Chicas Tacos, the renowned Mexican fast-casual restaurant known for its premium, fresh and unfrozen ingredients, has opened its second location in Orange County at Rodeo 39 in Stanton. With its mission to offer a better taco, Chicas Tacos brings a unique twist to traditional Mexican flavors and serves them up in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. This award-winning concept was founded in 2016 by Chris Blanchard, a seasoned marketer, and Chef Eduardo Ruiz, a James Beard award nominee, along with Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi, the founders of BLVD Hospitality.
Chris Blanchard, the co-founder of Chicas Tacos, reminisced about his childhood experiences with Mexican food. He and his family used to go on missionary trips to Mexico and Ensenada and were enamored with the street tacos they tried there. Upon moving to LA, they discovered that the street tacos were equally delicious and decided to create a healthier version of them. This idea eventually led to the establishment of Chicas Tacos in 2016.
Chris Blanchard shared his thoughts on the menu at Chicas Tacos. “We wanted to bring a healthier take on the street tacos we loved as kids,” he said. “Our corn tortillas are made from non-GMO corn, sourced from our partner La Princesita in Boyle Heights, while our flour tortillas are made by our chef Eduardo Ruiz.
One interesting dish we have on our menu is the beer-battered fish taco. This dish originated in Ensenada, while the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1920s. Our chef Eduardo combined these two Mexican classics to bring you the Chicas Fish Taco.
Another great dish we have is the pork belly taco, crafted by our chef and general manager, Benjamin. The pork belly is combined with sweet and sour sauce, spicy flavors, Brussels sprouts, shaved cabbage, and pickled onions. This taco is a delightful blend of bright, fresh, crunchy, and spicy flavors.” he continued.
“Our Nachos, which I consider ‘Happy Meals,’ are one of my favorite items on the menu. The chips are stacked vertically to ensure that every chip is covered in cheese, which is a blend of three different types of cheese. The nachos are also topped with melted queso, shaved radish, smoky morita salsa, flash-fried fresh jalapeño, and a sprinkle of fresh dough for extra crunch. I truly believe it’s a happiness-inducing meal. During the COVID pandemic, our chef came up with a creative twist by taking these award-winning Michelin tortillas, flattening them out, crisping them up, and transforming them into a delicious Mexican pizza,” Chris Blanchard shared.
He went on to describe the Mexican pizza, explaining that it has a tortilla base, topped with a blend of three different kinds of cheese, and more cheese. For example, the barbecue chicken pizza is topped with a chipotle aioli sauce, a house-made chipotle barbecue sauce, pickled onions, green onions, and cilantro. Chris noted that the pizza has a crispy texture and the cheese is perfectly melted.
It was a great experience speaking with Chris Blanchard, co-founder of Chicas Tacos, and learning about the background and dishes of the restaurant. Chicas Tacos is a manifestation of the four founders’ cherished Mexican culinary memories from their childhood to the present day. The restaurant will be operational from Monday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm. The address of Chicas Tacos Rodeo 39 is 12885 Beach Boulevard, Stanton, California.
LOCATIONS OF CHICAS TACOS:
- Chicas Culver City: Open since January 10, 2020 at 9343 Culver Blvd, Culver City.
- All Season Brewing Co.: The second location of Chicas Tacos opened on February 23, 2021 at 800 S. La Brea Ave.
- Chicas Tacos Huntington Beach: Located at 7151 Warner Ave, Suite 105 and opened on October 27, 2022.
- Rodeo 39: The newest addition to the Chicas Tacos family, located at 12885 Beach Blvd in Stanton, CA, opens its doors on February 7, 2023.