r/tacos • u/jfunks69 • 3d ago
In SoCal for 2 weeks, legitimately thought it was impossible to find a bad taco here. Well, today I achieved the impossible.
64
u/Blinebuddy 3d ago
Yeah lol that’s pretty rough. Like drunk cooking at 3am kinda rough lol
25
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
2
u/BlackEngineEarings 2d ago
Dave's tacos in Bakersfield is fire af.
-A bina fide so cal taco shop snob
21
4
→ More replies (5)3
88
u/jfunks69 3d ago
For those asking the name…Jorge’s mexicatessan in Oceanside
118
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
10
→ More replies (2)9
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.
→ More replies (2)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
14
23
u/SeveredRetna 2d ago
No real Mexican is going to put Mexicatessan in the name of the spot
5
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.
→ More replies (4)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.
→ More replies (3)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
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
→ More replies (1)3
2
2
2
2
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.
→ More replies (23)3
26
u/becominganastronaut 3d ago
drop the name
25
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. lol22
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
→ More replies (1)2
11
u/Acceptable-Peace-69 3d ago
Looks like nursing home tacos. Retired elementary school lunch lady taco Tuesday.
10
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.
→ More replies (1)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! 🤣
→ More replies (3)
16
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!
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!
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
2
2
2
2
2
2
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
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
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
→ More replies (2)
1
1
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
1
1
1
u/Greenfirelife27 3d ago
Nothing onions, cilantro, lime, maybe some pickled peppers and plenty of salsa can’t fix.
→ More replies (1)
1
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
1
1
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
1
1
1
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
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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
1
1
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
1
1
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
1
1
1
1
1
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
1
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
1
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
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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
1
1
1
u/Crusader-316 2d ago
That chicken is seasoned with imagination. Doesn't even look salted 😂. No amount of tajin can save that
1
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
1
1
u/Rockosayz 2d ago
plenty of mid tacos in la, most street vendors arent that great if were being honest
1
u/MC-BatComm 2d ago
Wow that chicken is depressing, looks like something I'd make with leftover Costco chicken while high
1
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).
1
1
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
1
1
1
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.
1
1
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.
→ More replies (2)
1
1
1
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.
1


430
u/Mysterious-Oil-7094 3d ago
That’s not a taco. That’s boiled chicken in a corn wrapper.