HomeState is a mini-chain TexMex eatery with eight locations, all in this locale (Hollywood, Highland Park, Playa Vista, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Oceanside, Atwater, and this one in Culver City).
Pulitzer-winning food writer Jonathan Gold once wrote for the LA Times that, “HomeState’s menu could be considered an anthology of Texan folk remedies, from plates of eggy migas, to strong coffee, to Frito pies served steaming in the bag, but on fuzzy mornings, the breakfast tacos may be everything you remember and everything you still crave.”
Gold may have tragically passed away in 2018, but his words will long survive him and he had HomeState nailed. The restaurant says that it aims to be a home away from home, and that comfort-by-design shines through.
“HomeState is a Texas Kitchen in Southern California sharing breakfast tacos, queso, brisket, house-made flour tortillas and genuine hospitality,” they say online. “In 2013, Briana ‘Breezy’ Valdez founded HomeState in Los Angeles with the dream of sharing her Texas identity through food and hospitality.”
Valdez’s dream certainly came true, because the food at HomeState is superb (even if the name makes it sound slightly like an insurance company or something). Importantly, the tacos are incredible, and there are a lot of choices.
We tried two very different tacos. The first was the Potato Taco, which contains potatoes (obviously), cheddar, sour cream, guacamole, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, and pickled jalapeños.
A potato taco doesn’t always sound like the most exciting thing, but this version is sensational. The actual potatoes are fine, and they add nice texture, but all of the other ingredients really bring the flavor.
The pickled jalapeños make the dish dance, while they are perfectly tempered by the guacamole and sour cream. The rich cheddar makes itself known, but the real star here is the cabbage slaw. The crunchy tang, alongside the bite of the fresh and vibrant pico, really brings this awesome taco to life.
Even better, somehow, is the Ft. Wort – spicy achiote chicken, crispy bacon, lettuce, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, and tomatillo ranch.
Again, the pico de gallo and pickled jalapeños are vital, leaving your tongue tingling for a short while after you’ve finished eating. But the chicken is perfectly marinated and it doesn’t fade into the background. The bacon is smoky and glorious, and it’s all tied together by the lettuce and tomato ranch.
The house flour tortillas shouldn’t be overlooked; despite the strong flavors in both tacos, the tortillas don’t allow themselves to be forgotten.
HomeState is located at 10000 Washington Blvd., Unit 104, Culver City 90232. Contact 310-953-4486 and visit myhomestate.com.
