The Burrito Blog

Pili's Tacos

Enfrijoladas Con Huevos

At Pili's Tacos, I like to get something different, because they've got so many authentic dishes on the menu.

Enter Enfrijoladas Con Huevos, a popular Mexican breakfast of tortillas with beans and eggs. This was great, though I prefer huevos rancheros only because I love rice.

Pili's, you rock.

This Pili's Tacos meal was rated: 7.2.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Enfrijoladas Con Huevos

B Is For Burrito

We said it before. Here's the certificate from the County of Los Angeles on the window at Pili's. Please pardon the poor picture quality from digital zoom.

B is for burrito.

Thursday, July 27, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for B Is For Burrito

Pili's Goes High Class: Tablecloths

Early fans of Santa Monica's Pili's Tacos, John and I always felt that the collection of lawn furniture, folding chairs, and yard sale style tables were giving passers by a poor impression.

We didn't care. We go for the food. But in a town obsessed with looks, we were afraid their business might unjustly suffer.

No more. Pili's got tablecloths and ditched the lawn furniture.

Bravo. We wish you success.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Pili's Goes High Class: Tablecloths

No Nombre

This is some kind of dessert at Pili's. The language barrier prevented me from learning its name and its contents, but I suspect it's sugarized sweet potato.

Weird looking, but not bad.

This Pili's Tacos meal was rated: 5.1.

Friday, June 23, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for No Nombre

Best Salsa Verde In Town

Listed on the menu as "Castilla de Puerco," this dish for $5.50 blew me away. Without a doubt, this was the best salsa verde I've ever had.

I've got a theory - it also had the highest oil content of any salsa verde I've ever had. Conclusion: there may be a positive correlation between salsa verde flavor and ounces of oil in preparation.

Unpictured are the three corn tortillas that came with the meal.

This Pili's Tacos meal was rated: 8.3.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Best Salsa Verde In Town

Buche: Yummy Pig Tummy

The language barrier and authenticity at Pili's creates a de facto adventure with every meal.

After a brief conversation / round of charades with the lovely chef / owner at Pili's about what exactly buche is, I ordered a taco.

I wrongfully concluded it was the chin of a pig. It's not. According to many internet sources, buche is pork stomach cooked in lard. Update: according to an email correction, buche is a pig's esophagus.

Picture: al pastor on the left, buche on the right. You can see how the al pastor is a little more chunky, and the buche is flaky.

As far as food that qualifies as daring for gringos like me, pig stomach was pretty easy to take. Like everything else at Pili’s I thought it was great.

See also: goat stew, chicken piping, and cow cheek.
Coming soon: brains.

This Pili's Tacos meal was rated: 6.8.

Saturday, April 29, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Buche: Yummy Pig Tummy

Pu-Pu Platter Of Tacos

John decided to take advantage of the $1.25 tacos at Pili's and get himself a sampler.

From left to right: Al Pastor, Steak, Chicken.

That's like the whole farm.

He gives the highest marks to the Al Pastor.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Pu-Pu Platter Of Tacos

With A Side Of Radish

I've complained in the past about the unwelcome presence of the radish. I'm just not up for an unannounced radish invasion.

However, in this case, the radishes were unassumingly placed outside my burrito with a jalapeño. Thanks for being so considerate.

Hey, you know what? A radish on the side isn't so bad.

Monday, March 06, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for With A Side Of Radish

Welcome To Pili's Tacos

Benitos was just so close. We never really explored as we should have.

After a bad Benitos experience (sadly went unmentioned on Burrito Blog) where John and I got beef tacos after midnight, we decided it was time to look for new sources of tortillas.

We spotted Pili's on Santa Monica Blvd. What a find. We have a new home (Map).

Pili's is a little on the dirty side, but that's nothing new. Every restaurant in California has a card in its window indicating its cleanliness, A, B, or C. Most everywhere has an 'A.' If you get a 'C' the state closes you down. Pili's has a 'B.'

Well, well, well, 'B' is for Burrito.

Monday, March 06, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Welcome To Pili's Tacos