Cabeza—or beef cheek—tacos are some of the best things this planet has to offer as food. I ate so many of these and other tacos growing up in both L.A. and Orange County that it became part of me and, in a way, prepared me to cook my own tacos. Splash some salsa verde on there, and that's it: SoCal, and especially L.A., on a plate.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 8 to 10 tacos

　　

Brine

2 tablespoons kosher salt

　　Juice of 1/2 lemon

　　Juice of 1/2 orange

　　Juice of 1 lime

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

　　1/2 cup red wine vinegar

　　1/2 cup whole dried chiles de árbol

　　1 1/2 whole dried guajillo chiles

　　1 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro

　　2 quarts water

　　1 pound beef cheeks, cleaned (ask your butcher to do this for you)

　　

Salsa Verde

1 1/2 tomatillos, charred

　　1 1/2 cups roughly chopped fresh cilantro

　　1 1/2 serrano chiles, with seeds

　　1 1/2 jalapeños peppers with seeds, charred

　　Juice of 1 lime

　　2 1/2 garlic cloves, peeled

　　1/2 cup roughly chopped scallions, charred

　　1/2 cup natural rice vinegar (not seasoned)

　　1/4 cup vegetable oil

　　8 to 10 corn tortillas

　　Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

　　

Garnish

Chopped white onion

　　Chopped cilantro

　　

Step 1

In a large pot, combine all the brine ingredients. Bring the brine to a boil, then remove from the heat and let it cool. Add the beef cheeks to the cooled brine (if you add the meat to the hot brine, the meat will cook instead of marinate). Place the pot in your fridge and marinate the beef cheeks, uncovered, in the brine overnight.

　　

Step 2

The next morning, set the beef cheeks (still in the brine) over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beef cheeks are tender, about 1 hour.

　　

Step 3

Remove the beef cheeks from the pot, discarding the brine, and let them cool. Once the cheeks have cooled, roughly chop them into small pieces.

　　

Step 4

Combine all of the ingredients for the salsa in a blender or food processor and puree.

　　

Step 5

Heat the oil on a griddle or in a skillet and cook the tortillas over medium heat for 30 seconds to crisp up, then flip. Remove the tortillas and add the beef cheeks to the griddle or skillet, cooking for about 2 minutes, until the meat is caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.

　　

Step 6

To bring everything together, stack 2 tortillas on a plate and top with beef cheeks. Spoon salsa all over the beef. Garnish with onions and cilantro.

　　

Step 7

Eat many.

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　　Recipe from L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food, by Roy Choi, Copyright © 2013, published by Anthony Bourdain/Ecco.