Border Grill

(Dined 06/24/22 FR @ 8:00pm): No need to run to the border... just find them at outdoor events or in Pasadena for some grilled tasty Mexican food!

I recently enjoyed a viewing of "The Birdcage" during an Eat See Hear event at The Autry Museum Of The American West At Griffith Park when I was first introduced to Border Grill Food Truck. Although I frequently attended, worked, or volunteered at the myriad of year-around events throughout Southern California, this was my very first encounter with this meals-on-wheels although I was very familiar with their various brick-and-mortars before they all closed several years ago. However, I've never eaten from their truck before, so this was like revisiting an old acquaintance. Would this be a pleasant dining experience as it was in their restaurants!?

QUICK BIO
"Welcome to the Border Grill Food Truck, a gourmet food truck featuring conscientiously-sourced tacos, burritos, bowls, and more from celebrity Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" and Food Network's "Too Hot Tamales". A uniquely fun way to feed a hungry crowd at any location, The truck is a party on wheels, perfect for large festivals or any pirate event, including birthdays, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, office parties, and production shoots. And our famous margaritas are available too!"

PURCHASE
Crispy Baja Fish Burrito ($10.00): Filled with red rice, organic black beans, chopped romaine, Mexican cheeses, homemade salsa fresca, and grilled corn relish all wrapped in a large flour tortilla, this two-hander was large, thick, and tasted healthy! There was plenty of beans and rice but honestly could've used more fish which had a nice crunch but seemed limited as I made my way to the end of the burrito https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=w2biostqxBJxpHwaWU3FaQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.

5pc Dulce De Leche Churro Tots w/Whipped Cream ($5.50): Dark cinnamon mounds the size of golf balls, I had to try this unique take on one of my favorite desserts. Each churro tots was warm with a moist inside, and although the whipped cream was appreciated it really didn't add much to the dessert https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bKDaIo5Zj_nhJw8lKIBVWg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw.

SERVICE
A friendly man greeted me, quickly took my order, and a little over ten minutes later my order was ready and given to me by a different man (I imagined the chef) which was amazing based on the decent line they had in front of and behind me. All was straightforward and greatly appreciated!

PARKING (FREE)
Being a food truck, they were at the beck and call wherever the event was held. In this case, the event took place at a museum adjacent to a zoo with plenty of free parking all around. Another option was a driving service like a bus, taxi, Lyft, or Uber (no nearby Metro train station) - 'nuff said.

ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
Your standard self-sufficient food truck with exterior an exterior food menu https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=6vBepO_PvkR3IVtPGL7Cgg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw, order and pick up windows, an area for condiments, napkins, and utensils, no designated seating area, and natural lighting was prevalent during the daytime while minimal electric street and truck lighting glowed at night. There were no TVs unless you considered the movie screen and movie that played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=K_7W7lUgB0cqBlvNsP5hyQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw

ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.

OVERALL
I wouldn't necessarily cross any borders to get to The Border Grill Food Truck, but I would consider them again based on my previous enjoyable times with the restaurants. The menu was extremely limited (tacos, quesadillas, burritos, bowls, sides, desserts, drinks). As expected, the prices were on the higher end but not extravagant. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of my burrito (just more fish, please), and the service was more than adequate. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $15.50 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS

They were in Culver City & I got a chicken, pork, and beef taco, guac/chips, and a boxed water. Each taco was very good! I was worried about how spicy the salsas would be, but it was good! On the mild/medium side. Guac was fire! $6.50 and a lot of guac. Each taco was about $3-$4. Boxed water was $2.50. They also had battered fried shrimp tacos and sweet potato tacos. Food came out fast. Was limited menu because it was a food truck event/long lines so no other dishes except bowls. Would have tried quesadilla or burritos if they had it. Would eat again! Def the steak, chicken tacos & guac/chips. The pork taco was kinda bland/not as flavorful as the rest.

I tried Border Grill for the first time for lunch today. They are so quick getting your food, everyone was surprised. You order your food and a minute later, your order is ready!

I got two carnitas tacos with chips and guac for $10.50. It was so good! I'm full but I don't have that heavy feeling. They didn't skimp on the meat, which I appreciated. They bring chips and guac to a whole other level. When you try this, you HAVE to buy the chips and guac!!!!!!!!!!
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Also, all of the employees in the food truck were handsome ;)

Border Grill catering has come to the Rose Bowl, and I am so happy that they are there. We got the barbacoa nachos for $14, which is a HUGE serving for two people for sure. The bowl is loaded with fresh corn tortilla chips, refried black beans, tender barbacoa meat, pico de gallo, guacamole and pickled jalapenos. The nacho cheese sauce is LEGIT! As in, it is not from a can and is made with real cheese. And it is spread evenly through the bowl. You get the good stuff with every bite.

Food trucks and stadiums are expensive. Choices are limited. The nachos at Border Grill catering are a GREAT choice! I'm a fan.

We had one of these trucks at work for lunch courtesy of our Vendor HP we didn't have a menu choice it was all prepared a ready to pick up we got 3 tacos ( Carnitas, Carne Asada and chicken) rice beans and chopped salad. It was ok the rice was kinda hard but tasty the tacos were ok I think the carnitas one was the best the carne asada one was a bit too spicy for me and the chicken was a bit too lemony. The salad was good had a little kick to it as well. Lastly the beans were ok. Knowing we had a limited menu since it was catered to us I can't say how the other stuff are. Overall an average taco truck maybe if I was able to have the tacos the way I wanted may have been better I'm very picky on what I like in my tacos.

Where's the Meat?!

Ordered the burrito with carnitas and cilantro garlic fries. Very disappointed with the amount of meat in my burrito! I cut off a 1/4 of my burrito to share with my coworker, took 3 bites in and got my first piece of meat. With each bite I was hoping to catch a piece of meat. By 5-6 bites in, I was done before I could finish it. Fries were good though. That was their saving grace, but when they come back to my work building, never again. I'll let the people in my office know too.

I recently went to an event at the Hammer Museum where the truck was parked for the night. I was pretty stoked to discover tacos waiting for me on the curb.

My order: 2 carnitas tacos $6, chips and guacamole $5 + $2 tip = 13 and some change.

Pros: The price seemed reasonable to me considering the owner was once a guest judge on Top Chef. The person who took my order was friendly, and the line went pretty quick.

The guacamole was pretty good. They provided a generous scoop and it was well-seasoned with lovely little crunchy bits of red onion.

Cons: The tacos were incredibly disappointing. The meat portion was skimpy and they were void of any vegetable/sauce/garnish. The woman who handed me my food seemed upset/surprised that I wanted salsa, which was puzzling.

What started out as a promising taco truck experience quickly devolved into sadness and disappointment. Sigh.

The tacos were tasty. I had a carnitas and a fish taco. $7.00 for 2 tacos. I would have no problem with that price if they were a little larger. They were tiny. I would say smaller than a street taco. I expected them to be small because of the other reviews but was surprised as to how small they were. I decided to purchase them to see how they taste.

Taste 4 stars.
Size. 2 stars
Cost. 2 stars

I decided to give them 3 stars total.

Convenient food truck, tried their burrito, which actaully tasted good, organic red rice, chopped romaine, mexican cheeses, grilled corn relish, salsa fresca, add guacamole, organic black beans, skirt steak, expect around $10 per order.

3.5 stars

5 stars for the churro tots and the outstanding friendly service
3.5 stars for the remaining food I tried
2 stars for pricing

The best thing at the Border Grill Truck are the churro tots! They are more of a cinnamon donut than a churro but who cares cuz they are absolutely tasty little morsels of goodness! Five star quality those tots! They are served like donut holes and you get 5 of them with a runny whip cream sauce. Or maybe the whip cream melted because the tots were served super warm! I can't be sure because I stole a tot from a friend who ordered them.

I ordered one Potato Rajas Taco $2, one Carne Asada Quesadilla $5, and one Green Corn Tamal $4 with tax added my total order for 3 items was $12 and change which I thought was a little on the high end for the amount of food I ended with.

I found the Green Corn Tamal and the potato taco to be the best items out of the 3 things I ordered. I would rank them both as 3 and 1/2 stars as they were not the best versions I had of either item nor where they the worst. I liked how the tamal was served. It came in a cone cup with a spoon so it basically was the innards of a tamale. The mixture was very tasty but LuLa's in Santa Monica still serve the best green corn tamales in LA (in my opinion).

The Carne Asada Quesadilla was too greasy for my taste. The carne was good but I wasn't a fan of the cheese they used to mold the quesadilla together so ultimately I didn't really end up enjoying this particular quesadilla.

The service was spectacular in that the people working the truck were very friendly. The wait like any other truck was a tad long but that is the nature of food truck chasing. A true chaser waits! One more thing about the service....I love it when people smile cuz you know they care about what they are serving. Overall a good experience.