mi tierra supermercado y taqueria

on our way down beautiful and winding highway 1 to the monterey bay aquarium, christien and i were both in the mood for something really good to eat. i did some quick research on chow beforehand and found some suggestions on best places to eat in the area.

"You may want to choose places off the beaten path to avoid crowds. With that in mind: There are many many good taquerias in the Seaside and Marina areas which are just minutes away from the fairgrounds. Very casual (plastic chairs and tables, no table service) pero, la comida es muy autentico. Cruise Fremont and you'lll see. For quick bites, almost any Mexican market will have a small deli grill dispensing tortas, burritos and taco."

we drove up and down fremont street noting each tacqueria along the way and finally settled on mi tierra supermercado y taqueria, my land supermarket and taco stand.


with its long length and barrel-vaulted ceilings, the market looked like army barracks gone cinco de mayo.


inside, to the left, and all the way in the back by the produce section...


was a small "deli" with a couple of guys working the service counter. the tacqueria served up usual fare on its menu: tacos, burritos, tortas, and sopas. everything looked incredibly good, fresh, and cheap! i assume they benefit from having market-fresh meat and produce right there.


christien ordered his favorite, menudo, or beef tripe soup, which came with hot tortillas and garnishes for the soup. it was a beautiful red-orange color and had great body and flavor depth.


i ordered a torta de carnitas, a grilled roll with beans, carnitas (deep fried pork), avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa all slathered together into a toasty hot package. the meat was perfectly seasoned, tender, moist and extremely tasty and hearty.


we also shared tacos al pastor (bbq pork) and tacos carne asada (beef), both of which were delicious as well, but were a little skimpy on meat.


and a couple of large agua frescas washed the food down, papaya and horchata. the agua frescas here were very well made with fresh and strong flavors. highly recommended.


christien has been on a hunt for quality menudo ever since moving to california. i'm happy to report that mi tierra tacqueria's menudo ranked amongst the best he's had here, due to the caldo (broth) which was extremely rich and flavorful to begin with. the lime, cilantro, onions, and oregano that one usually adds to the soup to spice up the flavor weren't necessary to make the menudo taste good. but of course, he adds them anyway. this, he says, is how it's supposed to be and just like grandma makes it.


overall, a very, very good experience and i would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in taking a side trip from touristy monterey bay and sampling what authentic fare local latinos have access to in the area. don't expect tables and chairs, it's not that kind of scene. we were literally sitting right next to the apples and oranges. but if you're into food as much as i am, you'll know how to appreciate the food at mi tierra supermercado y taqueria.