L.A.’s Birria Obsession Forced These Westside Cemita Trucks to Serve Birria, and Their Sales Went Up 50 Percent
[dropcap size=big]W[/dropcap]hile the streets of L.A. appear to be flooded with birria consomé, the reality is that vast birria-voids still exist where that distinctive martian-colored taco feels like it’s worlds away.
In the Westside, taco devotees have been hitting up their local taqueros and have been demanding birria by name. Thanks to their supplication, the owners of these three cemita trucks are making it happen. The “Cemitas Catering” blue trucks, who for the last eight years have been slanging the Puebla-born sesame seed covered brioche-like bread (from which it gets its name) filled with quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), chipotle sauce, avocado, and usually a fried milanesa (beef or chicken cutlet), have heard the pleas of its patrons.
Like a taco dipped in consomé, owners Johana and Daniel Zermeño decided last September to go all in. And just like that, they’ve changed their trucks’ name to “Tacos Mar Vista,” painted the trucks red, and are now pouring steamy cups of consomé and tender beef birria tacos dorados alongside their original menu of cemitas, costillas, and grilled chicken.
Their trucks are positioned along the geographic borders of the Westside making them the sole provider of TJ-style birria throughout the area until you get to Teddy’s on the boardwalk. Traveling along Venice Boulevard you’ll find the first one near downtown Culver City, the second on Centinela in Mar Vista, and the last truck opening soon will be on Lincoln Boulevard.
Beto Landaverde, brother of Johana, tells L.A. Taco, “Well it’s been a demand and we finally decided to take the leap and thanks to God, it’s worked out. Things have been going really well.”
Business is up 50 percent proving the demand for Birria remains strong and is showing no signs of fading soon. The only question remaining now is, how long before that light bulb comes on and they start putting that birria in a Cemita.
Cemita Birria Dip sandwiches anybody?
9 AM - 4 PM
10113 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034 (213)909-4027
3760 S.Centinela Ave, Mar Vista, CA 90066 (323)674-6122
Coming Soon: 221 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
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