Paris has The Eiffel Tower, ramen noodles are a college student’s best friend, and the hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone. What do they all have in common? Nothing really, I was just getting tired of searching for a way to start this entry.San Diego , Californ-I-A: Home of the Padres, Chargers, and the Taco Shops. The Friars may not have swung their oak into the World Series, Norv Turner might’ve thrown off the tempo of an already on-beat pigskin team, but S.D. Taco Shops never seem to have a bad season. Case in point: carne asada fries. A collaboration of America’s favorite finger food and Latin America’s party chow of choice. If only the United Nations could get along this easy.
This popular San Diego dish starts with a foundation of french fries topped with carne asada (marinated grilled steak), guacamole, cheese, and sour cream . Because I don’t bring a scale with me everywhere I go, I’d have to guesstimate that this meal clocks in at about two pounds or more. Most warriors who attempt to tame this beast tend to splash the monster in hot sauce AKA salsa. I’m a fan of the green salsa; I can’t stand that red stuff. Salsa is a must when it comes to carne asada fries. No salsa is like Tom Selleck with no mustache…it’s just not right and it’s a little disrespectful.
As you fellow San Diegans know, “The Greatest Taco Shop” argument is a very historic and heated debate amongst the San Diego locals. I’ve seen many people get pile driven into the ground for sparking up that never ending cage match. Fact: All San Diegans have a taco shop that they call home and they will defend their shop come hell or high water. My home is the Roberto’s located by the Chargers training camp (5150 Murphy Canyon Rd Ste 109 at Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego, CA 92123). Not only do they have free chips, free hot carrots, and the best salsa, but they also have Street Fighter II. The only fall back to my home taco shop is that they close early compared to the other shops. They close at 10pm while many taco shops are 24 hours. YES, you heard me correct, 24 hour taco shops! Even still, who dares put their taco shop up against mine?
Another weird fact about the San Diego Taco Shop scene is many of the shop names end with “berto’s”. For example (and I’m really not joking), there is a Roberto’s, Alberto’s, Gualberto’s, Nolberto’s, Noberto’s, Humberto’s, Rigoberto’s, Reyberto’s, Eiberto’s, Jilberto’s, Aiberto’s…just to name a few.
So if you’re ever in San Diego make sure you stop by a local taco shop and tell them RamenDays.com sent you. You won’t get any discount by telling them we sent you…we just want you to give us free promotion, haha. Also, make sure you are about 3-4 feet from a bathroom. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
If you don’t like fries you can also get the Carne Asada Chips. MmmMmMMmmm!
8 responses so far ↓
1 I'm going to get some food - Rapmusic.com // Aug 4, 2008 at 6:51 pm
[…] The Staple of San Diego: Carne Asada Fries and Chips | Ghetto Recipes, Good Eatin’…Food For Your M… The making of a fat guy…but soooo bomb! __________________ www.theconcreteproject.com-San Diego’s Live Hip Hop Band www.ramendays.com-RamenDays.com: Ghetto Recipes, Good Eatin’ […]
2 Sarita // Aug 5, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I would have to say that MY favorite taco shop is down the street from where I grew up… and it happens to share my name
Sarita’s Taco Shop in Spring Valley on Campo Rd… I always tell EVERYONE that they HAVE to go there. DELICIOUS. And the meat is juicy and tasty.
PLUS, it has my name.
PLUS PLUS… I’m just glad you didn’t say “Santana’s” because that place is disgusting (the one on Morena Blvd specifically…. went in one time and the bathroom walls were COVERED and SMEARED with feces. Nuff said.)
3 Kirk // Aug 5, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I wish Analberto’s still existed….god only knows what you’d do with that name.
4 Caleb // Aug 6, 2008 at 1:59 pm
@ Sarita: Though I still have to defend my taco shop, I have to say that the further you go down south the better the food tastes. But let me ask you this: Does your taco shop have Street Fighter II? Ohhh Santana’s is my friend Shaun’s favorite place. He likes the one in Point Loma. I might have to get him in here. Good lookin’ out on letting me know about the one on Morena Blvd…I think I’ve eaten there a couple times too. Ewww feces everywhere….
@ Kirk: Analberto’s…it would make a killing in Hillcrest. Hmmm maybe they moved to San Francisco. Are gay jokes bad? I feel bad now? But it soooo funny
5 Sarita // Aug 11, 2008 at 3:29 pm
They didn’t have Street Fighter II, but they did have a cool “neo-geo” multi-game arcade game for a while (until they burned down and rebuilt). At least they have a reliable, clean bathroom.
Um… Analbertos? Disgusting. I’m going to assume they were located on Morena Blvd and changed their name to Santana’s.
6 Caleb // Aug 18, 2008 at 2:45 pm
7 Michelle // Oct 15, 2008 at 12:57 am
bertos at murphy canyon rd. right next to the dance studio has the best carne asada fries & chimis! im a NYer & when I visit SD yearly, its a MUST go to!
8 Caleb // Oct 17, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Leave a Comment