Sometimes, I get a craving for a special, one of a kind flavor. A unique taste— one that always conjures up a different memory from my adolescence in LA. This time, it’s an image of two large brown cardboard pastry boxes sitting in the basket of my old Schwinn, holding warm, delicious loot for a guest house full of hungry stoners. These boxes might as well contain the key to my heart: Tito’s Tacos.
If you’ve never been to Tito’s, you might not understand what I’m talking about. You might think it’s easy to satisfy a burrito craving in this city. Just stop at one of the many trucks, carts, or restaurants that proudly showcase their meat on a spit.
But then tell me:
Why did my uncle Bob, visiting from Oregon, stash 24 burritos in a carry-on for his trip back to Portland?
Why did my brother, upon getting his pilot’s license, fly into Santa Monica airport from SF, just to pick up Tito’s for dinner?
Why am I, right now, sitting in rush hour gridlock, on my way to Culver City?
For the burritos: hearty refried beans, wrapped together with freshly grated cheddar cheese in a solid, perfectly thick and somehow stretchy XL tortilla.
For the tacos: huge, crunchy, with or without fresh cheddar cheese.
For the chips: So many chips. Chips for days. Chunky salsa included.
It’s hard to even explain! On the page here, it seems pretty run of the mill, but it has some sort of “In-N-Out” effect. It’s not just burritos and tacos… it’s Tito’s!
Maybe you just have to try it. The recipe is certainly not traditional, but judging by Tito’s 60+ years of service, I reckon it might be one day.
I’ll leave you with their jingle— which I used to hear nearly every other day on local TV in my youth:
“The only thing better than a Tito’s taco is two.”
Tito’s Tacos
11222 Washington Place
Culver City, CA 90230
M-Sun 11:00AM-8:00PM$ Parking: Lot My Order: Bean & Cheese Burrito, Two Tacos w/ Cheese, Medium Guacamole, Horchata. Pro Tip: The salsa is included— if you order enough for a medium box, they will include a medium salsa. Pairs Well With: Abba Padre Bikes and Books (350ft), The Cozy Bar (350ft)
It's an institution in West LA!