El Gallito Tortas Ahogadas

The sister really wanted to try tortas ahogadas so we went. I expected better. They were decent, nothing special, but they were alright. Thought that they would be spicy but the spiciest they had wasn’t spicy at all. It wasn’t completely unbearable but could have been better. Their tacos were better.

Saw the reviews and expected to be wowed. Service was great and prompt. The food was just ok. The garlicky tomato sauce was fine, the bread strong enough to stand up to it. The eating was messy, the tables very dirty. $ 10 for a sandwich and soda a bit steep. Wish them the best.

I’d eat a three pound pile of sand to get the chance of eating these fantastic treats.

Torta ahogadas and torta Gemmas are two staples of Guadalajara’s cuisine. This is a fair attempt to bring those flavor to San Diego, yet the 8 bucks a torta is not worth the trip.

Average at best. Came here for lunch. After seeing this Food truck on the Food network and on Bizarre Food I was expecting more.
Ordered the #2 with a soda. Came out to 9 bucks. After getting my sandwich I wondered how come there weren’t any onions? I guess that one doesn’t come w onions. So I ordered some. They charged me .50 for a spoonful.
Another thing about the sandwich is that I didn’t get any of the spicy picante sauce that was supposed to come inside of it. I was pretty disappointed with the food. Sadly I do not think I will return. Maybe if I am in the area.
I mean the food was not gross, it just wasn’t as good as I expected. My friends mother is from Guadalajara and she makes a much better version of the tortas ahogadas.
Maybe I came on an off day? Who knows.

The quality of their food isn’t what it used to be. I remember when I first started coming here, the meat was tender, they smothered the torta in sauce (as they should) and it was a much larger portion. The spicy sauce used on the torta ahogadas also was much hotter and the bread was crispier. Now the sauce is watered down, the bread is smaller and it gets soggy too soon. Almost chewy. Authentic Guadalajara bread, as they claim their bread is, stays hard and crispy no matter what you put on top of it. The meat like I said used to be tender and flavorful, now it’s bland and overcooked. Last time I went I found something inside the torta, I think it was some kind of foil. When I went up to tell the lady, she just said it was part of the foil they used to wrap something in, I don’t even remember what she said it was used for. She made no attempt to apologize or even refund me my money. To say the least, I’m very disappointed in this place now. I used to recommend them to everyone I knew because their tortas were delicious. Now I tell them to stay away. Shame. 2 stars instead of 1 only because I once used to really enjoy coming here.

I had a torta Gemma. I know this place is well known for tortas ahogadas but I have a delicate stomach so while my wife and friends ate the torta Ahogada I had a torta Gemma. My god it’s delicious!
My wife wanted to trade me haha!
The lady who works there was very nice. Probably the owner, she was very polite and attentive.
I had a piece of the Ahogada torta my wife ordered just to try it. It was good too but I still loved the Gemma better.
Glad to have them in the South Bay.

Don’t be deterred by it’s small location, and prepare to be delighted by a Great Torta and the owner claims to make the bread which is great bread, crunchy and stays in one piece as it should. I came in not expecting much and I must say this is as close as it get to Guadajara here in San Diego. The customer service was friendly treatment and reasonable prices for what you are getting. I definitely expect to return!

Food was very good! Not a very big menu. Personally the #2 was the best. They have Mexican coke which is a major plus! The mango water was also delish it tasted very fresh! We also ordered the potato tacos they were ok I’ve had better if those would have tasted a little fresher then I would have given 5 stars, they seemed to have been premade and been under the heat lamp for a potato to be good they have to be fresh!

I’ve tasted tortas this way before
.mother in law and sister in law. Mexico city style but these are estilo guadalajara. They are really really good. We ate the #1 & the #2. The #2 was pretty unique. But what I did like. about the #1 was the sauce. yum!!! Not the biggest menu but hey look at in & out… same difference. I like how they do have potato tacos for the kids which also are really yummy. I highly recommend tortas ahodagas. I had read on a recent post that this is. not the ideal first date spot Nd I. have to agree lol. Be ready to get dirty and have people wAtching you eat
.the parking lots. I will come.back.soon very good Nd the mild sauce is Picoso!

Las personas muy amables el pan original la carne jugosa la salsa especial y cuando lo pruebo magia de regreso a guadalajara esto es increible en estados unidos la mejor comida mexicana y de verdad auténtico sabor felicidades a la dueńa gracias

Great food, limited selection, and you might remember it from «Bizarre Foods» but this is a must. Great flavors and friendly staff. They specialize in a few greats, but it’s okay. If you’re visiting or living in SD metro, this is one place you can’t miss.

Incredible.
Girlfriend and I each got different tortas so we could split it and try both, best decision we made all week.
Honestly they’re amazing. We had a 7 and will probably move up but keep in mind we always eat spicy.

At last! I have finally discovered an authentic torta ahogada truck! After studying abroad in Guadalajara for five months, I was desperate to locate any shop in San Diego that sells these spicy, saucy treats. Tortas ahogadas are a staple in Guadalajara, but you’ll encounter difficulty locating them outside of the city, state of Jalisco, and certainly outside of Mexico. I can assure you that these tortas are legit. Karina Reed, the better-​half of the husband-​wife ownership, was genuinely excited to serve me, a once upon a time Guadalajaran, to a scrumptious, nostalgic meal.
Tortas Ahogadas are pork sandwiches doused in a spicy tomato/​chile sauce. It literally translates to «drowned sandwich.» The bread is birote or bolillo, a hard-​crusted, shorter French loaf. The pork is pierna (leg), but to the Mexican food amateur, essentially like carnitas. Some versions of a torta ahogada features refried beans spread on the insides of the loaves, but this one forgoes the beans. It’s messy enough. These tortas are topped with marinated red onions that lend an extra kick to the dish, which is already spicy and flavorful enough. And, of course, the tortas are then drowned in a spicy chile de arból/​tomato sauce. They provide you with a small plastic spoon. «How do you eat a sandwich with a spoon,» you ask? You don’t. Pick it up! Eat it with your hands! Lick your fingers! The spoon is there so you can lap up the spicy, saucy goodness afterwards. Embrace the messiness!
The menu is simple. #1 Original Torta Ahogada. #2 Gemma Torta Ahogada. #3 Tostadas. They offer canned sodas, bottled water, and aguas frescos. You order at the truck’s counter, and loiter until it’s ready, which only takes a couple minutes. The original is spicier and authentic. The #2 Gemma incorporates a creamy chipotle sauce that takes some of the heat away.
They accept major credit cards, but I would bring cash in small bills. I don’t think Karina had a lot of small bills in her drawer, because she was unable to make change for a $ 20 so I could tip her! In any case, I bought a diet coke while I was waiting for my friend, so I attained a few singles for the tip jar.

Okay, seeing that this place was plucked from obscurity and landed a little bit of airtime on a big-​time TV show, I’m surprised that there are still under 50 reviews thus far. Selfishly I am kind of glad that there is not a line around Toys ‘R’ Us, but in the same breath I want them to have more business than they can handle…
I’ll rewind a little bit and bring up Toys ‘R’ Us again. Yes, this place is a small little trailer serving up plates of pure awesome in a toy store parking lot, friends. Beware though, there is another food truck as you drive into the parking lot, which is not El Gallito and is simply a hurdle that you need to recognize, dismiss, and speed past on your way to a unique and delicious sandwich experience.
The menu is limited — two or maybe three options at the absolute most. I told the friendly man running the show to serve me anything seeing that I am not picky and I often like to put my trust in the artists working in the kitchen… err, trailer. What I ended up with was the «original» completely covered and smothered in sauce. You have no choice but to pick it up with both hands and let the sauce dictate where your napkin makes its next move. It’s messy, a touch spicy, nicely textured with contrast between the dry bread and wet sauce, loaded with flavor and a real bargain at about $ 6.00. I loved every bite but can totally understand if this is not for everyone — certainly not a first date spot.
You should have heard the guy next to me moaning and groaning with pleasure after every bite. «bro, best sandwich ever, bro. Ohhhhh, mmmmmm, uhhhhh! Seriously, bro!» Yeah, went something like that…

It’s simple, delicious and unique. Forget your trendy, over priced food trucks. You won’t want to pay $ 10 for a slider after you have one of these delish sandwiches.
The owner is so friendly and welcoming you’ll forget that you’re standing at a food truck. They take CC now, but it’s still easier to have cash.
I love it and I’m glad others have found the truck too!

Pretty darn good. One of the top two Tortas Ahogadas in San Diego that I’ve found. I tend to prefer my rolls with a little more sourdough flavor, and my carnitas a little wetter and greasier. I would definitely return.

Tried the original. Pork is nice and moist with an awesome flavor. Its one of the better tortas I had. But what makes this place amazing and deserving of the 5 star rating is the bread. Absolutely amazing and completely makes a good sandwich a great sandwich. Next time I gotta try the gemma!

The mister & I decided to pop by to check this place out, while having to drive down to Chula Vista anyway to drop off our rent check.
Some of the best pork I’ve had in years, and I went to BaconFest only yesterday. Went for a level 7 on the spice, and it had the perfect kick. My lips look like Angelina Jole’s & I love it ha!
Messy, sauce all over your face, which is also covered with a smile. I recommend this 100% to anyone & everyone (including vegetarians, since there is apparently a potato option as well).
Will make this a monthly tradition.

It’s a food truck, so just the fact that I didn’t hurl after eating here is a plus. Their sandwiches consist of pulled pork drowned in what appears to be modified costco tomato soup, with the option of «special» sauce… Mayonnaise. The ingenuity of my people never ceases to amaze me. These tortas are pretty darn tasty and cheap for what it is, a food truck.

«This is the messiest Mexican meal ever,» exclaimed our hero as he chowed down El Gallito tortas ahogadas. The two sheets of paper towels he was given were stained thoroughly by the end of his meal by sauce marks from the #1 «original» ahogada.
These bad boys are meant to be eaten by hand and it can get quite messy. This torta truck doesn’t even have plastic knives available, and the owner had to give our hero a huge metal knife when he asked for one to cut his torta apart.
PROS:
— One of the only places to get Guadalajara style «wet tortas» in San Diego.
— Customizable level of spiciness for the original (#1) torta ahogada, and a lighter version (#2) available for those with a milder palate.
CONS:
— Forget about dinner because they close at 3PM.
— The bread was not very good. It tasted stale and rubbery.
— The truck didn’t seem to have much cash on hand and couldn’t even make change for a $ 20 bill. You better bring exactly $ 6 in cash.