It’s genius, really; a terrific chicken taquito—savory and tender inside and delightfully crunchy outside—is pretty similar to Vietnamese cha gio, crispy fried spring rolls. So why not treat it the same? El Segundo Sol serves its taquitos with fresh lettuce leaves to wrap around the cylindrical treasures, and a spicy, slightly sour, citrus-y dipping sauce. Let the new dimensions of flavor abound.
For all its greatness, the Fashion Show mall is still just a mall, which means you shouldn’t expect better Mexican food than Chipotle. But El Segundo Sol catches you off guard. The taco-centric menu is minimal, with each dish executed faithfully, and the salsas are fantastic. If you’re brave, ask for the roasted habañero version and definitely the “Chuy” sauce, named for the chef who created it: fried serrano peppers, fried garlic and olive oil. See? More flavor.
El Segundo Sol Fashion Show, 258-1211. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.