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Photo courtesy of Mike Zampelli. Above: the Surf’n’Turf Burrito.

Sancho’s Tacos are well known in Orange County with two locations, one in Huntington Beach and the other in Newport—and when they decided to open a third location in Long Beach, they knew they would have to come in with a bang.

And they did, inviting Sublime surviving member Bud Gaugh and guests to celebrate two things synonymous with Long Beach: beers and taco. The pairing of Sublime and Sancho’s make sense since, just last month,  Gaugh (along with Troy denDekker, now-passed lead singer Bradley Nowell’s widow, DJ Product 1969c from Robbin’ The Hood, and artist who created the album cover of Sublime’s iconic 40 oz. to Freedom Opie Ortiz) were celebrating the release of the only Sublime-sanctioned beer at AleSmith brewery in San Diego.

But now is the time for Long Beach to test out the taco joint for themselves as Sancho’s is in full operation now in Belmont Shore.

It is the first of three OC-based taco joints coming to Long Beach to open its doors; awaiting openings are the Long Beach Taco Company in DTLB, owned by Placentia-based restaurateur Armando Velazquez, and vegan-friendly Seabirds near Retro Row, whose avocado tacos put it on the map when they opened in Costa Mesa. (And note: Seabirds isn’t just a taco joint; they serve a variety of vegan dishes.)

Sancho’s is known for its play on authority culture when it comes to the naming of its food—you’ll find their chicken taco named “Yard Bird” and their carnitas dubbed “Federale”—while offering more upscale takes on the almighty taco and offering their secretive Chubbie/5150 sauce as a side only. This sauce has a cult-like following in OC, with its sweet-and-spicy combo that gets hungry patrons to return loyally.

Sancho’s Tacos is located at 5272 E. 2nd St.