Comments on: Day and Night http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/ Life Beyond The River Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:42:15 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: alienation http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-3048 alienation Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:36:21 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-3048 When that taco truck ban went into effect, it seemed like three cart and table operations started up for every truck that was off the streets. So much for whatever Molina's goal was. If anything, the health risks increased, the competition increased, and, since I've seen some of the operations using charcoal, the fire risk has increased significantly. Now the inspected-and-legal tracks have competition from these new startups. One other thing - I've seen at least one meat griller advertising Korean BBQ and kebab alongside the tacos. If it catches on, the Koreans, Armenians, Arabs, and Israelis will be setting up on the streets too. When that taco truck ban went into effect, it seemed like three cart and table operations started up for every truck that was off the streets. So much for whatever Molina’s goal was. If anything, the health risks increased, the competition increased, and, since I’ve seen some of the operations using charcoal, the fire risk has increased significantly. Now the inspected-and-legal tracks have competition from these new startups.

One other thing – I’ve seen at least one meat griller advertising Korean BBQ and kebab alongside the tacos. If it catches on, the Koreans, Armenians, Arabs, and Israelis will be setting up on the streets too.

]]> By: chimatli http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-3028 chimatli Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:29:16 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-3028 I had chilaquiles at Lencho's when the Mexican cook was there and they were very good! I went back yesterday and the super nice owner made them. Unfortunately, they weren't so great and worse, they served them on Styrofoam plates with plastic forks and knives. It takes away from the food. I hope it's just a one time thing. As for pasadena ave tamales, they were okay but not so great. I admit though, I'm pretty picky about tamales. Most restaurant tamales are too fluffy, lardy and skimp on the fillings. That's why today I'm making my own! I had chilaquiles at Lencho’s when the Mexican cook was there and they were very good! I went back yesterday and the super nice owner made them. Unfortunately, they weren’t so great and worse, they served them on Styrofoam plates with plastic forks and knives. It takes away from the food. I hope it’s just a one time thing.
As for pasadena ave tamales, they were okay but not so great. I admit though, I’m pretty picky about tamales. Most restaurant tamales are too fluffy, lardy and skimp on the fillings. That’s why today I’m making my own!

]]> By: Al Desmadre http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-3024 Al Desmadre Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:13:45 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-3024 Yeah-I've noticed at a few places that the "loud & pushy bird gets the worm", oh well-whatever..... Also, I'm reading good things about Lencho's. May be checking it out soon. Yeah-I’ve noticed at a few places that the “loud & pushy bird gets the worm”, oh well-whatever…..
Also, I’m reading good things about Lencho’s. May be checking it out soon.

]]> By: Vidalia http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-3022 Vidalia Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:49:19 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-3022 I had a feeling they might flip if I took photos of their stand, so I stood across the street and waited til they weren't looking in order to get a shot. I then walked up and waited almost 20 minutes for tacos. (They do have a weird way of cooking and taking your order). I noticed that they would stop in the middle of an order and cook up more of several kinds of meat, then continue with some large order (12 or 14 tacos), then some old lady would wander up and scream out an order without standing in line and they would make her tacos and hand them to her, then continue with the large order, cook more meat... it is a wonder they get through the line at all. Plenty of people were willing to wait without complaint, and I was really interested in watching the way they cooked tripa, cabeza, lengua and all the other kind of tacos i won't eat. I had breakfast at Lenchos and it's GOOD. I'd try their tacos too. The guy that owns the place is super nice. Diego's tacos are horrible, but i'm willing to try them again on a night where I evaluate all 3. I really don't think you not getting a taco has anything to do with race. When I was in line a white couple and 3 Japanese kids got tacos. Yes... they were Japanese and not Korean or Chinese... and they had expensive gear on too. I had a feeling they might flip if I took photos of their stand, so I stood across the street and waited til they weren’t looking in order to get a shot. I then walked up and waited almost 20 minutes for tacos. (They do have a weird way of cooking and taking your order).

I noticed that they would stop in the middle of an order and cook up more of several kinds of meat, then continue with some large order (12 or 14 tacos), then some old lady would wander up and scream out an order without standing in line and they would make her tacos and hand them to her, then continue with the large order, cook more meat… it is a wonder they get through the line at all.

Plenty of people were willing to wait without complaint, and I was really interested in watching the way they cooked tripa, cabeza, lengua and all the other kind of tacos i won’t eat.

I had breakfast at Lenchos and it’s GOOD. I’d try their tacos too. The guy that owns the place is super nice. Diego’s tacos are horrible, but i’m willing to try them again on a night where I evaluate all 3.

I really don’t think you not getting a taco has anything to do with race. When I was in line a white couple and 3 Japanese kids got tacos. Yes… they were Japanese and not Korean or Chinese… and they had expensive gear on too.

]]> By: Salty http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-3002 Salty Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:55:56 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-3002 In the end, it's only tacos. True, I know LA's finest culinary offering is the humble (but tasty!) taco, but unless they are OMFGBESTACOEVAR!! I'm not going to spend my time worrying about it. Al might be right, missed connection, took too long. Either way, no me importa. Anyhow, I love my little slice of LH and unless they are selling crack in those tacos they are just as welcome as anyone else to be selling them here. The more the merrier, in my mind. But if they are, I might ask you to buy me some ;) What I want to know is are the tamales any good at that place at 34th and Pasadena? I used to work at Mama's in MacArthur Park, and I think I should know the difference, but I've never been. Anyone? In the end, it’s only tacos.

True, I know LA’s finest culinary offering is the humble (but tasty!) taco, but unless they are OMFGBESTACOEVAR!! I’m not going to spend my time worrying about it. Al might be right, missed connection, took too long. Either way, no me importa.

Anyhow, I love my little slice of LH and unless they are selling crack in those tacos they are just as welcome as anyone else to be selling them here. The more the merrier, in my mind. But if they are, I might ask you to buy me some ;)

What I want to know is are the tamales any good at that place at 34th and Pasadena? I used to work at Mama’s in MacArthur Park, and I think I should know the difference, but I’ve never been. Anyone?

]]> By: don quixote http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-2998 don quixote Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:44:40 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-2998 Salty, I think El Random Hero, using his obvious judicious and fair sense of logic may have your answer as to why you were not served. I on the other hand tend to rely on emotions, and like the old Duke Ellington Song "I got it bad, and that ain't good". There could be some ulterior motive as to why you weren't served, maybe the guy was afraid of you due you being a gavacho and he may have thought you were some kind of authority? Maybe he was out of food and too embarrassed to say so? There are places (Seafood Outlet, Downtown) that are so busy that if you hesitate to long they go to the next customer in line. I don't know Salty but you might want to give it one more try and be assertive and speak up loudly if need be. I personally would appreciate a report on the real lowdown there. Hey one more thing, be careful while standing at that spot because when I was a youngster there used to be a "Richfield" gas station there and one night some drunk truck driver ran his Semi right through there and flattened the bldg like a tortilla. They rebuilt it and within a year someone else who was drunk or confused ( Workman St. or Pasadena Ave? Oh well I'll just go down the middle), flattened it again. It's a target, cuidado! Salty, I think El Random Hero, using his obvious judicious and fair sense of logic may have your answer as to why you were not served. I on the other hand tend to rely on emotions, and like the old Duke Ellington Song
“I got it bad, and that ain’t good”.
There could be some ulterior motive as to why you weren’t served, maybe the guy was afraid of you due you being a gavacho and he may have thought you were some kind of authority? Maybe he was out of food and too embarrassed to say so? There are places (Seafood Outlet, Downtown) that are so busy that if you hesitate to long they go to the next customer in line.
I don’t know Salty but you might want to give it one more try and be assertive and speak up loudly if need be.
I personally would appreciate a report on the real lowdown there.
Hey one more thing, be careful while standing at that spot because when I was a youngster there used to be a “Richfield” gas station there and one night some drunk truck driver ran his Semi right through there and flattened the bldg like a tortilla. They rebuilt it and within a year someone else who was drunk or confused ( Workman St. or Pasadena Ave? Oh well I’ll just go down the middle), flattened it again.
It’s a target, cuidado!

]]> By: El Random Hero http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-2995 El Random Hero Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:22:27 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-2995 Salty all I have to say is that sucks tacos !!! I myself have never gotten that kind of treatment at a taco stand, but if I did I would tell them something. That or i would yell out that the guy handling your food just went to the bathroom and didn't wash his hands. Don't let this single experience sour your taste for taco stand tacos. Just the other day on my home I stopped by a taco stand in front of a store. I ordered more than i could afford and the guys at the stand let me get off the hook and let me pay them back in full the next day. In fact that was a couple of days ago so i really need to go see those guys and pay them their two dollars. Salty all I have to say is that sucks tacos !!! I myself have never gotten that kind of treatment at a taco stand, but if I did I would tell them something. That or i would yell out that the guy handling your food just went to the bathroom and didn’t wash his hands. Don’t let this single experience sour your taste for taco stand tacos. Just the other day on my home I stopped by a taco stand in front of a store. I ordered more than i could afford and the guys at the stand let me get off the hook and let me pay them back in full the next day. In fact that was a couple of days ago so i really need to go see those guys and pay them their two dollars.

]]> By: Al Desmadre http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-2993 Al Desmadre Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:22:16 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-2993 Re: The case of non-service for Salty at Taco Stand. Just to throw alternate theories out here, (I could be completely wrong, but I tend to over-analyze things) I've been to this place myself a few times and I noticed that they had kind of a weird way of doing things. They take a person's order and prepare it, serve it, charge, then clean up the grill before they even take someone else's order. In other words, they don't multi-task at this place like were accustomed to seeing at other joints. Even though there's at least a couple of guys working there, this is the way I've observed their system to work. I've stood in front of the table for several minutes before the one guy even asked: "Que le damos?" My first time there, they finally took my order mere seconds before I was about to say F-this and walk away. Anyway, another theory is that many times you'll find some Spanish speaking individuals out there who may not feel 100% confident with their English skills. Sometimes they're a little hesitant to engage someone who they feel may be an "English-only" type. (On the flip side to that, many people here have no problem at all trying with various degrees of success, to communicate with each other, particularly in commerce. Both parties have what the other wants!) I'm not saying here that it's not possible that they were trying to be deliberate Jerks to Salty, but it just seems so uncommon and unusual for that to happen. I takes a planned, concerted effort to pull that kind of dumb shit off and also they'd have to consider the risk of confrontational scenes and the possible attention it would bring. If those guys are working under the radar at any level, it just doesn't seem likely to me that they'd have the inclination to pull off some racial-based exclusionary policy. I guess I wish there could be some more digging into what was in their heads before dropping the race hammer. But, I think we can agree on ONE thing though: Bad Service, is Bad Service! Re: The case of non-service for Salty at Taco Stand.
Just to throw alternate theories out here, (I could be completely wrong, but I tend to over-analyze things) I’ve been to this place myself a few times and I noticed that they had kind of a weird way of doing things. They take a person’s order and prepare it, serve it, charge, then clean up the grill before they even take someone else’s order.
In other words, they don’t multi-task at this place like were accustomed to seeing at other joints. Even though there’s at least a couple of guys working there, this is the way I’ve observed their system to work. I’ve stood in front of the table for several minutes before the one guy even asked: “Que le damos?” My first time
there, they finally took my order mere seconds before I was about to say F-this and walk away. Anyway, another theory is that many times you’ll find some Spanish speaking individuals out there who may not feel 100% confident with their English skills. Sometimes they’re a little hesitant to engage someone who they feel may be an “English-only” type. (On the flip side to that, many people here have no problem at all trying with various degrees of success, to communicate with each other, particularly in commerce. Both parties have what the other wants!) I’m not saying here that it’s not possible that they were trying to be deliberate Jerks to Salty, but
it just seems so uncommon and unusual for that to happen. I takes a planned, concerted effort to pull that kind of dumb shit off and also they’d have to consider the risk of confrontational scenes and the possible attention it would bring. If those guys are working under the radar at any level, it just doesn’t seem likely to me that they’d have the inclination to pull off some racial-based exclusionary policy. I guess I wish there could be some more digging into what was in their heads before dropping the race hammer. But, I think we can agree on ONE thing though: Bad Service, is Bad Service!

]]> By: Salty http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-2990 Salty Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:37:02 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-2990 And no, I'd never be a douchenozzle and get some hard working people shut down. And no, I’d never be a douchenozzle and get some hard working people shut down.

]]> By: Salty http://laeastside.com/2008/10/day-and-night/comment-page-1/#comment-2989 Salty Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:34:21 +0000 http://laeastside.com/?p=1419#comment-2989 Chimatli- Actually they didn't say anything, or even look at me. Maybe they didn't know I can speak Spanish? Thought I was La Migra? I don't get it either. After 5 minutes of standing there feeling like an asshole watching other people get served before me, I just left. Never to return. I doubt they care, they seem to have plenty of business without me. True, Lencho's is open but who knows for how long. They do seem eager for cash regardless of the wallet it comes from, so if I need to get my taco on, I guess I'll go there. Chimatli-

Actually they didn’t say anything, or even look at me. Maybe they didn’t know I can speak Spanish? Thought I was La Migra? I don’t get it either. After 5 minutes of standing there feeling like an asshole watching other people get served before me, I just left. Never to return. I doubt they care, they seem to have plenty of business without me.

True, Lencho’s is open but who knows for how long. They do seem eager for cash regardless of the wallet it comes from, so if I need to get my taco on, I guess I’ll go there.

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