Glen L.
Yelp
Read an article about the best dishes in the Valley that incorporate mushrooms and the Garlic Roasted Mushroom Taco at CRUjiente Tacos ranked. Mushrooms? Garlic? In a taco? Sign me up!
CRUjiente Tacos is located in a nondescript strip mall in Arcadia that I've passed a million times. You'd have no idea that it's there. One word of warning: the parking lot is small. If you want to make it in for the 4:00 pm Happy Hour (there's also a reverse Happy Hour from 9:00-close) or are planning to meet someone here, I would recommend arriving early or taking a car. While I was standing outside (they don't open the doors a second before 4:00), a neighborhood local told me that the tacos were worth the wait and strongly recommended the Korean Fried Chicken tacos.
The staff is incredibly welcoming when you arrive, and I was impressed that they offer Happy Hour specials throughout the restaurant and not only the bar. I did end up opting for the bar seating -- those chairs are comfy! The bartenders work pretty much non-stop mixing drinks, especially their signature Margarita. There is a chalkboard near the door that lists specials, and some of the seasonal drinks (Thai Margarita!) actually sounded quite interesting compared to what was on the menu. Likewise, the wines that are available by the glass are unique (mostly from Spain), and you won't likely find them in other places around town.
The ambiance itself is sleek. Truly, from the outside, this looks like a hole in the wall, but when you step in, it's like being transported. It's really sexy, to be honest, and would rate as a perfect date night spot. Another thing I didn't expect to find here? A view of the mountains from the inside. This place really has it all.
Salsa Trio: I loved the chips. Super thin, perfectly salted, and warm. It was a little odd that they are served in a brown paper bag (maybe it's easier to keep warm?). Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of the three salsa options. They were OK, but none was too distinct. I liked the Habanero the best since it was the spiciest. Kudos to the staff for offering another bag of chips to help us finish our salsas (I passed).
Garlic Roasted Mushroom Taco: This is what you came for. This features an all-star roster of salubrious fungi, including juicy portobellos; earthy shiitakes; and meaty maitake mushrooms. The kitchen starts by tossing the mushrooms in a garlic and olive oil purée and roasting them at high heat to caramelize. They then set them atop a house-made blue corn tortilla spread with local Crow's Dairy chèvre whipped with a purée of parsley, cilantro, and jalapeño. It's topped with dots of jalapeño aioli to lend some heat and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro to brighten. I liked this very much. I would possibly ask in the future if I could swap out the blue corn tortilla with a flour tortilla. Somehow, the combination of the mushrooms and the blue corn makes this somewhat heavier than it needs to be.
Korean Fried Chicken Tacos: Per the suggestion of the passerby, I ordered these next. A very generous portion of fried chicken that was juicy and crisp. Honestly, I could have just eaten the chicken! The added kimchi made this all the more authentic. This is a great example of Asian-Mexican fusion cuisine.
On a future visit, I would skip the salsa trio and opt for the guacamole. I also saw that the strip steak taco features mushrooms. And the crunchy beef and crunchy lamb tacos looked exquisite! There are plenty of reasons to come back and do a deep dive into the menu.
The staff had great synergy, and it was obvious that they liked working together. One of the managers came over and checked in with me and when I said I was embarrassed that I hadn't been in before, he said they are definitely a hidden gem despite being open for six-plus years. Service here is above average.