La Santa Torta

Quesabirria Trailblazer La Santa Torta Opens New Restaurant on Nov. 1 | Eater SF

"Opening November 1 at 95 Linden St in Oakland, the brick-and-mortar outgrowth of the popular La Santa Torta food trucks grew out of Leonel Oblea perfecting his family quesabirria recipe after quitting his job in 2017. Oblea, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and great-grandson of an acclaimed birriero from Jalisco, spent six months dialing in a mix of 10 spices (including coriander, cloves, and cinnamon) so the juicy beef stewed in a rusty-red broth delivers tender meat, crispy cheese, and a savory, deeply hued consommé with flashes of marjoram and warm spices; he used his Eurocentric training to keep the broth sheer so the herbs stand out. The menu carries over bestsellers from the trucks — quesabirria tacos and the long hoagie-style torta — plus Oblea’s addictive elote made from fresh corn seasoned with lime, parmesan, chili powder, and Flaming Hot Cheetos, and weekend brunch items like chile rellenos, chilaquiles with La Finca Tortillas, French toast with cajeta goat-milk caramel and pecans, and new breakfast sopes; lacking a liquor license, they've partnered with Old Kan Brewery next door to supply beer for micheladas. It's a family operation, with his dad Trino doing prep and his fiancée Yesenia and her brothers Victor and Ivan handling marketing and truck management, and Oblea says sharing their family birria tradition with a California twist has brought the family closer." - Maria C. Hunt