Kid Review: In Loca Times, Call La Calaca Loca
This Oakland taqueria deserves your takeout business (according to a six and four-year-old)
It only took a global pandemic to reveal just how much small business is the lifeblood of our Oakland community (not to mention communities of all shapes and sizes). “Support local biz” can be so vague, so we’re here to get super specific.
My daughters Ripley and Ezra thought we should tell “everyone” about one taqueria we frequent Monday evenings after swimming lessons at Telegraph & 51st, North Oakland’s finest Mexican, La Calaca Loca (510-601–8226).
Here’s why you should order tonight!
As with most positive reviews, it begins with queso fundido: quite literally a skillet-melted bowl of cheese, equipped with flour tortillas in which to roll it all up. Throw a little chorizo on there and you’ve got yourself something magical. More insight from Ripley, age six:
“I like the queso fundido.”
Ripley continues:
“There’s really good tacos. I like the baja pescado taco because I like the fish and I like the deep fry on the outside and the fish on the inside. And I like their quesadillas. I like the rice because it’s kinda sweet but mostly, like, rice. I dip the chips into the green salsa because it’s sorta spicy but not really spicy.”
Ezra Mae, age four, goes a little deeper.
“They make good stuff. They’re lovely makers. And I like makers so much. I like the food that they make. And also, I like the clothes that they wear. And I like their skeletons. I eat the rice and the tortilla soup and the quesadillas and the crisps that are in the soup.”
Ripley chimes in:
“Daddy, we like their skeletons. Me and Ezzie do. I like the skeleton that holds all the forks, spoons, and knives.”
It’s the people, too, according to the Ripster:
“They’re very nice people. I like Myra.”
Fun fact: According to their Yelp page, La Calaca Loca is the sister restaurant of San Francisco’s famous Nick’s Crispy Tacos. Who knew?
