Hugo's Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos

Hugo’s Tacos

 4749 Coldwater Canyon Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 762-7771

Buenos Freakin Dias!

Hugo’s Tacos in Studio City right there on the corner of Riverside and Coldwater Canyon changed my outlook on Mexican cuisine so much. Ya see I grew up on Long Island. We had Taco Bell and mom isn’t a fan of “spicy foods.” Hey, old fashioned is old fashioned “puto”.

Not till I broke out of my L.I. bubble and headed west did I find out what authentic Mexican cuisine was all about!

Let’s face it, Mexican spots here in SoCal are everywhere! You can find local restaurants, corporate or mom n pop. You can find “fast food” Mexican joints, there’s food trucks all over town and you can find the local vendor set up on a street corner! Killer places everywhere.. it’s just knowing which one to go to!

Hugo’s now on the other hand has a little bit of everything! It’s a smaller side of the street spot that has an ordering process similar to a food truck, ingredients that you find in an upscale restaurant and taste so authentic you’d think you were in Mexico City!

They do it right here.. quick, fresh, organic and delicious! You can eat here and not feel “stuffed” because the portions are perfect and the ingredients I repeat are Organic! Where are you going to find that?

Hugo’s menu has everything from Tamales, Tostadas, Enchiladas to Quesadillas, Taquitos Big Burrito this is a place my peeps go, so slow, didn’t you know….Wait a minute!

I think I just channeled B-Real… 

Whatever you order here you have the choice to turn it into a “combo” which adds a side and a drink. Sides include Combo 1- Chips, salsa and soda. Combo 2- Organic rice, organic beans and soda or
Combo 3- French Fries and soda. I always opt for the fries. They are fresh cut, with skin on them and just plain rock!

BUT the one thing that truly sticks out to me as an authentic Mexican recipe is the Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos! Right there you know it’s going to be something different. It’s not called Hard Shell like that you can get out of an Ortega box at the local bodega, Taco Hell or 90% of other joints.

The shell is exactly how they describe it. Crispy! Like a Potato Chip crispy! It’s light but holds its own when a mound of succulent Shredded Pork is piled on top! I can’t stop using exclamation points because this “nosh” is so good!

Here’s how the ordering process happens. Don’t detour from my direction. You walk up. Dude behind the mesh window asks you what you want and you say 3 Crispy Shell Carnitas Tacos, Pico De Gallo, and you can make it a combo with Fries and an Agua Fresca! They have a grip of different Salsa’s.. Pico to Tomatillo/Jalapeno’, Honey Chipotle to Salsa Negra. I go for Pico because I am a “coño” when it comes to spicy spicy!

So the Carnitas, I have to describe using the “description” they have written on the menu. “Shredded Pork simmered with Whole Oranges and Savory Seasonings, browned on the grill.” The “Savory Seasonings” are Sage and Black Pepper. It seems so simple right? Not many ingredients but the taste hits you like a pissed off donkey!

It’s not sweet like you might think.. The sage, black pepper really tone down the sweet citrus leaving this buttery, smoke flavor and after it’s browned on the grill it just simply melts away in your mouth! The light crispy flavor from the Taco Shell with the fresh Pico De Gallo and you are saying Mi Amor! Mi Amor!

Wash it down with the fries and soda for under $10. Goooooaaaaalllllll!!!!!!

This Crispy Shell Carnitas Taco from Hugo’s Taco’s is a Top 10 in things I have ever tasted.. No doubt about it!

From a Fat Kids Scale of 1 – 10 we are talking a 10 all day long..