Here’s Part II of Deep and Radical’s discussion of San Luis County Mexican food. Here are some tasty establishments in some of the more overlooked and forgotten parts of the area. Take a little trip and go check them out.
San Miguel
Most know this dusty corner of SLO County’s for pleasant rolling hills, wineries, and the conveniently located Dos Hermanos. It’s a great spot for sure, with fresh made pan dulce and a bomb breakfast burrito. Their extra- tripey menudo is a world beating hangover cure. Best of all is their special weekend birria served in a burrito, torta, or taco. They make this traditional stew with beef or goat and all sorts of mystical peppers and spices and other things I’m not worthy to know about.
While their specials are great, Dos Hermanos struggles to deliver decent carne asada, the backbone of the Californian Mexican restaurant. A lack of good grilled meat can crush a community but fortunately San Miguel is home to one of the great Central Coast secret eateries. So secret I don’t even know the name of the place. It’s generally referred to as Tacos Sucios, or el Mercado Sospechoso. I hate to see burrito and taco loving bros and ladies going without burritos and tacos, so I’ll just say drive around San Miguel until you find the sketchiest looking corner market.
The restaurant is hidden in the back of the corner store, which is a sketchy delight in its own right. Place your order at the “window” crudely cut into the poorly constructed plywood separation. The tacos come piled ridiculously high with juicy meat and the standard taco fixings. The tortas are towers of sandwiches, sloppily loaded with ultra-generous portions of meat and guac. While frequenting Tacos Sucios, Deep and Rad was working physical labor and didn’t care if I came back from lunch stained by sour cream and salsa, but this should be a very real concern for people who actually have to look professional at their places of work. You will get messy.
Guadalupe
It’s a stretch including Guadalupe in this overview of San Luis Obispo County Mexican food,seeing as Guadalupe is actually in Santa Barbara County. But it’s so close to the border, just past the river, that I’m going to include it anyway. It’s such a cool and forgotten place I wish we could redraw the borders to claim Guad as part of SLO county. Fudging the lines would increase our tasty Mexican food quotient by about 30%.
Guadalupe is a small, sandy town with a good Mexican food concentration superior to anywhere in SLO County. Main Street is lined with many quality joints and markets, classic hole-in-the-ways and fancier sit down establishments. The gem in Main Street’s crown is the Guadalupe Café. Like the town in general, the Café has an eccentric and relaxed vibe, with a minor shady streak. Something about their extensive collection of elephant trinkets, knick-knacks, curios, and objet d’art is supremely uplifting. The Guadalupe Café’s unique cooking approach compliments their funky, cactus garden interior. They have a stupendous Monster Burrito and all sorts of awesome combos. Rumors about a world-class breakfast burrito have yet to be confirmed, which is just another excuse to head on down to Guad Town.
Best Carne Asada Burrito in the County
Every burrito has its day. Los Osos Mexican Market on days of supreme hunger. Tonita’s for the hazy wee hours. Chipotle after when a horse kicks you in the head. They’re all good for a certain times and mindsets. It feels arbitrary to assign a burrito the “best” title. After all, one man’s favorite burrito is another man’s Crunch Wrap Supreme. Still, maybe my choice for best carne asada burrito interest some folks.
Deep and Radical endorses La Tapatia in Oceano, not only for best carne asada burrito, but also best all around Mexican restaurant experience. It’s really good. I don’t think there’s more to say than that. Just go check it out sometime.
Deep and Radical 