From years of travel through various regions of Mexico, brothers Chris and Jon Blanchard learned a thing or two about Mexican cuisine. Fans of Chicas Tacos have been salivating over the Baja-style staples since the Blanchard brothers alongside Chef Eduardo Ruiz and Nicolo Rusconi of the BLVD team opened their first location in downtown Los Angeles in 2016.
Since its inception, Chicas Tacos has been committed to serving Angelenos a better taco while providing a modern Mexican dining experience. Its founders focus on incorporating the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients into its menu and simultaneously creating a bright and welcoming ambiance.
Chicas pastel-colored interior contribute to a warm and inviting ambiance
In a city that has many great food options, Chicas continues to be a standout. Inspired by a woman named Carmela, Chicas Tacos pays homage to its muse through its decorative use of blue Mexican tiles and organic corn tortillas currently used in all three locations.
Despite the past year being enormously challenging, Chicas has been well-positioned with its self-ordering stations available at the Beverly Grove and Culver City locations opening this year, as well as its use of the OhWaiter text-to-order table side and QR menus. Its success has led to the announcement of a fourth location slated to open in Venice on Cinco de Mayo.
Guests can order from the self-order station for a contactless experience
With its bright and inviting decor, Chicas in Beverly Grove has been the hidden gem of the area since opening in February. The modern casual feel of the restaurant coupled with its simple and delicious menu curated by Chef Ruiz has drawn praise from local critics and Yelpers alike.
Located on West 3rd Street, the pastel-splattered eatery features corn tortillas “recien hechas” (recently made) from a tortilleria called La Princesita located in Boyle Heights. The Chicas menu is made up of a half dozen taco options (roughly $4-5 each) that include: beer-battered fish, peppered steak, yogurt marinated chicken, chile verde braised pork, slow braised beef, or marinated jackfruit and Impossible Meat options. All tacos are served with 6-inch non-GMO corn tortillas and fresh salsas that are made from scratch.
Chicas Tacos offers free-range chicken and wild-caught tilapia
Those craving something more substantial than tacos can fill up on nachos, quesadillas, burritos, bowls, and pizzas. All pizzas, quesadillas, and burritos feature Chicas’ 12-inch Michelin award-winning flour tortilla.
Their drink menu features horchata, Mexican Coke, and hibiscus pineapple agua frescas among others. We recommend the Horchata Cold Brew made with Later Days Cold Brew.
Entrees and drinks aside, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with house baked chocolate chip cookies or housemade churro bites served with Haagen Daz ice cream.
Chicas burritos are made with a 12-inch Michelin award winning tortilla
From the menu, I tried the steak taco made with peppered certified angus steak loaded with crispy potatoes, queso, morita salsa, shaved radish, cilantro, and scallions. The meat was tender and delicious, not to mention the crispy potatoes provided the perfect crunch that elevated the traditional street taco.
I also tried Chicas signature baja fish taco which is actually an ode to the restaurant of the same name in Tijuana where the salad was invented. This unique taco is made up of crispy, beer-battered fish (wild caught Tilapia) and nestled under three handfuls of caesar salad. It’s worthy to note that Chicas house-made caesar dressing contains 20 ingredients with quality you can taste. The taco is then topped with crushed croutons, manchego cheese, and salsa de chile Morita that provides a smoky heat to every bite without overpowering the other flavors of the taco.
Chicas offers bowls made with fresh, high quality ingredients
Aside from the Baja fish taco, the Chicas bowl was another favorite of mine featuring Impossible Meat. The bowl was made up of a blend of black and pinto beans, lettuce that’s lightly seasoned with lime, pickled onions, radishes, and avocado salsa. This organic and healthy alternative helped me indulge in tasty Mexican food without any of the guilt!
Whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout, every meal will be an experience, reflecting the vibrant personality of Chicas Tacos.
For more information and locations, visit chicastacos.com
