A Trio Of Tacos That Are Truly Transcendent

Yes, California has a gazillion taco trucks, taquerias and Mexican restaurants serving every sort of traditional taco you crave, but here are a few that stand out for being different. Including one that’s a nod to In-n-Out burgers.

This Bay Area-based mini chain should be the template for taco joints of the future. For starters, its menu clearly states its noble mission to up the quality of the ingredients heaped onto tortillas:

“Tacolicious serves humanely raised, hormone-free meats and housemade non-GMO corn tortillas. We are a proud partner of the Seafood Watch program.”

Prices are slightly higher than your average taco joint, with each hand-held creation going for $6 or $7 depending on what you order. Totally worth it.

The menu is full of not-your-typical tacos, ranging from mushroom “carnitas” to a pastrami taco dressed in a spicy mustard-mayo sauce and slaw. On the traditional side, there’s also chicken tinga, carnitas and a taco loaded with house-made chorizo and sauteed potatoes. Yum.

But the standout on this stellar lineup is the Hamburguesa taco served “animal style”, a tribute to the beloved In-n-Out. That beauty is a smashed patty grilled crispy on a flattop before being adorned with melty American cheese, a secret sauce, chopped iceberg lettuce and shoestring fries. Genius!

I savored every bite at the Manhattan Beach location, where the lone server taking care of the entire restaurant did a magnificent job handling the lunch rush at this stylish venue. The kitchen crew were on it, too. Good work, guys.

This Morro Bay mainstay bills itself as California fusion, bringing high-end seafood into the mix. The team works with local fisherfolk to ensure freshness and the kitchen cranks out dishes that look and taste as if they belong on a white linen cloth table.

In that fancy category: a crab cake taco, tortillas loaded with flaky halibut and, best of all, a seared scallop taco that will ruin you for all other fish tacos. The daily fresh catch is always worth checking out, too.

I miss the salsa bar in the corner, but maybe that’ll come back one day. There’s now a second location in San Luis Obispo, home of the magical Madonna Inn.

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This hot spot in Pismo Beach is all about barbecue, especially the Texas-style brisket. That hunk of tough meat is cooked low-and-slow in a Southern Pride until it turns fork tender, a process that takes hours and hours.

The succulent smoked meats are served straight-up on plates and as jaw-testing sandwiches. But here’s the twist: There’s also the option to order a barbecue taco. And you should.

Now, I’m well versed in the barbecue nacho department, thanks to the good folks at the Rendezvous in Memphis. (You can order those to be shipped, BTW.) But I’ve yet to come across a barbecue taco and after enjoying a couple at Central Coast Meat Market, I’m hoping this might become a trend in 2022.