By Trinh Bui
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Good and cheap are the two words you need to know about
Tito’s Tacos in Culver City. The little hole-in-the-wall
restaurant serves the most authentic Mexican food in all of West
Los Angeles. Tito’s is one of those word-of-mouth eateries
that friends recommend to friends. People in the know understand
why the nondescript restaurant is always busy: the food is just too
good to pass up.
Located in the back lot of a seedy Culver City commercial block,
you can easily miss Tito’s if you don’t look carefully.
The restaurant itself isn’t all that much to look at. But you
won’t go for the aesthetics; you’ll go for the
food.
Tito’s prepares everything at the restaurant ““ from
the meat for the burritos to the complimentary tortilla chips. In
fact, the smells of cooking beans and melting cheddar cheese waft
into the adjacent parking lot and offer a savory hint of what is to
come.
There are two ways to order at Tito’s: in a line in front
of the restaurant or in a line inside the restaurant. In any case,
you’ll be standing in a long line. Technically, Tito’s
is a sit down restaurant, but for most people Tito’s is a
walk-through operation. On any given day the lines outside stretch
all the way to the street.
Ordering is made easy by the establishment. Tito’s only
offers the traditional Mexican delicacies, including tamales,
burritos, tacos, enchiladas and, in limited variations: beef or
beans.
At first glance, you will be struck by the prices at
Tito’s. The most expensive item is a whopping $2.75.
That’s probably the reason people leave Tito’s with
boxes and boxes of tacos; everything is so cheap.
A beef burrito is $2.75, beef tacos are $1.15 a piece, an
enchilada is only $1.35 and a bowl of chili con carne is $2.50 for
lunch.
First-timers will be overwhelmed at the portions Tito’s
gives. The tacos are loaded with heaps of crisp shredded lettuce
and mounds of cheddar cheese. The beef burrito is the size of a
baby’s forearm and the enchilada is swimming in a thick red
sauce and smothered with melted cheese.
The tacos are the reason people keep on coming back. They are
huge compared to their Taco Bell counterparts. The tortilla shell
is cooked right in front of you, giving the taco a mean crunch to
counter the chewy meat and vegetables.
Tito’s beef burrito is true to its name: there are no
beans, rice or cheese in them. All you get is a mound of shredded
beef and sauce wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. You have to adjust
your palate to eat what is essentially beef stew, but once you do
the taste is quite satisfying.
The meat has a distinctive smoky flavor and is so soft and
tender it seems to just melt in your mouth. Be careful you’re
not wearing anything you want to keep clean since the sauce will
drip all over the place.
The enchilada and chili con carne don’t fare as well as
the taco and burrito. The enchilada is average. There was really
nothing to it and it was underwhelming, especially after two very
tasty entrees. But compared to the chili con carne, the enchilada
is a masterpiece. The one true let down for an otherwise delightful
meal: the chili con carne is just a bowl of meat.
You really can’t beat Tito’s when it comes to taste
and price. For those people who live for $1.75 subs and
Mongol’s B-B-Q, Tito’s is right up your alley. You can
gorge yourself for a very fair price.
The only drawback is location. Tito’s is about 15 minutes
from Westwood and a quick in-between-class lunch break is pretty
much out of the question unless you plan on violating serious
driving laws. But for the weekend or late night munchies you
can’t go wrong with Tito’s.