There is a big difference between “Mexican” food in San Diego and Mexican food in Tijuana. Burritos and tacos on the U.S. side are much bigger than they are south of the border. My favorite Mexican food are tamales. Good tamales are very hard to find here. They have to be made fresh every day. The best tamales are the Oaxacan style wrapped in banana leaves (hojas de plantana). I think they taste so good because they are made with real lard.
/johnny
Heck, there is a big difference between Calif and what I get in Tenn when it comes to tacos and burritos.
We buy tamales from a Mexican woman that makes them in her home. But they are the bready kind with lots of masa. Filling though.
The secrets are: (1) LARD, and (2) Freshness.