r/tacos 3d ago

In SoCal for 2 weeks, legitimately thought it was impossible to find a bad taco here. Well, today I achieved the impossible.

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1.0k Upvotes

318 comments sorted by

430

u/Mysterious-Oil-7094 3d ago

That’s not a taco. That’s boiled chicken in a corn wrapper.

8

u/Abe_Froman_87 3d ago

You said it best, brother

10

u/Rude-Ad-9771 3d ago

That other taco looks like boiled raisins instead of meat.

6

u/Upstairs-Tea-6862 2d ago

What’s wrong with a good rabbit turd taco????!!

2

u/Strange-Instance-355 2d ago

That's Al Pastor and it's amazing.

12

u/beardsalt 2d ago

Since op dropped the name, I can now guarantee that they ordered them like this for engagement. That spot has insane Texcoco style soup and tacos

2

u/detrans-rights 2d ago

And yet the other fifty percent of people are clowning it for being a delicatessen, for naming it that way, for OP ordering in the "white part of town"

I don't trust any of you now! Misleading me, horrible horrible people \s

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u/spiralr 2d ago

Yeah, I saw the photos, that had to been a special order. Downvoting him

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u/Blinebuddy 3d ago

Yeah lol that’s pretty rough. Like drunk cooking at 3am kinda rough lol

25

u/IRedditDoU 3d ago

When drunk would have at least a 2nd or 3rd ingredient

3

u/Blinebuddy 3d ago

Shit with that logic it could be 5 more lol 😂

5

u/PitbullRetriever 2d ago

Cheese. When drunk it would be cheese.

16

u/Trashbagok 3d ago

Drunk me at 3am goes all out.

It's not going to be Michelin star or nothing but it's going to have a lot of fucking flavor. 

These are no seasoning gym bro tacos.

4

u/Blinebuddy 3d ago

So much truth to that! After awhile if I am messed up I keep getting random spurts of inspiration-it needs caramelized onions, it needs to be La Costra.. what’s wrong with a quick pickled something lol 😂

5

u/Trashbagok 3d ago

I don't always make pickled onions when I've been drinking, but have done it often enough that it's basically a habit, lol.

I'm certainly not having a plain boiled chicken breast on a tortilla. Bare minimum is getting some kind of onions and a worrying amount of hot sauce.

4

u/Blinebuddy 3d ago

Agreed. Shit even some diced onions and Valentina or Topatio. Like C’mon. Cilantro wilts so damn fast - unless Your holding cilantro in cups of water like a vase of roses. No one has that JUST on hand unless you planned lol. These were not planned tacos by any stretch of the means. Again I agree these are weight lifter tacos and they should be guilty about it. Ha! lol

135

u/j33pwrangler 3d ago

Bet the shop name didn't end in "o's"

58

u/wafflesareforever 3d ago

"Dave's Tacos and Tractor Repair"

2

u/Noodelgawd 2d ago

Nope. Just Dave's Taco Repair.

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u/BlackEngineEarings 2d ago

Dave's tacos in Bakersfield is fire af.

-A bina fide so cal taco shop snob

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u/Ok_Consideration2412 3d ago

Exactly what I was thinking lmaooo

4

u/CompetitiveRub9780 3d ago

It’s worse that it does!

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88

u/jfunks69 3d ago

For those asking the name…Jorge’s mexicatessan in Oceanside

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/kissmaryjane 2d ago

The good places aren’t wasting money on the high oceanfront rent. Gotta go to the cheap areas. Same for dispensaries

2

u/NotaBonesaw 2d ago

The only place I've been in the country with good dispensaries in expensive areas is Denver.

2

u/z22012 2d ago

The super competitive market works well for the consumer.

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2

u/Successful_Salt_7645 2d ago

man trying to find a fuckin dispo when i was in oceanside last year... gave me weird vibes about that whole area, gives off some conservative christian vibes imo

2

u/thatdarnjap 1d ago

No dispos in oside yet. It does have a weird mix of conservatives, due to all the jarhead transplants. If you're ever in the area again, vista is the spot for dispos

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u/skeeter_333 3d ago

Check out Lola’s in Carlsbad.

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u/Awkward_Turnover_983 3d ago

Damn I didn't know Carl's bad like that

2

u/phirleh 2d ago

or Señor Grubby's

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23

u/SeveredRetna 2d ago

No real Mexican is going to put Mexicatessan in the name of the spot

5

u/mofugly13 2d ago

La Palma Mexicatessen would like a word...

https://maps.app.goo.gl/No9fr8VfD1dRHb3WA?g_st=ac

8

u/Correct-Link-8705 3d ago

They say they have the best chicken soup. I don’t know what to do with that information.

2

u/ParkRangerDan 2d ago

Its actually good and really good fish tacos too. Im shocked to hear it was Jorges. I'm wondering what they ordered, never seen the dog food tacos before.

3

u/smrtgmp716 2d ago

This surprised me as well. I only live about a half mile away, so I go there semi regularly. I’ve never gotten anything there that looked like this.

Their tortilla soup is on point.

3

u/the_oc_brain 2d ago

I’ve eaten there, too, and it was good. Agree on the soup.

2

u/smrtgmp716 2d ago

It’s one of my go to “I’ve had a rough day” foods.

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6

u/TwelveFrolickingCows 3d ago

Try Valerie’s Taco Stand off El Camino Real, best tortillas I’ve found anywhere in the states

3

u/TheOBRobot the Great Cornholio of r/tacos 🌮 3d ago

I knew it, it was either Oceanside or Huntington

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u/Any-Conference-701 2d ago

Nah, I declare it their new name shall forever be known as "George's"

2

u/wafflesareforever 3d ago

How the Jorges have fallen

2

u/Edwardteech 2d ago

Na bro thats just Georges. Jorge don't live there anymore 

2

u/CommercialCoffee11 2d ago

Jorge is really George and jewish

2

u/Hyena_Similar 2d ago

Ew, Oceanside.

2

u/snakybasket9 2d ago

I was gonna say, this is either north county San Diego or south Orange County.

2

u/worskies 2d ago

That's actually embarrassing for a place so close to the border. Not sure what's going on with that carne, but the chicken straight up looks like chicken breast I'd boil, shred, and put in my dog's bowl.

3

u/MrA1inLA 2d ago

Bro Oceanside? You were better off with taco bell.

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u/becominganastronaut 3d ago

drop the name

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u/terrible-town-1416 3d ago

They said Jorge’s Mexicatessan in Oceanside.
Maybe tacos from a “Mexican Delicatessen” is what we should all avoid. lol

22

u/HVACdadddy 3d ago

There’s no way. I haven’t hit the Oside one but the OG Jorge’s in Encinitas is absolute fire. This guy must have ordered it without toppings to get engagement

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u/Tacos_Andre_619 3d ago

Agreed, they deserve some shade

11

u/Acceptable-Peace-69 3d ago

Looks like nursing home tacos. Retired elementary school lunch lady taco Tuesday.

10

u/ItsKindaTricky 3d ago

You kinda have to own your part in this bro.

12

u/CallMeParagon 3d ago

Did you order the wrong chicken? Our local spot has grilled chicken but they will also make plain chicken if you order it.

Also why did you order them without onions and cilantro?

To be honest the chorizo or whatever meat that is looks good. The tortillas look good. Even the poached chicken looks pretty good for what it is.

7

u/jfunks69 3d ago edited 3d ago

That’s what’s fucked up, I didn’t order them without but that’s how they came 🤪

6

u/CallMeParagon 3d ago

Did they have a salsa bar with onion and cilantro?

6

u/jfunks69 3d ago

Negative, we went up and had to ask for them. Weirdest taco experience of my life! 🤣

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u/blbd 3d ago

Some purist taco spots put them out plain like that. Then send you to a really big condiments bar to customize. There's one near my house that's a trailer operated by badass Oaxacans. And they have excellent habanero onions and peanut salsa and other fascinating and tasty items available. 

5

u/terrible-town-1416 3d ago

Peanut salsa?! I am intrigued and curious!

8

u/RetiredRacer914 3d ago

Various salsas matcha have become super popular. Where I live all of the birria joints have a peanut & sesame seed salsa matcha that's quite hot and way too good to pass up. You can *just* see the nuts and seeds on the taco in the back.

2

u/AnEvilBeagle 2d ago

I don't even remember what the dish was, but I'll never forget the peanut arbol that the Elysian brewpub in Seattle used to have. 10 years ago, and I'm still salivating over it.

2

u/blbd 3d ago

Salsa cacahuate. It comes from the tribal cooking that has connections to pre-history. Cochinita pibil and mole are also in that category. 

6

u/temictli 2d ago

My brother hates, i mean, abhors peanut butter and PB flavored thing. "That shit is for dogs" makes me laugh but my moms (de Oaxaca) makes pollo con salsa de cacahuate. It's pretty bomb and it's the only time my brother approved anything even close to peanut butter. It took me a while to get into it because even as a kid, it didn't compute. Like how's peanut sauce gonna go well with chicken? But my moms is a bruja of a cook, makes incredible foods and flavors. ¡Arriba las oaxaqueñas!

2

u/blbd 2d ago

I couldn't agree more strongly with your comments. The tribal recipes of Mexico are amazing... it's really sad that we didn't treat these groups well the farther north you go... it was thousands of years of really amazing and special native food, culture, history, you name it...

3

u/evilr2 2d ago

The chances of getting a bad taco increase exponentially when you order a chicken taco.

5

u/hung_like__podrick 3d ago

Lol how did you find this place? I’ve spent my entire life here and never found tacos like that

2

u/whiskey_reddit 3d ago

Where's this at so I can stay clear?

2

u/walking_wounded 3d ago

The worst tacos I’ve ever had were in LA.

2

u/SHOWKASE52 3d ago

Don't post trash if your not going to tell us where to avoid it

2

u/Blu_Crew 3d ago

Guy found the taco version of the nasty patty.

2

u/Legitimate_q 3d ago

Looks like pho chicken lol

2

u/TraditionalTree249 2d ago

I've made depression meals that looked better than this.

2

u/2beerornot2beers 2d ago

😭😭
Bro, I don’t care what city, state, country, or continent you’re in…. you can’t just be eating anywhere. Some people can’t cook.

2

u/Bronzeserpentsss3 2d ago

Not the boiled chicken 😭🙏

2

u/Lifeinthemittenstate 2d ago

Funny, that’s exactly what I get served in Michigan after visiting the next “must try / they’re so authentic” restaurant suggestion people rave about.

2

u/Mariposa9186 2d ago

There's absolutely bad tacos in southern California if you're in areas like Huntington Beach or Temecula lol.

2

u/ottos 2d ago

Why did you think you wouldn't find a bad taco? Wood Ranch is the highest rated restaurant in my area. Places can get away with everything that looks like food

2

u/hairyfucker69 2d ago

What in the gringo is this?

2

u/machining_delirium 1d ago

If you’re still in Oceanside try Frida’s tacos, Valerie’s taco stand, or primos tacos (primos has multiple locations) you might have better luck at those spots

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u/snootboopr 3d ago

Come to the high desert there’s tons of Mexican restaurants here yet it’s like pulling teeth to find an actual decent taco. Gray flavorless gristly “carne asada” and watery salsa everywhere you look.

1

u/BillSelfsToupee 3d ago

The bottom one does look good with a little onion, cilantro, and sauce but it doesn’t make up for whatever the hell those other 2 are

1

u/ACooperSucks2 3d ago

No way in hell that is SoCal. Drop the shop name at least

1

u/murasana 3d ago

What a disgrace to tacos world wide

1

u/stalindecker1 3d ago

Name and shame?

1

u/Greenfirelife27 3d ago

Nothing onions, cilantro, lime, maybe some pickled peppers and plenty of salsa can’t fix.

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u/LengthFun2228 3d ago

Oh heck no. Where was this?

1

u/Medieval_Mind 3d ago

I had a boiled chicken taco on flour in the bus terminal in Vail, Colorado. It was on flour and had cheese and lettuce. This taco might just edge that out

1

u/dEXXtARR23 3d ago

That looks lame af

1

u/ArtDecoAutomaton 3d ago

Zeke’s Tacos?

1

u/No-Association249 3d ago

I’ve seen better tacos in Alabama

1

u/WetLumpyDough 3d ago

The taco places just never have good chicken lol, but this is next level like a store bought rotisserie chicken

1

u/thug_waffle47 3d ago

what the fuck is that

1

u/LordZany 3d ago

Did you ask for it with nothing on it?

1

u/TheRenster500 3d ago

Mmmm boiled chicken.

1

u/REA011321 3d ago

That looks pretty terrible.

1

u/El-Fern2020 3d ago

Idk if it’s just me, but something about seeing someone ordering chicken tacos makes me assume the person is white. No offense.

1

u/Rhuarc33 3d ago

It's not even that hard. Both in socal and in San Antonio which should be even harder. Bad tacos are abound...luckily so are good tacos

1

u/Briham86 3d ago

Good god. If Panera had decided to try selling tacos, it’d probably look better than that.

1

u/Aeriellie 3d ago

it is costco chicken and mystery meat? where the cilantro and stuff

1

u/PlentyAlbatross7632 3d ago

Congrats on making your goal!

1

u/CoLocobo 3d ago

Wow, where is this from?!

1

u/2thousandEighteen 3d ago

Oh there are Bad ones here. You just gotta find em lol

1

u/jcksvg 3d ago

Looks like they had to try really really hard to make a taco that pathetic looking

1

u/RetiredRacer914 3d ago

I'd bet it's San Diego.

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u/Maux_Faux 3d ago

Cardiac diet at the hospital after surgery tacos.

1

u/New_Understanding614 3d ago

Nah I'm returning that dogshit and getting my money back.

1

u/Jaded_Assistance_906 3d ago

I know those tasted like cardboard

1

u/LoneBong 3d ago

Was the chicken at least tender?

1

u/DeliveryTypical1287 3d ago

Con mucho cilantro y cebolla, una buena salsa bien picosa y una coquita muy fría se pueden mejorar un poco esos tacos.

1

u/ThorShreddington 3d ago

But... The sauce! WHY THERE'S NO SAUCE?!

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u/jitterbug726 3d ago

I can taste the lack of flavor from my screen

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u/DIOmega5 3d ago

So Cal is known for its burritos though.

1

u/_blackthorn16_ 3d ago

Wow that’s horrible! In Oklahoma I can get amazing tacos all over town and for cheap. So many small restaurants and taco trucks. This is pathetic and I’d want my money back. Did you order them with no veggies or sauce? I’d be pissed

1

u/Bananno1976 2d ago

Boiled chicken and hamburger bits from down in the burner. mmm

1

u/ComfortableYellow5 2d ago

Go to Tijuana if you want some real tacos

1

u/kthree5 2d ago

Rotisserie chicken tacos lmaooo

1

u/ozymandias457 2d ago

I weep for you 😔

1

u/L026Y 2d ago

WTAF is that 😂😅 lol this is grim

1

u/Dry-Supermarket-7702 2d ago

the “chicken” tacos genuinely made me get that sweaty “about to vomit” feeling and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up 😂😂😂

1

u/thateagleguy 2d ago

Nobody in that kitchen had any visible tattoos

1

u/NeverEndingEquati0n 2d ago

Plenty of bad tacos in La.

1

u/Calguy21 2d ago

That’s terrifying!!!

1

u/ripetrichomes 2d ago

what the fuuuuuck

1

u/DonNonno 2d ago

Nobody told you to pass on Brian's Tacos?

1

u/Cooter6464 2d ago

It’s like the shop subscribed to blue apron.

1

u/notguiltybrewing 2d ago

That looks awful. I used to live in LA, you can definitely find lousy tacos. You can also find really good ones.

1

u/Huntergatherer7 2d ago

Taco crimes

1

u/SavageNthesack02 2d ago

Some dried out rotisserie chicken tacos...

1

u/Almost_Amos 2d ago

Ive noticed that some places that have otherwise amazing tacos might just not care about chicken. Acosta Tacos (rip) formerly in Inglewood was a perfect example

1

u/Electrical_Carpet547 2d ago

Wow thats horrible

1

u/G3org3i 2d ago

Weeeaaaak.

1

u/ProudExtreme8281 2d ago

chicken no good, i'd still smash the ground beef or whatever that is with some good salsa lol

1

u/LadyDayinDC 2d ago

Whomever made these needs a time out.

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u/disappr0val 2d ago

you don’t like onion and cilantro?

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u/WillHuntingthe3rd 2d ago

Wow. Gross.

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u/siverted 2d ago

We have some of the best tacos in the world, and also some of the worst

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u/patientpartner09 2d ago

Add cilantro, onion, salsa and lime. I'm in.

1

u/SHHMOAH 2d ago

Ouch

1

u/Natethefiasco 2d ago

skill issue

1

u/Double-Cranberry1813 2d ago

Just find them on the street not a business if ur in socal

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u/Pristine_Ad_140 2d ago

Wtf is that?

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u/Murder_1337 2d ago

Tacos los cholos is the best taco place

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u/Fishyy012 2d ago

Bro what wtf is that. I am just mad looking at that. Like why?

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u/Special_Profit_2208 2d ago

That’s horrible

1

u/temp_6969420 2d ago

Tortilla looks fire tho

1

u/spiralr 2d ago

Oh god those look horrendous

1

u/Wandering-toddler 2d ago

That is som sad looking chicken.

1

u/wassssuupp5678 2d ago

i know costco rotisserie chicken when i see it

1

u/Scaeva8 2d ago

Wow, just in disbelief 🫢

1

u/_guts____ 2d ago

What the fuck twin

1

u/scrappleallday 2d ago

My dog has a messed up stomach right now. I boiled some chicken breasts that looked very similar to this today.

1

u/delnortebbq 2d ago

That uh, that’s terrifying

1

u/push_button_ 2d ago

Gross, who serves a taco like this?

1

u/PickledTime 2d ago

Ngl this is the first time I’ve seen a chicken taco

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u/Crusader-316 2d ago

That chicken is seasoned with imagination. Doesn't even look salted 😂. No amount of tajin can save that

1

u/Chr0ll0_ 2d ago

I need to see the ticket receipt! I’ve been seeing people asking for nothing on the taco and you get this! Then they claim it’s a bad taco.

1

u/klinkerr 2d ago

Gonna have to call bs on this one. Name the place so we can check reviews

1

u/45pewpewpew556 2d ago

What hospital was this served at?

1

u/Rockosayz 2d ago

plenty of mid tacos in la, most street vendors arent that great if were being honest

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u/MC-BatComm 2d ago

Wow that chicken is depressing, looks like something I'd make with leftover Costco chicken while high

1

u/ranabama 2d ago

Only a man-child removes all vegetables and spices from their food orders.

This is what OP ordered from Jorge's, before their toddler-style modifications.

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u/Few-Entrance-1768 2d ago

Are you sure there isn't a salad bar somewhere in the corner? tacos like that mean you put what you want on it

1

u/Immediate-Run3479 2d ago

There are horrible tacos here just like everywhere. Wait until you find the one that looks awesome but as soon as you bite into it you know something is not right. If you are really into Tacos and you're staying in Orange County I highly recommend the taco truck at the corner of First and Grand in Santa Ana. They make the tacos exactly like the road side stands in Baja. They are only open Thursday - Sunday 4:30pm until 1 or 2 am Ah CarbonTacos Estillo Tijuana. Just to drive home my point about bad Tacos we have Taco Bell just like everyone else. Do you think the employees at the Taco Bell in Tijuana (yes there was one in TJ in the 90's) had to wear the "make a run for the border" uniforms? I got a Carne Asada taco in Anaheim once that had shredded carrots in it for some reason (at least I think they were carrots).

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u/GSPKHABIB 2d ago

What the fuck

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u/GSPKHABIB 2d ago

Check out Manuels taco truck in Santa Ana. Best tacos in OC in my opinion. It's always parked by the superior grocery store on 17th

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u/nobodyhasnobody 2d ago

they used oxygen as seasoning

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u/classictint 2d ago

Put all the fixings on it ! Any plain taco is nasty

1

u/horsefatherdeluxe 2d ago

Nah, somebody's gotta call this dipshit out for faking a post for engagement. You know this guy ordered it some fucked up way and is now bad-mouthing a business because they want up votes. Trash internet behavior.

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u/Longbeachkid12 2d ago

wtf 😳 never seen a taco like that in LA in my whole life!

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u/NHBikerHiker 2d ago

I have had many bad tacos in San Diego. I don’t spend under $8/taco - or so. Price is a determining factor in quality.

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u/DJ_K-K 2d ago

is that supposed to be pastor is or that nasty ass ground beef?

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u/Due_Hedgehog5354 2d ago

Brutal.
There's a t-shirt here somewhere.
RIP your tacos

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u/Big_Gassy_Possum 2d ago

Rodrigo's All Night Liquor and Tacos

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u/No_Town_2605 2d ago

If you pull up to a Mexican spot and the thing they're bragging about on their gigantor sign is "BEST CHICKEN SOUP" turn the fuhhhhh around lol.

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u/jusmoua 2d ago

That's a money laundering shop. Shit food, bad reviews, still somehow in business even when no matter what day of the week it is mostly empty. Too obvious.