[MX 30-30 II ](https://www.yelp.com/biz/mx-30-30-ll-los-angeles)is in El Sereno, one of a few restaurants located on an otherwise [industrial stretch of Alhambra Ave](https://maps.app.goo.gl/v2ij1Bbs1veJWm2i7). As the name suggests, they’re the second outpost (the OG MX 30-30 is by the USC medical center). I’ve driven past MX 30-30 II quite a few times and finally decided to stop by for a small lunch.
My intention was to grab a tostada and a taco — not the most exciting combo but again, I was trying to keep things light — and I asked the counter guy for what meats he’d recommend and I ended up with an al pastor taco and birria tostada. *But first:* he dropped off a basket of freshly fried tortillas chips with three salsas and the light, crispy, nicely salted chips were a very pleasant surprise. Of the three sauces, I ended up preferring the salsa de aguacate: it was slightly creamy and well-seasoned. The salsa roja was interesting insofar as it used a roasted chile de arbol that lent a bit of smokiness but both it and the spicier salsa verde felt a bit one dimensional so I stuck with the avocado salsa instead.
It took slightly longer than I expected for the taco and tostada to come out which meant that they made everything to order; not the worst thing. And I do need to say: the taco was pretty tiny, even by street stand standards, let alone brick-and-mortar. Provided, at $2.50, it wasn’t like I was being charged Holbox prices but nonetheless, it made me think “ok, maybe tacos aren’t the thing here.” *That said*: the al pastor was awesome. It had a nice char on it, it was properly seasoned, I would absolutely order it again (just in a different dish).
Likewise, the birria on the tostada was also quite good: savory, tender, and with a nice depth of flavor. These were also on the smaller, “appetizer” end of things compared to entree-sized tostadas I’ve had elsewhere but at $6.50, this felt priced quite reasonably.
MX 30-30 has a robust breakfast menu which is something I may need to try on some upcoming weekend or maybe I’ll go in for an al pastor burrito down the road.
redstarjedi
Love the OG place. Zacatecas style food.
sharkoman
These types of places are a dying breed in Los Angeles. How long before it turns into some east coast bagel place.
Papas_Brand_New_Bag
The green salsa de aguacate here is crack.
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Scarlett_Winnie
If you ever find yourself in the area again, you gotta try Don Toños – tried it once when I saw the glowing reviews on Yelp, food was legitimately some of if not the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Probably my favorite place if I ever have the opportunity to go back soon.
6 Comments
[MX 30-30 II ](https://www.yelp.com/biz/mx-30-30-ll-los-angeles)is in El Sereno, one of a few restaurants located on an otherwise [industrial stretch of Alhambra Ave](https://maps.app.goo.gl/v2ij1Bbs1veJWm2i7). As the name suggests, they’re the second outpost (the OG MX 30-30 is by the USC medical center). I’ve driven past MX 30-30 II quite a few times and finally decided to stop by for a small lunch.
My intention was to grab a tostada and a taco — not the most exciting combo but again, I was trying to keep things light — and I asked the counter guy for what meats he’d recommend and I ended up with an al pastor taco and birria tostada. *But first:* he dropped off a basket of freshly fried tortillas chips with three salsas and the light, crispy, nicely salted chips were a very pleasant surprise. Of the three sauces, I ended up preferring the salsa de aguacate: it was slightly creamy and well-seasoned. The salsa roja was interesting insofar as it used a roasted chile de arbol that lent a bit of smokiness but both it and the spicier salsa verde felt a bit one dimensional so I stuck with the avocado salsa instead.
It took slightly longer than I expected for the taco and tostada to come out which meant that they made everything to order; not the worst thing. And I do need to say: the taco was pretty tiny, even by street stand standards, let alone brick-and-mortar. Provided, at $2.50, it wasn’t like I was being charged Holbox prices but nonetheless, it made me think “ok, maybe tacos aren’t the thing here.” *That said*: the al pastor was awesome. It had a nice char on it, it was properly seasoned, I would absolutely order it again (just in a different dish).
Likewise, the birria on the tostada was also quite good: savory, tender, and with a nice depth of flavor. These were also on the smaller, “appetizer” end of things compared to entree-sized tostadas I’ve had elsewhere but at $6.50, this felt priced quite reasonably.
MX 30-30 has a robust breakfast menu which is something I may need to try on some upcoming weekend or maybe I’ll go in for an al pastor burrito down the road.
Love the OG place. Zacatecas style food.
These types of places are a dying breed in Los Angeles. How long before it turns into some east coast bagel place.
The green salsa de aguacate here is crack.
[deleted]
If you ever find yourself in the area again, you gotta try Don Toños – tried it once when I saw the glowing reviews on Yelp, food was legitimately some of if not the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Probably my favorite place if I ever have the opportunity to go back soon.