Need help - Chicago vs. L.A. Mexican food styles

I got recommended to this fourm by a friend while searching for a solution to my problem, he said someone on here might be able to help.

So... I have yet to find a decent Mexican food restaurant in Los Angeles that serves tacos and burritos like I am used to in Chicago.
Back home I am used to places like Tress Pasada and La Pasadita but here in L.A. the style is a lot different.

They use whole red or black beans instead of refried beans
A lot of place use white rice vs. the Spanish rice
The cheese is this mushy clumpy stuff that is like sour cream instead of the thin graded stuff.
Worst of all the meat, the meat here is light brown and somewhat mushy very different from the dark grilled yummy morsels I am used to.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knew if the differences in styles have names according to region or something that might help me
find a place in LA that makes tacos and burritos similar to La Pasadita back in Chicago.

I have asked countless people out here but I haven't got any solid leads yet. Most people I ask say "have you tried Qdoba or Chipotle?" and I say "are you kidding me?"

Any help or suggestions would be helpful, thank you.

hey there: what part of LA are you in (where have you been eating?) What type of Mexican food do you like? Do you have roots in Mexico? I am a native Californian who has lived in Chicago for more than a decade, and sometimes I miss Californian style Mexican food. The funny thing is, hey you are closer to the source now in LA than before. (Which must be frustrating.) But LA is much like Mexico, huge, sprawling and totally full of surprises and regional differences. I know for a fact that you can find Oaxacan hole in the walls and Coastal Mexican places in LA, plus all night burrito joints that really do know how to give La Pasadita a run for its money. So if you can zero in on where you live/haunt, I bet I can maybe nudge you toward places that make you feel a little less homesick.

bjt

bjt wrote:hey there: what part of LA are you in (where have you been eating?) What type of Mexican food do you like? Do you have roots in Mexico? I am a native Californian who has lived in Chicago for more than a decade, and sometimes I miss Californian style Mexican food. The funny thing is, hey you are closer to the source now in LA than before. (Which must be frustrating.) But LA is much like Mexico, huge, sprawling and totally full of surprises and regional differences. I know for a fact that you can find Oaxacan hole in the walls and Coastal Mexican places in LA, plus all night burrito joints that really do know how to give La Pasadita a run for its money. So if you can zero in on where you live/haunt, I bet I can maybe nudge you toward places that make you feel a little less homesick.

bjt

I live in Highland Park in Los Angeles, it's near South Pasadena, Downtown LA, etc... I work in El Segundo and I have tried about 8-9 different places and they wern't what I was looking for.

Now that you are in Chicago and I assume you have eaten at La Pasadita and maybe even Tres Pasada's. Can you recommend a place in LA that is similar to one of those.

Thank you so much in advance...

Ive had this argument of Cali vs Chicago Mexican food countless times and ill be honest Chicago is better. I think youll find alot of Norteno style Mexican in Cali where as its very regional in Chicago. This could help your search.

http://tacohunt.blogspot.com/

Through the above-mentioned tacohunt website I have discovered some great places that echo La Pasidita:

El Parian: Carne asada and birria tacos
El Super Taco: carne asada tacos, cemitas
Tacos Por Favor: Chorizo/cheese taco
El Taurino: everything

burittohunter wrote:I live in Highland Park in Los Angeles, it's near South Pasadena, Downtown LA, etc... I work in El Segundo and I have tried about 8-9 different places and they wern't what I was looking for.

Now that you are in Chicago and I assume you have eaten at La Pasadita and maybe even Tres Pasada's. Can you recommend a place in LA that is similar to one of those.

Thank you so much in advance...

burritohunger, may I suggest some al pastor? off the spit? you don't see too many folks doing fiery spits in the middle of winter in Chicago, do you?


since you're highland park, you'll find E. LA to be quite close to you:
http://sinosoul.com/?p=137

just don't get the carne asada from the taco stands. they're not al carbon at all. for cheap carne asada properly grilled, may I suggest the Vineland Swap Meet in Industry?



see the carne asada pictorial here

And btw, I don't know who wrote about El Taurino? But that place even smells disgusting. People go at 2am thinking it's the best shiznit in town. I'd rather eat a street ghetto bacon dog.