San Diego has been experiencing much cooler weather this year, than what I can remember of the previous years. I always associate cold or rainy weather with food. I don’t know if that’s just me, but I love to warm up with a type of comfort food, or of course a warm beverage. We heard about Bolillo Tortas opening in downtown San Diego a couple of months back, and couldn’t wait to try out their tortas.

You walk into a very modern and inviting space. My eyes are normally always drawn to the menu at first, but here I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful interiors. All of the elements from the lighting to the pops of red color, really grabbed my attention. Even after admiring the beauty, of course I wandered back to the menu. Their menu has a variety of different tortas, as well as other items including soups, salads, a children’s menu, and even desserts.

I decided on the Torta Ahogada, and my husband ordered the Torta Cubana. When you order your torta you also get a side choice of salad, vegetables or corn on the cob with cheese and tajin.

This Torta Ahogada or “drowned sandwich”, definitely called for the use of a fork and knife. You might think that it’s odd to be eating a sandwich like this, but in this occasion it is the ideal option. The crusty bolillo is filled with marinated and juicy pork. The sauce that drenches the sandwich was so delicious, and with the fork you can sop of every last bit with the bread and pork. The torta is a nice size, and you don’t feel overwhelmed by it at all. You truly get to experience all of the wonderful flavors together in one bite, without being covered in sauce.

The Torta Cubana is full of an assortment of colors, textures and flavors. They smeared beans on the bolillo before they layered it with milanesa, ham, cheese, and garnishes. Each bite is filled with each ingredient in the torta, and it works together perfectly. My husband has very fond memories of the tortas that he ate growing up in Tijuana, and this brought him right back to that point in time. The “street style’ corn was absolutely delicious. I could be a bit partial to it, because I am obsessed with Tajin, but overall it was so tasty.

The next time you are in the area I recommend that you pay a visit to Bolillo Tortas. The staff is so friendly, and truly make you feel welcomed. We will be making a trip back there to try out more of what their menu has to offer. Bolillo Tortas offers a taste of Authentic Mexican cuisine on this side of the border.

Bolillo Tortas
417 Fourth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101