tough torta

Cook's Tortas
1944 S Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 278-3536
www.cookstortas.com

price: $
verdict: it's aight

there are probably two types of eateries you will find in monterey park. chinese or chinese. yes, those are your choices so you either deal with it or you roll out. since i was too hungry to roll out especially after some mad grocery shopping at a few of my favorite FOBolicious supermarkets and m.p. bakeries, i thought cook's tortas was a godsend when i chanced upon it. ooooh, sammiches? not usually my favorite thing to eat, but it was either that or drop by nbc, vip, pcp, std (you know, one of those randomly lettered chinese places) to eat. ack, not right now was my thought.

once you step in, a huge blackboard menu greets your hungry eyes. their choices seem delectable enough; mojito, ahogada, cubana, and co. the only problem was trying to decide on THE torta since i have only one belly. what to choose, what to choose....

after some hemming and hawing, i decided on the carne asada torta. you usually can't go wrong with the carne asada choice right? ohhh, hell yes you can. this beef was tougher than my dried up heels. it was hard to choke down so i ate only half and my asianess was soooo sad that i had to waste the food. the bread itself was alright though it reminded me of a sponge. i don't know if i caught cook's on an off day, but the torta was no bueno that day!

the order comes with a choice of strawberries and cream or sweet potato fries. hell must have frozen over

because i opted for the strawberries instead of the fries. if you know me at all, you KNOW that was a crazy move! the strawberries were fresh and plump, but unfortunately, they were also drowned in a vat of watery sweetened cream which did nothing for it. it's like a natural beauty painted up to look like a whore. stop it already!

i was able to try their frescas...ack, the strawberry one tasted too sweet! mother nature did not pump a pound of refined sugar into her delightful strawberries so pray tell cook why your fresca tastes soooooooo sweet? i was glad to have had a taste and did not commit myself to a cup of sugar flavored water. the whole experience can be summed up in one word: sucka!