I originally met Dora Herrera at an event called “East LA Meets Napa,” here in Los Angeles, and she invited me to do a tasting at her Hollywood Location. It’s a very modest spot but you can feel the cool vibes down the block. Everyone in their establishment is Silver Lake royalty, all knowing how fantastic the food at Yuca’s is.
Here’s what I tried:
Burrito:
Machaca Burrito – Shredded Beef, a huge meal, wrapped in tinfoil with all the bells and whistle, it promises to fill you up and then some.
Tacos:
Chicken, and Shredded Beef. These are small double tortillas with great flavor and a touch of pico de gallo on top.
Taquito:
Taquitos a la Carte, 3 shredded beef and chicken taquito topped with cheese, avocado salsa and lettuce. I have always loved taquitos, and these were right up there with the best of the best, yum.
Nachos:
Nachos include beans, Mozzarella cheese, avocado salsa, chipotle salsa, and Yuca’s special salsa. This is a big plate, very worth the small amount of money, maybe one of the best nachos ever.
Quesadilla:
Machaca, shredded beef and cheese. This is a huge quesadilla with lots of beef and cheese inside, but very delicious.
Specialty:
Mole Loca Asada, done as a burrito, but sweet, with luscious beans, a great choice. Your taste buds will come alive with flavor!
Cochinita Pibil (Yucatán-style Pork), everywhere I read this is what people order, and it is really terrific.
Hamburger:
It is amazing, and is also something a lot of people rave about. I can see why, it is simple, small, but really great.
Yuca’s restaurant won the Taco Madness competition two years in a row, the food here is from the Yucatan Region of South East Mexico, so the spices and style of your typical Mexican food is way different at Yuca’s, both restaurants use the same ingredients. It is all of Socorro Herrera, better known as Mama to most, recipe’s, her daughter Dora is the one who made me try their remarkable food. Yuca’s has been around since 1976; a second location, also in Los Feliz, opened in 2007. They started making hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, falafel and steak sandwiches — remnants from the menu of their predecessor, a Middle Eastern joint. Eventually, the offerings morphed into something a bit more true to Socorro’s Yucatecan roots — soft tacos and burritos filled with carnitas, carne asada and cochinita pibil.
Over the last 39 years, Yuca’s has garnered countless fans, plus a James Beard Award in 2005, in the “America’s Classics” category, as well as being on the Oprah Winfrey show for their remarkable burritos.
When you’re in the mood for very authentic Mexican that is cheap and delicious Yuca’s will fit the bill.
Yuca’s on Hollywood
4666 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90027
323-661-0523
www.yucala.com
*note come content was taken off of their website.