Wash Mobile Tortas, off Bvd. Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Baja California...

Without exception, most human beings establish goals that they desire to achieve within their lifetime. Some of us desire lofty goals, as I recall a story from a high school history lesson which taught the class that Woodrow Wilson, as a small boy, desired to become president of the United States, and indeed he achieved his goal, as he became our 18th president in 1912. Frank Lloyd Wright constructed buildings, Cornelius Vanderbilt "built" a steamship and railroad empire, and Sir Edmund Hillary was the first recorded person to climb Mount Everest. Well, I can't exactly put myself into the leagues of great men who have made a significant impact upon the world, but since reading an article, published a few years ago in signonsandiego.com about Wash Mobile Tortas, I had plotted, fantasized and dreamed about a visit to Wash Mobile Tortas, and on Saturday, September 28, 2007, after a visit to Wash Mobile Tortas, my dream was achieved, as I was able to enjoy one of their delicious tortas. Thus, my almost-lifelong goal was fulfilled, so now I can roll over and play dead. Does that mean that my grandchildren will remember me as the-guy-who-ate-a-torta-at-Wash-Mobile-Tortas? Such may be my legacy...

Photo: Lunch time at Wash Mobile Tortas generates a crowd of locals; the tortas are that good!

Mountains crumble, buildings turn to dust, Hollywood stars fade, but Wash Mobile Tortas lives on, as its been in the same location since 1964, far outliving the car wash that it took its name from, decades ago. It's located a couple miles south of downtown Tijuana, on Calle Jalisco, just west of Blvd. Agua Caliente. Wash Mobile Tortas is located in a small, unpretentious stand, that's semi-always attached to the sidewalk; although it is classified as mobile, it hasn't been moved in decades. Wash Mobile may be small and simple, but during peak lunch hours, this is probably the busiest torta stand that I've ever seen, as the place is crowded with locals for good reason, as the tortas that Wash Mobile produces are a slice of heaven, the staff is very friendly, and the price is cheap, cheap, at only MEX $35.00 per torta, with all of the trimmings, and complementary drinks. Don't look for gringos, as Wash Mobile's customers are all seasoned Tijuana locals.

Photo: The four guys that operate Wash Mobile Tortas are pictured in this photo, including the guy that is working the grill, at the right of the photo. Notice that everybody wears a brown shirt an a ball cap, which is the uniform of Wash Mobile Tortas. Note the customer who wears cowboy boots, and the pigeons on the sidewalk; familiar sights in Tijuana.

Actually, Wash Mobile Tortas has been a legend of its own kind, in the local area, as its outlasted its namesake, the long-defunct Wash Mobile gas station for many years. For a small, sidewalk restaurant, Wash Mobile is quite an operation, as it employs three guys; at the time of my visit shortly after noon, on Saturday, September 28, 2007, were three very busy guys, who were catering to the lunch time crowd. Three guys to run a sidewalk torta stand? Of course, as Guy #1 mans the grill, constantly adjusting the temperature of the charcoal coals using a long poker to ensure that the meat is cooking properly. Guy #1 also places mesquite chips atop the burning coals, in order to implant a tangy, smoky taste to the carne asada that they're grilling. Oh yes, before the carne asada is placed on the grill, its been marinated in Wash Mobile's secret marinade for 12 hours...

Photo: Carne asada on the grill, cooking over charcoal and mesquite wood, at Wash Mobile Tortas.

How does the Wash Mobile Tortas cooking assembly line work? It works like a well-oiled machine, as they've been honing their sills for decades. Guy #1 places marinated carne asada on the grill, looks up at the sky, jokes with his comrades, whistles Dixie for a couple of minutes, and then places a square, Mexico-City-style pambaso roll, face down on the grill,to cook next the carne asada. When the carne asada is grilled to perfection, along with the roll, Guy #1 removes carne asada and the roll from the grill, Guy #2 takes it, and using a large cleaver, chops the carne asada into small pieces, and hands the cutting board to Guy #3, who actually assembles the torta, by placing the chopped carne asada onto the roll, and he drizzles the whole sandwich with fresh, in-house-made guacamole. Although Wash Mobile Tortas offers picked tomatoes, onions and radishes as garnishes, I chose to enjoy a delicious torta, with only guacamole as a condiment, as I didn't want anything to mask the flavor of a legendary Tijuana classic torta.

Photo; These guys are busy preparing the best carne asada torta that you'll ever eat when you're visiting Tijuana.

The carne asada is marinated in a secret spice mixture, and its grilled over a mesquite fire until its cooked to perfection. Carne asada tortas are the only item on Wash Mobile Tortas menu, but these guys know how to prepare a torta the right way, as this place has been in business over 40 years. After taking a bite of my delicious torta, I can understand how the restaurant has been in business for so long, as this is probably the best carne asada torta that I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy. The meat is juicy, cooked to perfection, and implants just a hint of mesquite smoke. The square roll is toasted to perfection, yet is soft and chewy on the inside, just the way I like them. The juicy meat is covered by cool, creamy guacamole, which makes a delicious contrast to the hot carne asada. The restaurant opens in the morning at eight, and they stay open until about 4:00 PM, unless they run out of meat, which sometimes happens, as Wash Mobile Tortas is very popular with the local residents.

Photo: In my outstretched hand, I hold probably the best carne asada torta that I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy, as purchased at Wash Mobile Tortas.

If you're visiting Tijuana, a couple miles south of downtown on Bvd. Agua Caliente, treat yourself to Wash Mobile Tortas, for the best torta in Tijuana, and probably the best torta in the whole planet.

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