Mexican

Have you ever wanted to know what true, authentic Mexican food might taste like? La Super-Rica Taqueria (622 N. Milpas St., 805/963-4940, Thurs.–Tues. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., $10) can hook you up.

Of course, you must be prepared to stand in line with dozens of locals and even commuters up from Los Angeles [1] and the occasional Hollywood [2] celeb who think La Super-Rica’s got some of the best down-home Mexican cuisine in all of SoCal.

This was Julia Child’s favorite taco stand, and it’s been reviewed by the New York Times.

Folks don’t come for the ambiance—expect paper plates, plastic chairs, and shorts and sandals on the diners in a genuine shack of a building. You also need to adjust your concept of Mexican food; if you’re looking for a fast-food burrito supreme with chips and salsa, you’ll definitely be disappointed.

But if you’re ready for the real deal, you’ve found it. The corn tortillas are made fresh each day, the meat is slow cooked and seasoned to perfection, and the house special is a grilled pork-stuffed pasilla chile.

Vegetarians can choose from a few delicious meat-free dishes, while carnivores will leave satisfied with their pork-, chicken-, or steak-based entrées.