TikTok Star Roberto Morales’ Favourite Mexican Meals Spots in Los Angeles

In late 2020, Roberto Morales started to submit cooking movies impressed by his household’s cookouts on TikTok and Instagram. The fast-paced recipe demos usually kick off with Morales holding up cuts of meat within the air and slapping them like a digicam clapboard. As he gained recognition, Morales invited friends to organize issues like steak, crumbled chile chiltepín, and fire-roasted salsas with him, rising his channel to the purpose the place Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, Olivia Rodrigo, and Rosalía have appeared. He just lately filmed a reel by which he makes steak tacos with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence to advertise Dangerous Boys: Experience or Die.

Born and raised in Hermosillo, Sonora, Morales is understood for his catchphrases “qúe chille” (meant to resemble the sound of uncooked meat coming into contact with a scorching grill) and “va pa’ dentro” (which suggests “goes inside”), Morales now owns the fried hen chain Qúe Hen, a seasoning line known as Robs by Robegrill, and knife model Suish Knives. He’s additionally a model ambassador for Southern California grocery store chain Northgate González.

Eater spoke with Morales on Zoom to debate his favourite Mexican meals locations in Los Angeles, Sonoran grill tradition, and his forthcoming look on the Northgate González Asada Fest this Saturday, July 13. The pageant may even characteristic cooks Javier Plascenica, Claudette Zepeda, Yesenia Rios, and native carne asada taqueros, lots of whom grace the information to 38 important tacos in Los Angeles.

On rising up in Hermosillo, Sonora, and the affect of Sonoran meals on Los Angeles

Roberto Morales: The cooking type in Hermosillo facilities across the grill, the lighting of the charcoal, the steaks, the tacos, the tortillas de harina (flour tortillas) — that type of cooking and people substances have at all times been with me. I’ve discovered quite a bit from my father, my uncles, and my grandfather. Meals and cooking have at all times linked me to my household.

On consuming carne asada and Mexican meals in Los Angeles

We did a taco tour a year-and-a-half in the past hosted by Northgate González, visiting 4 or 5 spots, and had a stunning expertise. LA has actually good high quality tacos. I believe it’s as a result of Mexican individuals there use their fathers’, grandfathers’, and nice grandfathers’ recipes, and I believe that’s one thing actually stunning. They’re preserving and sharing their household recipes.

Sonoratown had very nice tacos, and the tortillas impressed me. The flour tortilla is as necessary because the meat. I additionally went to a spot in Grand Central Market that was okay. We went to Birrieria Villalobos, which was actually good, and we loved it quite a bit. We went with two individuals from my staff, in addition to my father and all of us agreed it was one of the best spot we went to. Carnitas Los Chingones is nice, and I undoubtedly give Asadero Chikali a thumbs up. We went to Tacos El Toro for lengua, cabeza, labio. General, it was a very nice expertise consuming Mexican meals in Los Angeles.

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On what makes Hermosillo’s carne asada particular

It’s in regards to the high quality and conventional tradition of getting ready the meat. The experience of Hermosillo’s taqueros makes an enormous distinction. It’s onerous to clarify as a result of it’s one thing within the tradition that goes again a few years. And it’s the simplicity — they solely put salt on the meat earlier than cooking. I’ve seen a number of movies the place cooks use a marinade for carne asada. It’s not dangerous, however I might say strive it with out the marinade. As a substitute, use a top quality minimize of meat, and it’ll be means higher.

There’s no nice carne asada with out the salsas and menjurjes [slang for a mixture of toppings]. Once I make carne asada, there’s at all times a minimal of three menjurjes. You want a guacamole and salsa tatemada [roasted tomatoes and chiles]. To make the tatemada, mash grilled tomatoes, onions, serranos, and a bit little bit of garlic if you would like with salt, pepper, and cilantro in a molcajete. For the third salsa, you possibly can play a bit bit. I like chiltepín quite a bit.

On why Hermosillo taquerias like Tacos Armando haven’t come to the profitable Los Angeles market

Armando has been working for a few years to construct that taqueria. His father began the enterprise as a avenue cart. They ultimately expanded to Mexico Metropolis, and I believe it could be a good suggestion to come back to LA. There may be a variety of competitors right here, however with the story Armando has, it could possibly be very profitable in Los Angeles.

On Mexican meals tradition in Los Angeles, the “second largest Mexican metropolis on this planet,” in accordance with a Norteño

I really like how Mexican individuals in LA honor the tradition of their households, and the way it has grown. I believe it’s nearly pretty much as good because the meals in Mexico, if not on the identical degree in some locations. Folks requested me how it’s attainable that the birria was pretty much as good because the birria from my hometown, and I believe it’s actually good as a result of they’ve their household’s recipe.

On LA’s beloved In-N-Out Burger

My household loves it each time we come right here. After we have been youngsters in Hermosillo, we’d drive out to Phoenix for In-N-Out. We might be ready because the second we pulled out of the driveway as a result of it was our reward for the lengthy drive. We love In-N-Out and as Mexicans, it holds a particular place in our hearts.

On different causes to go to LA

Los Angeles’s tradition is blended, with individuals coming from world wide, which influences the procuring, sneakers, and streetwear. I actually take pleasure in LA’s avenue tradition. And, in fact, Disneyland, which is a should. It was one thing we dreamed of as youngsters in Hermosillo.

On what he’ll be doing on the upcoming carne asada pageant

I shall be a decide and shall be making an attempt totally different dishes the grillers have to supply. I don’t like to evaluate quite a bit as a result of I’m a tragon [glutton]. I like every part, so it’s onerous for me to select a winner. I really like grilling, consuming, and assembly new individuals, in order that’s what I’ll be doing.

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This interview has been edited for size and readability.