La Birria

La Birria is a food truck located at Pearlridge Shopping Center, in the parking lot next to Kamehameha Hwy, in Aiea, Hawaii.

This has been a food truck I've wanted to try for a while. Using typical panda logic, it took me several months before I finally tried this food truck a few days ago.

La Birria has a simple menu based on the birria taco. Meat is marinated with guajillo chiles, then cooked like a stew (incorporating the marinade) until tender. The meat is usually shredded and put in a corn tortilla. The tacos could even get some time on a flattop with more of the consomme from the pot. Tacos are served with a cup of the consomme to dip the tacos in.

But of course, I couldn't just stick with the regular birria taco. I ordered the Hellfire Tacos ($12 for two), and my friend and I each had one for science.

The Hellfire Taco is the same birria taco, but with ghost pepper powder in the taco. I think the powder is mostly thrown in the center of the taco. It might tease the person into thinking it's not too bad, and then the second bite will hit you.

Chileheads may love this one, but the squeamish should stick with the regular birria taco. For me, the spice was mostly on the front of the tongue and roof of the mouth, eventually migrating to the throat. Just to make sure you get your spice fix, the Hellfire Taco order includes a couple pickled jalapenos. 

If you need to extinguish the heat, La Birria will recommend their horchata ($4), or you can even head to the Leonard's malasada truck next door for something sweet.

Although the consomme looks dangerously dark red, it's not spicy. The red is probably from the marinade and the red guajillos.

It's an excellent taco, lots of meat. It's pricey, but that's probably also why it's better to stick with the regular...you'll get three tacos for $12 there instead of only two.

There's also Birria Ramen here, which is another genius move to add a menu item with the remaining pot of sauce. That is definitely next on my list.

It took a few minutes to get the order. Good service. If you want heat, it's clear they will bring it.

Check out La Birria if birria tacos sound amazing to you! 8.5/10