Pictured: Emmy Award-winning Lynette Romero, KTLA 5 Morning News anchor, reporter and Jimboy's Tacos - Huntington Beach co-owner with husband David Angulo. Also pictured are KTLA's Henry DiCarlo with wife Lisa, a station producer and standing behind Lynette is Kate Leigh, property manager at 5th & PCH.

JIMBOY'S TACOS SIZZLES IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

NOTE: THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED!

 

Story & photos by Chris MacDonald

Jimboy's Tacos
120 5th Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
jimboystacos.com

Jimboy's Tacos, a well-known chain in Northern California, has brought its unique meals South.  Ten new restaurants will be in Orange County, including the one that just opened at 5^th and Pacific Coast Highway, across from the Huntington Beach Pier and Shorebreak Hotel.

In 1954, founder Jim Knudson converted a 16-foot trailer into a mobile kitchen and towed it to King Beach on North Lake Tahoe. The Norwegian's homemade taco recipe became an instant hit with locals and other beachgoers. It consisted of fragrantly-spiced ground beef in a grilled stone ground corn tortilla with crisp lettuce and freshly-shredded cheese, dusted with grated parmesan cheese.

Soon, the famous actors from the Bonanza TV Show—Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon—became big fans as did the legendary "Rat Pack"—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin,  Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, who appeared at the nearby Cal Neva Lodge and Casino.  Jimboy's fame spread as the TV crews for Bonanza and other Hollywood production companies (filming in the area) got tacos and grilled burritos .

"My dad's tacos were a hit because he had an amazing palate and knew how to blend flavors," daughter Karen, president of Jimboy's Tacos, explained in an interview at the opening of the new Huntington Beach eatery. "He knew how to make everything taste good. At 90, he even won an International Chili Contest!"

In 1969, Jim started franchising his concept and recipes in the Sacramento Region. Michael Freeman,  Area Representative for the company and a relative of the family, said there are 41 restaurants, mainly in Northern California but there's also one in Anaheim and others coming soon in Brea, Irvine and elsewhere in Orange County.  In Nevada, Reno has a restaurant and another will be operating in Lemmon Valley.

Eric Freeman, Jim Knudson's grandson and CFO of Jimboy's, is proud of the family-owned business and the franchisees, such as the Huntington Beach restaurant owner-operators, KTLA-TV Anchor/Reporter Lynette Romero and her husband David Angulo.

KTLA's fellow anchor/reporters Jessica Holmes, Ginger Chan, Mark Kono, Henry DiCarlo and Kareen Wynter were at the grand opening, where Lynette broadcast live on the KTLA Weekend News Morning Show.

"I've never tasted anything like this. It literally melts in your mouth, exploding with flavor," said HB City Councilman Patrick Brenden, who presented Jimboy's with a City Proclamation, signed by the Mayor.

Mayor Mike Posey said the tacos "are awesome. I grew up eating them in Northern California."

For further information, visit JimboysTacos.com