Many people do not realize the full potential of pork. As a grey area between white and red meat, chefs and cooks can apply pork to various applications of meat traditionally associated with a particular type. Without pork, man would not have discovered bacon pork belly. Sadly, many swear by bacon as the end-all of all food on this planet, and to them I accuse them of insanity because they miss the finer foods of the world. Speaking of insanity, one particular bar & restaurant caters to the insane people out there… insane about modern twists to classic foods, and insane about the clash of flavors present in the food. The insane gather at The Camp in Costa Mesa to eat at Taco Asylum.
Taco Asylum, a punk rock taco bar located deep in The Camp in Costa Mesa, showcases non-traditional gourmet tacos in a very hipster environment. The writings on the wall tell the story of how hooked the insane get attached to these tacos. An original menu of nine tacos has since expanded to carry ten tacos, with a few that rotate seasonally. However, Taco Asylum maintains their standard lineup of gourmet tacos, which includes the delicious Pork Belly Taco. This large taco comes with shredded pork belly, onions, julienned carrots & daikon, and garnished with cilantro. With each order, the server graciously presents you with three house-made sauces: mild, medium, and hot. However, once you bite into the taco, you realize how unnecessary those sauces feel right in front of you. Do you want to distract your taste buds from the savory pork juices seeping through the taco? Hot sauce will do just that, and while I lack sufficient evidence that hot sauce opens up your palate to allow better absorption of all the flavors, I speak from experience when I say that the taco tastes amazing without hot sauce. At $5 per taco, this large taco can act as a full meal by itself. After your first bite, question yourself if you should order another. All the tacos here taste fantastic, but another Pork Belly Taco would hit just the right spot. Get on down to Taco Asylum soon and order the Pork Belly Taco. Order two or more if you feel up for it, and satisfy your hunger with Taco Asylum’s juicy pork belly.
