UPDATE: TACOS Y MARISCOS PUENTE - LONG BEACH, CA

I'd like to update you all on that have been trying out the places that've been posted here.

Back in March, just a little while ago, I posted about La Puente here on pakajunk. Well, as of today, May 15, 2011, I'm sorry to say that the tripas here is no longer good. Such a bummer. A lot of these taco spots are pretty inconsistent but when I find that the place isn't up to par 2 or 3 times in a row, I figured to let you all know.

CantStayJose and I had some shitty tacos de tripas here a couple of weeks ago. We went back again this afternoon to let La Puente redeem themselves but no bueno. What a bummer.

Sorry La Puente! I'll try you again some other time!


Here's the original post from March 6, 2011 below:
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This is the new spot now. Yes, I know, it used to be Mi Pariente which was our home for tacos. But things changed quickly when CantStayJose spotted this window in the alley next to the ARCO gas station, near the corner of Anaheim & Martin Luther King.

I've mentioned this place before, but I wanted to tell you about it again just because its THAT fucking good.
Yes, totally sketch to be eating tacos from a window in the alley and if you think so then stick to Del Taco for your chalupa or burrito with sour cream, wash it all down with a raspberry iced tea. But no senor, that is not for us. We want the nasty bits, the innards, throwaways to most of the general public. Still searching for the perfect taco in our beloved city of Long Beach, like we're searching for the perfect beat.
This crazy neon light puts you into an emerald trance. I start to drool then get pulled into this slowly driving, spiraling tunnel of meat choices. But at the end of this tunnel is always what I see clearly, what I came here for: TRIPAS. Tripe. Small intestine. Crunchy, deep-fried goodness.

Funny, I write about this crazy green light just as The Smiths "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" comes on.
Look at the menu. All other meats (besides shrimp and fish) cost LESS than the fucking TRIPA! That's because the tripa here is superior to all other meats. I think they put crack in it.
So our taco technician gets busy and lightly grills our tortillas.
Next thing you know, tacos are served.
And here is what I had on this night. From the 9 o'clock position, I start with pollo/chicken. At 12 o'clock I had cabeza/head meat. Then at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock was my 2 favorites, the stars of the show - the sensational TACOS DE TRIPAS.

I always like the pollo for a starter. It's like my appetizer, you know, just to get things going. The pollo here is good, but it's not good enough to drive across town for. It is good enough if you're getting it just to have something different or to start, like I did. I tried a taco de cabeza that night just to check it out, never had cabeza from here before. The texture and the meat content of the cabeza was good, but not that flavorful. I'd probably never order the cabeza here again.

The tripas on the other hand was amazing as usual. It's kinda like eating crunchy bacon tacos, but not quite as salty. I recommend not going pass 3 tripas per sitting though, just because the grease factor may make you feel like you regret it. Yes, it's possible to have too much of a good thing.
So if you're feeling like you want something more than your usual taco spot, give this place a shot. We swear by it. Don't come all this way without getting at least ONE taco de tripa otherwise you just trippin'.

Tacos Y Mariscos Puente
900 East Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 285-0700