BajaNomad

Best store bought tortillas de harina

astrobaja - 5-5-2009 at 08:23 AM

Ok we all know home made is the best (my favs are those made at Broncos steakhouse in Ensenada and those made at Rancho Meling by Andrea on a 40's vintage wood cookstove! mmmm)

I have done my own and they are pretty good (albeit not too round) any opinions on which tortilleria makes the best ready to go?
I hate to say it but I really like those from Walmart in Ensenada (thank goodness they are not totally like those up north!) They were a bit thicker and had a good amount of manteca (some have just too much). But there must be other better sources...

shari - 5-5-2009 at 08:46 AM

each area has their own little microtortillerias...here in mulege county, we have wonderful whole wheat tortillas...I always check to see if they are made with manteca or veggie oil.

bajabound2005 - 5-5-2009 at 08:58 AM

Calimax! Or the ones you buy at Costco and have to cook yourself. Those are the best for store bought.

fdt - 5-5-2009 at 09:32 AM

The kids love the ones I make and they come out like yours, semiround :lol:
What we have found is that the ones made in Soriana are very good and also semiround (maybe the shape determines flavor).

DanO - 5-5-2009 at 09:41 AM

Commercial Mexicana in Ensenada now has flavored harina tortillas. Last time I tried the nopales. Pretty good. They also have chipotle and a red chile version. The tortilleria next door to Dos Hermanos south of town at the Estero Beach turnoff has good harina and maiz tortillas. I'm also partial to the harina tortillas at La Fonda, especially at breakfast with some butter and strawberry jam.

Fred - 5-5-2009 at 09:47 AM

I agree with DanO about the place next to Dos Hernamos.

Bajahowodd - 5-5-2009 at 10:12 AM

This thread reminds me of my frustration trying to find flour tortillas North of the border that are as light and thin as ones found in MX. Some dishes just go better with flour v. corn. Seems any flour store bought brands are way too thick and heavy. Only place I've found the lighter, thinner ones is at El Pollo Loco. And they don't sell them retail. Maybe I should buy the meal and give the chicken away!

Fred - 5-5-2009 at 10:16 AM

Bajahowodd......................Just head down to the Mexican part of town where you live and you should find a store that sells them. I shop at a Mexican market here in Vegas all the time. Good luck. Also good tortillas at the little tortilla trailer in Los Barriles.

Bajahowodd - 5-5-2009 at 10:34 AM

Fred- Maybe you're luckier than I. I live one block from a commercial tortilleria, where I can buy still warm corn tortillas anytime. The flour ones they sell are not made on premises, and seem about the same as the "Grumma" brands sold at supermarkets. I've gone to a few places in Santa Ana (can't get any more Mex in the OC), and still no luck. But thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep looking.

Comercial Mexicana

Gypsy Jan - 5-5-2009 at 11:12 AM

Has great, thin tortillas de harina - Mission brand.

The ingredients info says that they use vegetable oil, not pork lard (manteca).

Fred - 5-5-2009 at 12:12 PM

Bajahowodd...............yes, the place I shop at in Vegas has the factory inside the store. They make them right. I am surprised you can't find any in OC. Santa Ana has to have a place or 2. I spend my 40 years in OC/Calif. That was enough for me.

castaway$ - 5-5-2009 at 01:50 PM

Not even the Mexicans in Oregon make them as good as the ones we get in Baja!

Bajahowodd - 5-5-2009 at 04:49 PM

Sometimes I wonder if lard makes it better, taste-wise. After all, if one doesn't make a daily routine of them, maybe they would be a real treat.

bajabound2005 - 5-5-2009 at 06:07 PM

of course lard makes them taste better! PORK FAT RULES!

Tacos Zamora in Santa Ana

estebanis - 5-5-2009 at 06:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Fred- Maybe you're luckier than I. I live one block from a commercial tortilleria, where I can buy still warm corn tortillas anytime. The flour ones they sell are not made on premises, and seem about the same as the "Grumma" brands sold at supermarkets. I've gone to a few places in Santa Ana (can't get any more Mex in the OC), and still no luck. But thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep looking.

Hey BWodd!
If your are in Santa Ana you gotta eat at Tacos Zamora. I go to the one on Alton and Main. Make sure you read the back of the menu about the founder. Those guy's really make me feel like I am in their backyard hanging out. Do you know the place? By the way best damn corn tortillas I have found in Alta California.:biggrin:

BajaGuera - 5-5-2009 at 08:24 PM

I used to buy Las Espegas flour tortillas in just about any little grocery store down south. They were pretty darn close to homemade in taste and texture and they traveled well. Now we frequent Commercial and get the hot off the griddle variety - but they don't travel well and I can't find Las Espegas on the shelves for bringing home.

Alan - 5-5-2009 at 10:06 PM

There was once a little old lady nearly crippled with arthritis that had a tortillaria about a block or two up from the malecon in San Felipe that made the absolute best tortillas. No machines, done by hand, translucent thin and hot off an old grill. This was probably an easy twenty years ago but I can still almost taste them.

Bajahowodd - 5-5-2009 at 11:15 PM

Esteban- Believe it or not, but Zamoras opened a place one block from me. Originally called Mariscos Zamoras, but, under the same ownership, now called Lupita's Mexican Grill. Just haven't gone there. Now will.

schwlind - 5-6-2009 at 01:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
This thread reminds me of my frustration trying to find flour tortillas North of the border that are as light and thin as ones found in MX. Some dishes just go better with flour v. corn. Seems any flour store bought brands are way too thick and heavy. Only place I've found the lighter, thinner ones is at El Pollo Loco. And they don't sell them retail. Maybe I should buy the meal and give the chicken away!


Bajahowodd...
Von's located off of the 805/Palm Exit on Dennery Road ( just north of the border) has terrific flour tortillas for store bought. They are located in the refrigerated section near the salsas, cheeses, etc. You have to cook them, but they are very thin and delish. I always take some to Baja and back to FL when I can... (12 tortillas per package). Wish I could remember the name but they come in clear plastic zip lock packaging with blue or red lettering.
Linda

bcburt - 5-6-2009 at 06:35 AM

Mercado Emilia in playas. There is a store in Rosarito but I'm not sure if the quality is the same as the store in playas.

Sunman - 5-6-2009 at 07:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fred
I agree with DanO about the place next to Dos Hernamos.



x3

Also Lala's north of San Vicente.

LaRibereņa - 5-7-2009 at 09:38 AM

On the day we fly north, I pick up a kilo of tortillas de harina, place in a zip-lok and pack it carefully in my suitcase. When we arrive home that evening, I just pop it in the freezer. Wonderful to have good tortillas instead of those thick ones in the US.

BajaGringo - 5-7-2009 at 09:45 AM

You guys are making me hungry...

astrobaja - 5-8-2009 at 09:49 AM

Lots of great ideas of new tortilla places to try out! I agree the stuff you get north of the border in both the US and Canada is pathetic! I think its to do with the type of flour they use. The El Rosario brand I used here in Baja when I made my own turned out great (though not really too round...). I think the flour here is not totaly devoid of the wheat germ, so it retains a bit of the whole wheat nuttiness without becoming overly heavy.