Bakersfield restaurant named as having best tacos in California

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A Mexican restaurant in Bakersfield is receiving some recognition, after an article published by a writer on Thrillist said they have the best tacos in the state.

Thrillist released a list of the best tacos in every state, and in California it namedNuestro Mexico.

The writer, Matt Meltzer, was the judge. He wrote:

OK, OK, OK. We see you, hole-in-the-wall taco joints in LA, and fish taco specialists in San Diego. We see the Korean bulgogi pork belly foie gras truffle tacos in SF, and the family-run hyper-authentic restaurants in hotspots like Modesto and Turlock. You’re all great. Tupac could come back from the dead and write "California Love 2," and it would be completely about tacos. You wanna try and pick the best Cali taco without getting a Tapatio-/stress-induced ulcer? Go for it. You’re lucky we didn’t just say screw it and go with Del Taco. So... JUST LET BAKERSFIELD HAVE THIS.

If there is one redeeming feature to the oil derrick-filled paradise that is Bakersfield, it’s Nuestro Mexico. I’ve spent half my life in California, traveled the entire state, and can’t say I’ve ever had a better taco than the smoky, grilled, meat stuffed ones here. This bright, colorful, family-run spot packs about three street-tacos worth of steak into a single carne asada taco, but it’s not just the quantity of meat that makes it so great. It’s marinated in ablend of Mexican spices that pairs perfectly with the fresh grilled flavor. You will never leave Nuestro hungry, and should you happen to find yourself in the Country Music Capital of the West Coast you’ll be blown away by how well they do tacos. Better, dare I say, than anyone in the taco-est state in the country.

One of the owners, Josue Sanchez, said this was unexpected, but he's excited someone enjoyed his recipe.

"I'm fortunate enough to work with people who care about what they do. They enjoy what they do and that gets transmitted into the food and in this case it was the tacos," he said. "I don't think we have a secret, I think what we do is we care for what we do. We try our best everyday and we care about the things we do and it shows."