We got a hint towards the popularity of Tito’s Tacos when we approached the doors on a Sunday afternoon, and the line to either place or pick up an order stretched around the corner. They needed a security guy on hand, to make sure that everything remained calm, structured and ordered. Apparently, Culver City folk really love their Tito’s Tacos.
“Since 1959, Tito’s Tacos has provided their beloved customers with delicious Mexican Food prepared fresh daily based upon the restaurant’s original recipes,” they say online. “Their award-winning Mexican Food Cuisine has become a longtime favorite for people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds desiring a south-of-the-border eating experience without leaving the greater Los Angeles area. Tito’s Tacos employees are fully trained in how to properly and healthfully prepare each and every menu item in order to achieve the utmost in flavorsome results for people with really good taste.”
Perhaps an element of the secret of their success is the fact that at Tito’s Tacos, they do the simple things very well. In turn, that comes down to the quality of the ingredients and the fact that, as they say, everything is prepared fresh every day.
The menu has everything you’d want it to have, and the smells from the kitchen (plus that aforementioned line of people) would suggest that everything is great.
We were tempted by the Chicken Tamale (“Grilled Cilantro Chicken and Anaheim Green Chili covered in savory Meat Sauce, plus FREE Tortilla Chips & Salsa”), the Enchilada (“Top quality Cheddar Cheese wrapped in a Corn Tortilla and drenched in flavorful Enchilada Sauce, plus FREE Tortilla Chips & Salsa”), the Tostado (“Crispy Corn Tortilla topped in hot refried Beans, sliced Iceberg Lettuce and graded Cheddar Cheese, plus FREE Tortilla Chips & Salsa”) and the Chili Con Carne (“Slow-cooked Chili con Carne with south of the border flavor to savor”).
In the end though, we went with our instincts and opted for the Bean & Rice Burrito. It’s worth noting that, even when having the dish without cheese, it’s not vegan or vegetarian because the beans are cooked in lard.
If you’re not vegan or vegetarian, you’ll be glad of that fact because the lard in the means adds a wonderful, rich flavor. The rice is beautifully seasoned, and it works wonderfully in symbiosis with the beans. The tortilla is crisped to perfection, and the chips that come with it are crunchy and fresh.
Tito really does know what he’s doing.
Tito’s Tacos is located at 11222 Washington Pl., Culver City 90230. Contact 310-391-5780 or visit titostacos.com.