Mariscos 4 Vientos
🇲🇽 MÉXICO / HISTORICAL: The truck that always has a bigger crowd than its neighbor also has a sit down restaurant for curing those crudos.
🇲🇽 MÉXICO
📍 1412 S. Lorena Street,
Boyle Heights, Eastside.
🅿️ Private lot
💲 Cash Only
🥤 Beer and micheladas
EDITOR'S NOTE: The second location across the street from this one discussed in the article has since closed.
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📆 Original Article 05 May 2019
East Olympic Blvd. in Boyle Heights might currently be the epicenter of the Los Angeles taco truck power rankings, with all-stars like Tacos y Birria La Unica, Mariscos Jalisco and Los Originales Tacos Árabes de Puebla. But before Jonathan Gold sent Mariscos Jalisco shooting for the stars, the truck with the longest lines was probably going to be Mariscos 4 Vientos on any given day, and for good reason.
The original truck and brick and mortar at 3000 E. Olympic Blvd. have been going strong for over a decade, with recent expansions further east to the intersection of S. Lorena Street, where two additional locations have offered a similar popular menu.
With the sounds of tractor trailers and the smells of diesel fumes, it is almost a miracle this casual restaurant on the corner can be so comfortable and relaxing. A little later in the day, the spot tucked across the street on Lorena offers beers with your meal. Either way, sometimes you are just in the mood for a table and these locations serve that need better than the lonchera.
Come towards evening at either venue and you might be graced with a mariachi band that wanders through and offers to serenade.
No matter when you come, get tostadas loaded with aguachile (above), on par with the most bang for your buck in all the land. This is not an imposter, they put out real quality for such a bargain, a mountain of the fish cooked in lime juice and smothered in green chile.
If that was not a good enough deal, the other East Olympic favorite are the wonderful tacos de camarón (below), fried delights that always satisfy. The shrimp tacos here come swimming under and over salsa, and dare you to only eat one.
Also while the black clouds of smoke in the air might not be so reminiscent of Baja, don't pass on the delicious tacos de pescado estilo ensenada (above). With three generous cuts of fried fish, there is hardly a better deal in Boyle Heights.
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