“So there we were, late on a weekday night blazing a trail east on the 134 and we simultaneously voiced the same thought: "I'm hungry. Where can we get something to eat?" Most restaurants are shuttered after 10 PM on weeknights. There's fast food, but even those places, with the exception of Del Taco, close pretty early. That's why you always see a super-long drive-through line at the Del Taco near Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. People want their crunchtadas and shrimp tacos, yo. But I digress. I googled "taco trucks near me" and I was directed to one on Fair Oaks. Driving like a bat out of hell down Fair Oaks, I see out of the corner of my eye the bright yellow food truck of Big Grandma's Kitchen and, emblazoned in neon purple, "Pupuseria on Wheels." I forgot the taco truck and stopped hard, brake smoke billowing around me. I turned into the parking lot and looked at my watch. It was 10:50 PM -- 10 minutes before the food truck closed. My husband was dubious. "What's a pupusa?" he asked. "Watch and learn, grasshopper," I said. We ordered four pupusas (Salvadoran fried, stuffed, thick corn tortillas): Revueltas, chicken, spinach and jalapeno, and garlic. We waited less than 10 minutes. The pupusas we got were delicious -- slightly crispy on the outside and warm and filled with a mild mozzarella and other ingredients, like chicken, on the inside. The garlic pupusa was especially piquant and good. The only thing is that I wish the curtido (a relish made of cabbage), was more flavorful. It was crunchy (thumbs up) but bland. I was pretty hungry, but one pupusa was filling and my husband ate two and was sated. Note that when you order pupusas, you have to order at least two. Next time, I'll try some of the plantain dishes as well as the pupusas; I'm getting hungry just thinking about them. Big Grandma's Kitchen is at the Altadena Farmers Market on Wednesdays and elsewhere in the SGV in addition to Fair Oaks in Pasadena.“
“LOVE the torta Nona. They said they needed more business and I've tried posting on social media/tagging them but don't respond/share/maximize the word of mouth. Hoping they find ways to draw in that business! We're missing out if we don't have them on this block! Only gave it four Stars for atmosphere because it's on a busy street and it's pretty difficult to cross either on foot or in a car.“
“Best barbeque I've ever eaten. As a Texan, it's a shame I have to admit it's from California. The place is take-out only, but it's a great neighborhood so eating inside or on the hood of your car is no issue. Will definitely eat again the next time I'm in the area.“
Mexican •
“The ambiance of this establishment is truly unique in the Los Angeles area. The tropical atmosphere is aesthetically pleasing and the cocktails are expertly crafted. Regrettably, the menu options are rather limited as several items are no longer offered so feels more like bar food than a full dinner menu. Nevertheless, the exceptional service provided by the staff is commendable. I highly recommend this venue for pre-dinner drinks with colleagues or for a casual evening out.“
“I was visiting from out of state and had the opportunity to eat at this hidden gem. As a foodie that has visited many different countries, islands and local food establishments, this food was like heaven! The smell and the myriad of flavors spoke to my soul!! I didn't mind waiting for fresh, hot, perfectly seasoned and crafted food. If they were open all day, I definitely would've eaten there for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My only disappointment is that I don't live in the state. This is a MUST dine at spot. A special shoutout and thank you to the gracious owner for memorable meals and my friend Herb for introducing me to this place. I look forward to returning.“