Mochomitos Asador

🇲🇽 MÉXICO (Sonora)
📍 12252 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, Southeast Los Angeles
🅿️ Street parking plentiful
💲 Cash or Zelle Only
🥤 No Alcohol

When you park your car and walk up to the relatively new Mochomitos Asador truck in Whittier, you will immediately notice the smiles on everyone's face, and the anticipation in their eyes. Families who have been here many times sit at tables and wait for their number to be called under the harsh lighting of street lamps. Others speeding by on Whittier Blvd. might see the big "Sonoran Tacos" written on the truck quickly turn around, park, and look over the laminated menus.

After the truck showed up on LA Taco, there were some grumpy diners complaining about wait times on forums. The truck is making flour tortillas to order and everything else is fresh off the grill, so those coming right after a positive write-up in local media might expect a decent wait to be normal. At dusk two Thursdays ago, you could basically walk up to place your order and it was fulfilled in 15-20 minutes.

The boldest image of the vendor, and what probably drives the influencers wild, is the charred beef rib that comes thick and standard with any order containing that choice of meat. Most of it has been cut off into the taco it comes with, but you can grab it to nibble more. Interestingly, the excessive (intentional) char might make you like this option least of the many available.

Despite the aesthetic qualities of the rib, the two other asada meats enjoyed with this order (sirloin and arrachera) shined brighter. The only other quibble is the healthy dollop of guacamole on every taco and lorenza, possibly an ode to Los Angeles and its Baja influences rather than a nod to Sonora? On a follow up visit, this could probably be requested on the side so you can focus on their three wonderful salsas. If you are taking your order to go, make sure to get a bit of all three.

What does shine through from Sonora are the fresh flour tortillas that are made for each taco, which even remain more than edible if you over-order and have to resume a meal a couple hours later. They are the perfect tasty vehicle for those grilled meats, and are strong despite their translucency and thin nature. The truck also makes corn tortillas, but there is no report on those as they did not seem to be a part of anyone's order on this night.

For tacos ($3.25-3.75, above), the sirloin is probably the choice that wins the meal and pairs perfectly with the salsas and flour tortilla. The meats are not marinated with more than a standard salt rub, allowing the good cuts to shine through in each bite. Since they are not using the cheapest cuts from the butcher, there is no need to mask the flavor, but do expect a slightly higher cost for each taco than at a typical truck. Well worth the upgrade.

In Los Angeles the multiple styles of vampiros from Sinaloa to Baja have been getting a lot of love these days, so Mochomitos Asador has offered a Sonoran specialty that is similar: Lorenzas ($4-4.75, above). These are special, and should not be missed if you have the ability to digest dairy. Cheese is melted over crispy, fried flour tortillas and then topped with the meat of your choice.

While you may want to stick to the meats of the asada on your tacos, a lorenza offers a good opportunity to try out the truck's serviceable chorizo if the mood hits. But the sirloin and arrachera (skirt steak) work just as well or better. Again, pour enough of their beautiful salsas on top so it comes dripping down on all sides, and look up towards the heavens to thank your lucky stars for being at the right place at the right time.

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