El Grullense: Great Taqueria Mystery Solved

For those who live in the peninsula and eat a fair bit of Mexican food, you've probably noticed that there are lots of taquerias called "El Grullense" scattered about.

Initially, I thought there were 3 or 4 in Redwood City, and that was the extent of it. On further exploration, turns out there are at least twenty taquerias named "El Grullense," stretching as far north as Richmond, and as far south as Morgan Hill.

Just do a quick Google Search and you'll see them all nicely arrayed.

I also discovered an article in the Palo Alto Daily that recounts the story of the founder, the source of the mysterious logo, and actually explains what "El Grullense" means. For the cognoscenti, this is one of life's great mysteries, solved. Who new?

But I digress.

I've tried at least five of the different El Grullense spots, and have officially proclaimed this one, on El Camino just south of Jefferson, as the best of the lot.

It's a standard tacqueria, really. But the food is delicious, freshly prepared, and there is a lot of choice on the menu. My favorite is the wet burrito. Take a burrito with the works, then slather it with spicy red sauce, sprinkle some cheese on it, and let it melt and mingle together. Ay dios mio!

If you can't handle a little bit of lard, this probably isn't the place for you. Often the tortillas get dipped in a little extra somethin' that many find delicious but may scare others away. It's a real taqueria, not a fresh-mex place. You've been warned.

But if you're hankering for authentic tacos, burritos, and such, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better spot in the mid-peninsula.

Address: 1280 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Phone: (650) 368-3737

Website: http://www.elgrullensegrill.com/ELCAMINOREDWOODCITY.html

Other reviews: Yelp, Yahoo, Google