Dine / The Taco Stand
FOOD & DRINK
From Scratch
ENJOY TAQUERIA FAVORITES AT THE TACO STAND , WHERE EVERYTHING IS MADE BY HAND .
By ASHLEY RYAN
Clockwise , from top left : nopal ( left ) and polla asado tacos with an al pastor volcan ( back ); grilled corn on the cob , chips with guacamole and bottles of Coca- Cola ; carne asada fries ( foreground ); the dining area inside The Taco Stand
W ith the catchphrase “ hecho a mano ,” or made by hand , it ’ s no wonder the food at The Taco Stand tastes so good .
The eatery — which opened in Laguna Beach in January but has been a popular place to grab tacos , burritos and other Mexican fare in San Diego since the original La Jolla location opened in 2013 , with lines often snaking out the door — is already attracting local attention . It ’ s in the remodeled South Coast Highway space previously
occupied by one of the oldest Taco Bell restaurants . Grab a spot in the dining room , where you can watch as the chefs prepare your meal in the open kitchen , or warm up near the fire pit on the patio .
Inside , a refrigerator holds bottled Coca-Cola , tea , Topo Chico mineral water , imported beer and bottled sangria while a salsa bar presents seven different options , from more mild options like the fresh pico de gallo and cilantro salsas to spicy chipotle and habanero varieties .
With a somewhat simplistic menu , it ’ s easy to pick out what you want to try , and there are still plenty of options for customizing your meal . Start with the “ extras ,” like the chips with house-made guacamole or the grilled corn on the cob , made with Parmesan cheese , mayo and chile powder . Another favorite , the carne asada fries , features 100 % Angus beef scattered over crisp fries then topped with that same guac , sour cream and a thick layer of gooey cheese . ( Don ’ t forget to return to this menu at the end of your meal for churros , also made fresh in-house and served with sweetened condensed milk for dipping .)
The bulk of the menu showcases the brand ’ s tacos and burritos , which are plentiful . Meat lovers will rejoice over the flamegrilled carne asada or pollo asado tacos , served simply with cilantro , onions , salsa and guacamole , while those who prefer seafood can choose from the grilled pescado , battered Baja or spicy camaron ( shrimp ).
But there are veggie-friendly taco options as well , including fillings like the sauteed mushroom or the nopal , which combines cactus , melted cheese , cilantro salsa , tomato and avocado for a unique bite . And , of course , the corn tortillas for all are made right there in The Taco Stand kitchen .
Many of the same proteins are offered in the burritos , though the Mar y Tierra , made with Angus steak and grilled shrimp , is the Laguna location ’ s bestseller . The California burrito , another steak variety that contains fries , is also popular .
But don ’ t skip over the secret menu items : tostadas , called volcans , available with either al pastor or carne asada . While both have cheese baked onto the tortilla , and are topped with onions , cilantro and salsa ( a cilantro one for the al pastor and mild version for the carne asada ), the al pastor is cooked rotisserie-style and also has a touch of sweetness from slices of juicy pineapple .
The menu at The Taco Stand may not be vast , but the eatery has perfected the art of simple Mexican cuisine — and done it all from scratch . g
THE TACO STAND .: 699 S . Coast Highway ; 949-210-9001 ; letstaco . com HOURS : 10 a . m . to 10 p . m . every day
BOTTOM LEFT : SALSA DIGITAL AGENCY INC .; ALL OTHERS : ASHLEY RYAN
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