You don’t need me to tell you this, but so often, simple is better. And sometimes, simple is delicious.
Such is the case with Tacos 1986, which has now been open for seven pandemic-shrouded months, joining a row of newish restaurants along Union St, between Raymond and Fair Oaks in Old Pasadena.
The location is the chain’s fifth, joining locations in Burbank, Downtown, Beverly Grove, and Westwood.
Owners Victor and Joy Delgado, both born in Tijuana, Mexico, began their operation as a street corner taco stand in Hollywood in 2018. Their hand-made corn and flour tortillas and flamboyant taquero were an immediate hit with the street cognoscenti, and new stores began to sprout all over Southern California, now including Pasadena, lighting up an already hot street food marketplace.
In fact, those tortillas may just be the secret ingredient to 1986’s simple array of street-style tacos.
We went with a carne asada taco, with just a chunky dollop of fresh guacamole, and a chicken quesadilla. Both are served flat like pizza slices. Fold them up, roll them up, it’s all on you.
The freshly grilled carne asada, combined with the tortilla, is heaven in four bites.
The chicken quesadilla, served on a corn tortilla, instead of the more common flour tortilla, is heated on the grill, and a thin layer of chopped jack cheese is allowed to bake on top, while the tortilla is on the grill. All of that is topped with chopped freshly grilled chicken, and then the guacamole rains down from above.
The menu is simplicity defined—tacos, quesadillas, mulitas, vampiros. Each of those items is available with carne asada, adobada, chicken or mushroom. Add guacamole, and maybe cilantro and onions (again, that’s on you), and you’re hungry just reading about it.
Take your bag of taco goodness a few doors east and dine in One Colorado’s groovy little new al fresco dining area. Simple and delicious.
Tacos 1986 is at 20 E. Union Street, #140, Old Pasadena.
