When I’m hosting a BBQ, few things have the bang for the buck that Carne Asada has. It’s easy to cook. It smells good on the grill. It has flavor. It’s beef. It’s cheap.

In all honesty, I don’t think I have ever had bad Carne Asada from my grill. Therefore, I feel pretty confident strolling into any carniceria to pick up some pre-seasoned meat. The risk of getting something foul is low.

At the corner of Venice Blvd and McLaughlin sits Aqui es Oaxaca (Here is Oaxaca). They carry a slew of Oaxacan goods, including a variety of meats — and their own marinated Carne Asada.

I do get small pleasure out of using my limited Spanish when I’m in a carniceria. At Aqui es Oaxaca, not only is my Spanish not needed, I don’t have the chance to use it, as the friendly Senora behind the meat counter greets me in English and we talk about how much carne I want.

She weighs out five pounds of carne ($5/lb) and after she marks down the price, throws in some extra goodies like orange slices, onions and a few small pieces of meat. While she is doing that, I am eying the salsa containers in the refrigerated cabinet. My new friend pulls out a few of the containers and seems to be guiding me towards the salsa roja, which turns out to be an amazingly thick smoky chipotle salsa.

I walk out happy. The service is friendly, the meat counter is clean and I like how the carne asada seasoning is on the dry side. Sometimes when I buy carne asada, it is swimming in half a bag of marinade. I still like that style, but if the meat sits in the marinade too long, it can become a bit chewy.

So how does it cook?

I fire up the grill on fairly high heat and slap the meat down with a sizzle. I’m tempted to munch on some carne tartar, it looks so good. A few minutes on each side and then on to the chopping block to be cut up for tacos. The meat is juicy, charred on the outside and moist on the (thin) inside.

So here I am, staring at my taco. So far my Carne Asada de Aqui es Oaxaca experience is first rate. I get ready for my first bite. Yeah right! I totally ate chunks of carne while I was swinging my cleaver. It is awesome. A taste of Oaxaca right in my backyard. I’m the hero of the grill. The crowd is clamoring for carne. I’m passing out the tender morsels while my guests lick their lips and then close their eyes and sink their teeth into the flavor bursting meat.

Need I say more? Aqui es Oaxaca is a home run in the carne asada department.

Aqui es Oaxaca
11614 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, 90066
(310) 313-4813