u2019s not a significant addition, but I appreciate the ingenuity, and the tangy fruit pairs well with the spicy meat.<\/p>\n<p>Too, Chuck\u00eds\u2019 use of technology is what a curmudgeon\u2019s dream is made of. You can place your order on counter-mounted iPads without having to talk to anyone\u2014the order will be served at your table. And, bonus points for the \u201cbabyBurritos\u201d\u2014taco-sized burritos. That\u2019s proper gumption.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/tortillaphilia.com\/\/depos\/tacos-chuckis\/c.webp\" alt=\"A pineapple-topped taco.\" width=\"640\">\n<figcaption class=\"box\">Chuck\u00eds is all about the variety.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Over its decade-plus existence, Chuk\u00eds has built up enough of a following to earn a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tacos_Chukis\">Wikipedia entry<\/a>, proving it has its share of cultural relevance. Enough so that, paired with its classic-yet-creative dishes, it should be a given stop for any taco crawl.<\/p>\n<p>Find all of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlechukis.com\/\">Chuk\u00eds\u2019 locations<\/a> on their website. <\/p>"
        }
    ]
}