Restaurant of the Month: El Indio Tortilla Factory

South Bay Events presents its pick of the month for June 2012!

The passing of Memorial Day weekend marks the arrival of the South Bay’s sunniest season and brings with it the notion of summer food. Grilling over hot coals or propane induced flames characterize summertime eats and just like when you were a kid, summertime food is pretty simple. Luckily, the South Bay has a cornucopia of cheap eats hidden in the cracks of its neighborhoods that add joy to the simplicity of a greasy summer.

Mexican food is quick and tasty, it usually comes with rice and beans and summer isn’t complete without a meal from some of the more formidable taco stands around like El Burrito Junior, El Tarasco, or Los Caballitos. The taco, enchilada, and burrito represent the winning tri-fecta for any self-respecting taco joint but not all of them can roll their own tortillas and chips. That’s what El Indio Tortilla Factory in North Redondo Beach has been doing since 1960.

Located on Artesia Boulevard just before Inglewood Avenue, El Indio boasts an authentic, old fashioned Mexican style restaurant that’s more take out than sit down. Upon entry, you can tell the counter and tiled floor have been worn down by heavy foot traffic, a good sign that customers come back. The food here hasn’t changed much since the 1960s and El Indio has stayed true to its red sauce and fresh, greasy tortilla chips that come with every meal. Kind of like the “Meat and Potatoes” standard for Mexican American combination plates. Their enchiladas come drowned in a red sauce and the Chile Verde burrito contains tender chunks of pork covered in a mild red sauce with melted cheese. The red sauce isn’t spicy and helps accentuate El Indio’s subtle, earthy flavor and homespun décor.

The quesadillas and taco combinations are highly recommended, but for take-out only. Parking in this block of North Redondo is tricky and trying to make a u-turn on Artesia Boulevard can cause headaches. You can also take away fresh bags of El Indio’s tortillas or chips and for those that feel like spending some time pounding and rounding their own tortillas, El Indio sells various types of masa too. El Indio has been quick and tasty since 1960, so if you get some free time this summer be sure to make a stop at El Indio Tortilla Factory.

El Indio Tortilla Factory is located at 2523 Artesia Boulevard in Redondo Beach. Open daily for lunch dinner until 10 PM. The phone number is (310) 370-0038.