Tijuana-style tacos are coming to Brea this summer with the opening of the latest Tacomasa location at 275 W. Birch St.
“We’re an authentic Tijuana taqueria. I grew up on both sides of the border and us Mexicans we’re obviously always eating tacos in Tijuana and I saw that gap here in Brea for that authentic taco, that mesquite-cooked carne asada,” said Ivan Flores, the founder and CEO of the small but growing taqueria chain, which will open in Brea by the first week of August.
Flores opened his first Tacomasa in Long Beach in 2021, followed by locations in El Segundo and Cypress. He’s also responsible for Blue Burro, a burrito taqueria, and the Buffalo Spot, which serves chicken wings, buffalo fries and shakes.
The new Tacomasa restaurant will sport an authentic taqueria style with tile floors and tile on the tables.
“You’re going to feel like you’re at a taqueria in Tijuana and that smell of the mesquite, the carne asada cooking is what’s going to bring you in,” he said.
At Tacomesa the tacos are authentic Tijuana-style dishes, which means they are cooked over mesquite and served in house-made tortillas and unless otherwise requested, they’re made “con todo,” which means with everything; onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa.
Among the stars on his menu are the asada (steak) tacos.
“When it comes to tacos I’m a carne asada guy. A lot of places don’t use mesquite like in Tijuana which we use. And we have our own special guacamole that we use just for the asada and with our handmade tortillas every single bite is a special treat,” Flores said.
Also on the taco menu are nopal, tripe, adobada, chicken and tongue tacos. The menu also includes vampiros, which are a cross between a tostada and a quesadilla served on a crispy tortilla with melted cheese, plus the menu offers mulitas, made with two crispy tortillas sandwiching meat, cheese or other fillings. Tortas are also a popular items at Tacomasa and they’re made with mayonnaise, cheese, onion, cilantro, guacamole and salsa.
And of course Tacomasa has burritos and for those in Brea trying one for the first time at Tacomasa Flores recommends the adobada, a marinated pork burrito.
“We have the family recipe, it’s a lot of different spices and we marinate it for 48 hours. The marinade is what counts in the adobada,” he said. “Each bite takes you too heaven,” he added.
Tacomasa will open at 275 W Birch St., Brea. For more information go to tacomasa.com