Tacos Tu Madre

If you ever asked yourself (if you're a UCLA student like me) if there is a reason to frequent Westwood Blvd, south of Santa Monica, the answer could be "Mexican food."

If you head a little more than one block south of the sprawling intersection, you will encounter a pink stall with mission revival-style roofing. Along the exterior of the building that rises behind the stand, modernist (arial/bold?) text advertises "Tacos Tu Madre."

Back on the ground, you approach a square window (with the dimensions of a standard microwave), carved out of a ghoulish green mural, to place your order, pop-up (or, this being LA, Taco Truck) style. 

The menu, printed on laminated paper (there is no display), reads like a laundry list of trends in California fusion cuisine. 

There are Korean BBQ Tacos (and Burritos), Banh Mi Tacos (and Burritos), Fried Chicken Tacos (and Burritos).  For those in the mood for Mexican food (as I was on my visit last week), however, can opt for the classic Grilled Chicken (or Asada) Burrito.

Although the order window emulates a pop-up or take-out joint, a covered dining area, with tables and benches allows you to wait for your order (and eat) in comfort.

The minimalist design, enhanced by bright lighting and the occasional mural (or mustachioed skeleton) contribute to a quirky ethos: definitely more Williamsburg than Westwood.

The burrito is served from the kitchen on a tray lined with parchment, poking its nose from tin-foil wrapping, in the style from San Francisco Mission District. 

And indeed, like the prototypical mission burrito, Tu Madre's tortilla batons are gigantic.

 Unfortunately, the first bite I took of the chicken burrito I had ordered consisted exclusively of the briny red chili aioli--not a flavor craved after a long day of studying. I had to take a few more chunks out of the burrito in order to reach the chunks of zesty grilled chicken (with a hint of lime) and earthy beans. The ingredients could have been distributed better. 

Unlike a lot of places, the burrito comes with guacamole, but I recommend ordering them without this: they lime flavor is unpleasantly overpowering.

On the other hand, the creamy chipotle mayonnaise that is served as an accompaniment tastes like heaven (requests extra if you can).

Overall, I would give Tacos Tu Madre 4 out of 5 stars. Their burrito cannot compete with Border Grill (or DTLA's Tacos Tamix, for that matter), but compared well with those served at other Westwood-area establishments. The restaurant is conveniently located and open until midnight. If I am ever transferring between buses at Santa Monica and Westwood after a long night on campus, I might return.