El Toro Viejo - Santa Ana

El toro is a good place to stop he and her a real quick taco the buches seem to be cooked with vapor vs lard so there not as greasy so they taste alright

The costillas are always super tender! The fresh tortillas never disappoint. Be sure to ask for extra fresh salsa!! Making tacos on from the costillas is my usual go to!!!

I paid $30 for the carnitas and received overcooked pieces, and I was told to bring them back. I returned everything I hadn’t thrown away but only got back $8 worth of food. I told the manager that I was surprised she expected me to return the meat, as if I was supposed to just throw it back in the bag. I was disappointed with the outcome; it wasn't worth the wait, and the service was lacking. I almost wanted to bring a taco to her and have her take a bite to experience how tough the meat was.

This is the real taco at best! Fresh tortillas wrapping well prepared meats with good pico de Gallo and salsas. I love green salsa or salsa Verde here, and I can almost drink it like an actual drink. The service is a bit crude, but efficient enough. This is a butcher shop, not a sit-down 5 star restaurant. But this is a 6 star meat market. Been coming here since 1977, and things have changed here and there, but it stayed mostly the same. But I miss that big wooden butcher block that the workers used to crowd around to chop up the meat and stick their hack knives directly on the block by the corners. The meat cut up on those wooden block tasted better than it is today. But still, this is as good as it gets for tacos. To wash them down with either Jamaica or Tamarindo in the car is a privilege only available in Santa Ana! Gracias amigos.

My friend came over, and I decided to make tacos for us. Since I had just learned how to use the grill, I wanted to prepare carne asada tacos. Early in the morning, I found a meat shop called "The Egg Yolk" and stopped by. I picked up some raw carne asada and other ingredients from the market. On my way to the car, I noticed a line outside the meat shop, and I decided to grab some goat meat as well. That turned out to be the best decision! I bought a pound of birria and made delicious birria quesadillas with a side of each. I paired the birria meat with fresh purple onions and lime. Every bite was heavenly! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I will definitely be back for more!