Best of 2000: Best Tortas

La Torta
4864 Cass Street, Pacific Beach
(858) 272-2077
8350 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
(619) 466-3953

You take Mexican mainstays such as carne asada, machaca, chicken mole, refried beans, chiles relleno, and chorizo. But forget the tortillas. Instead you encase the goodies in the soft, slightly sweet Mexican rolls known as teleras. The result is a torta, and you can't find a better one on either side of the border than those produced by the Rojas family at their two outlets. More commonplace components (turkey, ham, tuna, bacon) are also available, served with a chipotle mayonnaise that make the end result un poco mas interesante than the ordinary gringo deli fare.