los angeles taco tour

Combined Shape .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} SMS Today's must read Hidden Gems of Los Angeles Main navigation Things to Do Attractions & Tours Arts & Culture Outdoors & Wellness Shopping Budget Family Hidden Gems Luxury Pet-Friendly Eat & Drink Bars Clubs Dine LA Restaurant Week Restaurants Business Spotlight Find Events Itineraries Where to Stay Celebrate LA Heritage AAPI Heritage Black LA Latino Heritage LGBTQ+ Tourist Information Meetings About LA Tourism Travel Trade Membership Business Spotlight Media Research Careers Log in Search Search About dineL.A. Taco Trek  

Helpful Links

Aqui Es Texcoco

Barbacoa taco

Ave 26 Taco Stand

Suadero taco

B.S. Taqueria

Carnitas taco

Border Grill

Grilled shrimp taco

Carnitas El Momo

Aporkalypse taco

The Chori-Man

Tolucan green chorizo taco

Cielito Lindo

Taquitos con salsa de aguacate

Guerrilla Tacos

Sweet potato taco

Bistek en salsa roja

Pulpo asado taco

Neches taco

Kogi Taqueria

Short rib taco

Leo's Taco Truck

Al pastor taco

Los Originales Tacos Árabes de Puebla

Lotería Grill

Chicken tinga taco

Mariscos Jalisco

Taco dorado de camarones

Ricky's Fish Tacos

Carne asada taco

Sky's Gourmet Tacos

Shrimp taco

Caramelo taco

Tacos La Carreta

Tacos Los Guichos

Tacos y Birria La Unica

Birria quesataco

Teddy's Red Tacos

Birria taco

Tire Shop Taqueria

Dine la newsletter.

LOS ANGELES TACO TOUR

As an homage to LA’s Hispanic roots, join us on our Downtown Los Angeles Taco Tour to eat Los Angeles’ most iconic dish: the taco. Along the way you’ll learn about different styles of tacos while tasting both traditional and innovative tacos.

Our Taco Tour visits 3 taquerias – three appetizers in total with a sprinkling of culinary history and stories in between.

Our Los Angeles Taco Tour focuses on quality over quantity. Like a great sushi meal, our goal is to have you sample the highest quality ingredients – small dishes with huge flavor. This is not enough food for lunch, more of a sampling of different types of tacos.

Find more information here >>

FEATURED MARGARITA

Follow our Social Media

Recent posts.

Top Taco Trails to Experience for Taco-Loving Travelers

How Velvet Taco keeps up with its Weekly Taco Feature

Louisville Taco Week is back! Here is your guide to the week-long event

Add your Restaurant

Store finder, get the tacotuesday.com newsletter, press release, margarita recipes, taco recipes, salsa recipes, side dish recipes, taco obsessed, taco horoscopes, taco trends, taco events, taco travel.

Downtown Small Group Taco Tasting Tour

• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience

Getting there

Plaza Firehouse

501 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, 90012

Select date and session

No booking fees

Similar Experiences

West hollywood food tour, la venice beach walking food tour with secret food tours, luxury e-boat cruise with wine, charcuterie & sea lions spotting, venice beach la food tour, malibu: private vintage vw hippie sightseeing tour with wine tasting, malibu: shared vintage vw hippie sightseeing tour with wine tasting, malibu mystery picnic: self-guided foodie adventure, la food tour: exploring america’s culinary frontier, hollywood speakeasy bar tour, tastings at 400+ west coast wineries (priority wine pass).

Sorry, JavaScript must be enabled to use this web app

• L.A. TACO X (formerly Twitter)
• L.A. TACO Instagram
• L.A. TACO YouTube
• L.A. TACO TikTok

The 13 Best Tacos Along L.A. Metro’s 33 Bus Line, From Santa Monica to Downtown

Is this the best bus line to hit all of LA’s classic tacos?

1:26 PM PDT on August 31, 2023

Leo’s Tacos. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.

It’s hard for L.A. TACO to contain its excitement about rapid transit. Especially today.

Because we’re highlighting one of the most taco-filled lines in the universe: Metro’s 33 , which runs along Venice Boulevard from Downtown to Venice, passing some of the most legendary, most beloved, most crushable tacos and Mexican food in Los Angeles.

We’re talking about a line that expediently whips you straight to Sonoratown, El Parian, Leo’s Tacos, Flor de Yucatán, Birria La Única, and Tacos Tamix, just to name a handful, as well as to the doors of a few of our most recent Oaxacan favorites and in-house nixtamalization programs.

For all these reasons, we’re just about ready to deem Metro’s 33 Bus Line the route to the most comprehensive taco tour of L.A.’s classics, a perfect one-day adventure through some of L.A.’s most terrific edible masterpieces wrapped with a tortilla.

But enough of our yapping. Let’s get to tapping . The only way to do it… is to chew through it.

2nd / Santa Monica ~ Tacos 1986

Tacos 1986 offers four types of tacos: chicken, carne asada, puerco adobado (also known as al pastor), and mushroom for vegetarian taco lovers. The portions are generous, with the tortilla providing more space for fresh fixings than commonly used taco truck tortillas. One item not on the menu and a customer favorite is the perrón. The perrón is a flour tortilla with creamy melted Monterey jack cheese topped with lean carne asada, pinto beans, and guacamole. The tacos pack the right flavor and chewiness but do not leave your hands covered in enough grease to turn transparent cardboard. Wash the whole meal down with some ice-cold horchata or jamaica and bask in the taco life right by the beach.

135 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Main / Sunset Ave ~ La Isla Bonita

In 1986, Madonna’s hit song, “La Isla Bonita,” hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and on the side, the Gonzalez family opened their brand new taco truck. It’s been parked on Rose Avenue since then and still serves Jalisco-style mariscos and tacos. The tacos are still topped with fresh frijoles and a splash of their lively salsa,  a touch you’d have to return to parts of Mexico to experience again. Pro-tip: When you go, ask what’s on the menu today. There’s usually a different taco being cooked up every day. 

400 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291 

Venice / Centinela ~ Quiadaiyn

This is Oaxaca in Mar Vista, down to almost every ingredient sourced directly from the motherland. Quiadaiyn takes no shortcuts, from preparing chocolate from scratch for their moles to having their nixtamal program for fresh tortillas. There are no wrong choices here, only difficult ones. If you can look past the rainbow of moles, enmoladas, and tlayudas, the tacos de barbacoa made with fresh handmade corn tortillas is exceptional. Goat stewed in chiles for hours, topped with fresh crunchy cabbage, dripped with a bit of tangy green chile, and drizzled with lime on fresh yellow corn is a bite of Oaxacan heaven on this Mar Vista stop.

12326 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066. 

Venice / Beethoven ~ Saby’s Cafe

This little unassuming corner cafe run by mother and son boasts its humble blue corn nixtamal program, making fresh blue corn tortillas for every order. The crispy fish tacos with cabbage and chipotle mayo are a local favorite, but go big and try a machete-style quesadilla with flor de calabaza or huitlacoche as a filling. Split a French toast made with a concha sweet bread and drizzled with dulce de leche. Wash it all down with the cinnamon aroma of a sweet cafe de olla or a refreshing agua fresca. 

12900 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066

Venice / Sepulveda ~ Tacos Tamix

These Mixe-run trucks, seven dotted around L.A., make some of L.A.’s most consistent al pastor, sliced surgically off a bright red trompo with a complementary pineapple wedge to boost their tropical flavor. You’ll find one a few blocks east of where the 33 stops at Venice and Sawtelle, serving $2 tacos and cold Jarritos late into the night. Along the way, perhaps you’ll also discover how good Tamix’s cabeza and buche can be tucked into its tiny corn tortillas, too.

3801 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230

Venice / La Brea ~ Leo's Taco Truck

Leo's distinguished itself long ago with the employ of a taquero specializing in al pastor and a hulking trompo that signaled traffic from deep within the chaos of a bust La Brea gas station. While you can now find Leo's in a few different L.A. neighborhoods, it still tastes best to us at its original spot, late at night when surgically sliced fresh from the trompo into thin red bark topped with a wedge of pineapple that lands in the tortilla from off great heights with all the grace of Simone Biles. If this isn't enough, Leo's is also delicious and sufficient for Bad Bunny to feature in his latest music video .

1515 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Venice / Genesse ~ Tacos y Birria La Única

It takes a lot to stand out in L.A.’s oversaturated birria game these days. La Única is among the small handful to rise to the top of the heap by focusing on crunchy tacos dorados and gooey quesatacos with your choice of either birria de chivo or birria de res on handmade corn tortillas, which will be redolent with a clove-rich, tomato-centered adobo, and slow-burning salsa macha. You can get your birria in vampiros, ramen, and tostadas, too, as well as beef cuts like cabeza, labío, asada, and lengua. But it’s La Única’s dedication to birria and doing just a small selection of things well that has landed them catering gigs for Sean Combs, Chrissy Teigen, and John Legend, as well as prominent standing in the hearts and top ten lists of L.A.’s taco fanatics.

5871 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

Venice / 4th Avenue ~ Somos Oaxaca

A Oaxacan wonderland awaits you across the menu of chef-owner Filemon Vasquez at Arlington Heights’ Somos Oaxaca . In this sequel to his Santa Monica restaurant, a visit guarantees consistently excellent iterations of Oaxacan classics plus some modern recipes, including enchiladas drowned in mole coloradito, crispy tlayudas layered with tasajo, chorizo, and cecina with a spiral of green salsa infused by the earthy magic of maguey worms, and Oaxacan alambres based on pointedly piquant chile de agua, which gets chopped and mixed with tasajo, epazote, and quesillo. Those same Oaxacan meats, as well as fish, shrimp, carnitas, birria de res, and asada, are similarly splendid in Vasquez’s simple street-style tacos, their rich corn flavor much more than an afterthought but a compliment to the deep savor of the grill. You can also get your tasajo or cecina on a plate of chilaquiles, beside a morning michelada and a bowl of chapulines. The masa world is your oyster.

3224 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019

Venice / Toberman ~ El Parian

Welcome to L.A.’s O.G., Guadalajara-style birria de chivo G.O.A.T., the small, nearly 50-year-old Pico Union birrería that helped pave the path to Jonathan Gold’s Pulitzer Prize. You’ll stride in to the steady thwack of a cleaver cutting clean through bone, take your seat where you can find one, and order your goat birria in a few different ways, from a full plate of chopped, black-barked ribs and limbs to bowls of bright red birria stew, with the option to have it brimming with only maciza for a few dollars more. Either way, it will come served with a stack of tortillas for DIY taco-ing. While goat is the meat magnet here, El Parian’s carne asada taco and pozole are also no slouches, sleeper hits dreamed of by South L.A.’s savvy eaters.

1528 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Venice / Hoover ~ Flor de Yucatán Bakery

There aren’t many places in the city to get thoughtfully crafted tacos filled with cochinita pibil, the famous achiote-rubbed, citrus-marinated, pit-roasted pork of Mexico’s Mayan stronghold state. Flor de Yucatán famously offers a pristine model in Pico-Union. A double layer of tortillas cradles a moist wad of shredded pork, powerful with pickled pink onions and whatever salsas you deem necessary. In addition to dealing in tamales, postres, Lebanese-influenced kibis, Yucateco-imported brands, and the occasional cake, the bakery imbues Mayan recipes into occasional daily taco specials, including tacos with a jet-black Belizean chirmole guisado and tacos with blood sausage.

1800 Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Venice / Union ~ La Esquinita Baja Grill Seafood

Woman-owned and just waiting to become your next favorite pre-game stop before a game or concert at Crypto Arena, this low-key oasis for fish tacos and fresh oysters is perhaps the most underrated on Venice Boulevard. There are three cooks in the kitchen: Someone from Peru, someone from Mexico, and someone from Argentina, which explains why the menu boasts lomo saltado, Baja-style fish tacos, and empanadas at the same time. They’re all tasty, and you can’t beat the laidback patio vibe in the middle of the ‘hood. It’s BYOB, but La Esquinita does sell a michelada add-ons, so you’ll be set.   

1205 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90006

Main / 7th ~ Sonoratown

The assembly of a Sonoratown taco is deceivingly simple and, at first, similar to the millions of other tacos in town. And then you take that first bite, and you realize that this taco is utterly different than anything else you’ve had in Los Angeles: the flour tortilla made on premise, the high-quality short rib cut of beef that they use for their carne asada grilled over a mesquite fire that never seems to go out; the hyperfine shredded cabbage for crunch; the refreshingly spicy red salsa; the runny avocado salsa; and the grilled green onion that comes with every plate. Is this the most delicious taco in the city? It’s undoubtedly the most consistent; for some, that is just as important. 

208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Main / 3rd ~ Carnitas Villa Moreliana

This old-school carnitas institution on the east end of The Grand Central Market is likely one of the few elite carnitas spots in Los Angeles that still gives you that mercado experience. Walk by nonchalantly and let the taqueros catch you peeking at the carnitas steaming up the glass windows. They’ll roll up a quick taquito to sample, knowing you won't resist ordering a couple more for yourself. But they also host one of the most unique taco experiences in Los Angeles if you’re up for it. A crispy taco de cesos, pig braaaaains. Always get a couple to offset the gelatinous pork tacos you’re about to indulge in. The crispy taco dorados offer a nice textural contrast and a tasty experience.   

317 S Broadway St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. 

One of L.A. TACO's co-founders, Hadley Tomicki is a critic and journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and many other places.

Memo Torres is a multi-media taco journalist and Director of Partnerships for the James Beard award-winning L.A. Taco. He was a finalist for the Ruben Salazar Award for Latino Journalists. He has functioned as a taco scout for numerous shows and can be seen on Netflix's Taco Chronicles and Pressure Cooker. Memo is also currently hosting a food guide on all iPhones' Apple Maps.

Editor for James Beard Award-winning L.A. TACO. Associate Producer for JBA-winning Las Crónicas Del Taco. Former restaurant scout for Jonathan Gold. Co-Author of "Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and "Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling" (2023, Abrams).

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

What to eat in l.a. this weekend: mexican-style pastrami, ‘trashburgers,’ and flamin’ jim morrisons.

Plus, a new shawarma spot in Tarzana and the country's first wine festival dedicated solely to orange "skin contact" wine happening in Hollywood.

The 11 Best Backyard Restaurants in Los Angeles

Despite many requests to publish this guide, L.A. TACO has been somewhat protective of these gems to not "burn out the spots." However, we wanted to share it with our small, loyal pool of paid members, as we appreciate your support (and know you to be okay, non-NARCs). Please enjoy responsibly and keep these 'hood secrets...secrets.

Save L.A. TACO

Here’s What an L.A. TACO Membership Gets You and Why You Should Support Local Journalism

With more than 30 members-only perks at the best L.A. restaurants, breweries, and dispensaries waiting to be unlocked, the L.A. TACO membership pays for itself!

Announcing the TACO MADNESS 2024 Winner: Our First Ever Three-Time-Champion From Highland Park

Stay tuned for the new date of our TACO MADNESS festival, which was unfortunately postponed this last Saturday due to rain.

What To Eat This Weekend: Cannabis-Infused Boat Noodles, Thai Smashburgers, and “Grass & Ass”

Plus, a pizza festival and a respected chef from Toluca, Mexico comes to Pasadena to consult for a restaurant menu, including enchiladas divorciadas, and more.

Taco Tuesday

Socal taco tour: explore some of the best taquerias in town.

Every Taco Tuesday the ABC7 team and Localish LA highlight different taquerias throughout Southern California, introducing you to some of the best taco eateries in town!

From LA's most popular taco chain to neighborhood taquerias and food trucks, we've got you covered.

Take a look at the video above for the whole story. Plus, don't forget to check out our immersive map showing all of the places we visited on our taco tour .

Click here to open in a new window .

Related Topics

• SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
• TACO TUESDAY

Pink & Boujee Taqueria adds a splash of color to Mexican food

The battle for the 'Taco Tuesday' trademark is over

Taco Bell to pay $85,000 to settle lawsuit over gift card redemption

Taco Bell petitions end to rival's trademark of 'Taco Tuesday'

Top stories.

Construction to start on high-speed rail between SoCal, Las Vegas

Intruder arrested for breaking in to L.A. mayor's official residence

Supreme Court case will decide if cities can issue tickets to homeless

Video: Dust devil creates havoc in Victorville family's yard

Prosecutors to make history with opening statements in Trump case

Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over Oct. 7 attack

15 injured after tram crashes at Universal Studios

Will there be a 'superbloom' this year in CA? Here's what to know

Share this story

• 15 Essential Korean Restaurants to Try in Orange County
• 14 Stellar Steakhouses in Los Angeles
• The 9 Hottest Burgers in Los Angeles Right Now

The 38 Essential Tacos to Try in Los Angeles

LA has the breadth, depth, and specialization as America’s best taco scene

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: The 38 Essential Tacos to Try in Los Angeles

The taco scene in Los Angeles is more vibrant today than ever thanks to a new crop of Instagram-ready street stars and a collection of dedicated classics sprinkled throughout the city. That might include birria stands with thousands of followers to hidden South LA carne asada spots only for those in the know. Los Angeles is rife with amazing vendors doing what they love, and serving their communities precisely where they’re at. Here’s a list of the 38 essential taco spots to try in greater Los Angeles.

Note: Many places are street vendors or temporary setups, so be sure to note the hours and locations on social media before visiting.

Tacos Los Palomos

The story of Mexico City-style al pastor has been written by a small group of indigenous Mixe entrepreneurs from Oaxaca like Fermin Martinez, whose trompos stretch from El Monte to Riverside serving tender al pastor in a sweet adobo that’s best enjoyed as tacos, gringas — meat with melted cheese inside flour tortillas, or alambres — a stir-fry of cheese, peppers, onions, ham, and al pastor alongside a stack of corn tortillas.

• Open in Google Maps

Teddy’s Red Tacos Venice

Teddy Vasquez is making good on his dream to put a delicious taco into as many LA hands as possible. His outlet in Venice sits just by the beach in a prime location, and serves up the same delicious birria de res, or simmered beef, tacos with signature bright red consomé as his original Slauson truck.

Also featured in:

14 Busy Stops to Dive Into LA’s Enduring Birria Scene

Eater 38 Restaurants That Are Still Open for Top-Notch Takeout and Delivery in LA

Barbacoa Estilo Atotonilco El Grande

For barbacoyero Gonzalo Ramírez, there’s only one way to make barbacoa, the recipe he learned from his grandfather in Atotonilco El Grande, Hidalgo. Ramírez raises his own lambs, butchers them, roasts large lamb cuts in a cylindrical pit wrapped in maguey spines, and then serves smoky, tender lamb barbacoa tacos across from the DMV in Arleta on Sunday mornings only. Order a mix of barbacoa; well-herbed, stewed moronga (blood sausage); and pancita (offal stuffed stomach), and Ramírez’s earthy consomé, a stock made from the lamb drippings that taste like the smoldering essence of the pit.

Bee Taqueria

Starting in 2019, chilango chef Alex Carrasco opened Bee Taqueria serving LA’s only taco omakase, helping it to earn a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation. Tacos can include a savory beet tinga, chicken in a floral mole with bougainvillea blossoms, or grilled A5 wagyu taco topped with a fried quail egg and chapulines. All the tacos at the restaurant are inspired by Carrasco’s childhood in Mexico City.  

14 Scene-Stealing Barbecue Sides in Los Angeles

Leo's Tacos Truck

Al pastor’s second wave was ushered in by the Oaxacan brothers behind a Mexico City-style food truck strategically placed on Venice and La Brea, within striking distance of a crossover audience. Food blogs were soon filled with tales of mercenary taqueros and massive crimson mounds of sweet marinated pork, symmetrically trimmed off of vertical spits finished with the spectacle of flying chunks of pineapple snagged with Ozzie Smith-like precision onto a tortilla. Leo’s now has a fleet of trucks spreading the gospel of traditional al pastor to all Angelenos. 

Where to Eat the Best Oaxacan Food in Los Angeles

The Most Popular Restaurants in LA, Ranked by Wait Times

Coni'Seafood

Connie Cossio’s Nayarit-style seafood mecca is known for tacos de marlin, yet, the pescado zarandeado tacos have always been the showstopper at its two locations, where grilled snook imported from Mexico are always cooked to perfection. Grab a corn tortilla, tear slippery chunks of fatty, marinated flesh from the whole, butterflied fish, then add the house dressing of purple onions pickled in lime and Worcestershire sauce. The result is a blackened fish taco that melts in your mouth. Paired with an icy michelada, you’re transported to a balmy beach in San Blas, Mexcaltitán, or Playa Novillero.

The 19 Essential Sit-Down Mexican Restaurants in LA

18 Splendid Seafood Restaurants to Try Around Los Angeles

Sign up for the newsletter Eater LA

Sign up for our newsletter.

Thanks for signing up!

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

Maria Ramos is a third-generation Oaxacan barbacoa master with deep roots in the Mercado de Tlacolula in Oaxaca. Her barbacoa enchilada, or pit-roasted lamb in a chile-based marinade, is a smoky, spicy taste of pre-Hispanic tacos de barbacoa. In a city full of Oaxacan restaurants, Gish Bac is esteemed for its barbacoa and traditional Oaxacan cooking. 

Tacos El Tamix

Another Oaxacan owner, Rolando Martinez, employs the same strategy as Leo’s, a badass marinade and veteran al pastor taqueros recruited from Mexico’s street food institutions to make his al pastor. The alambres, a hash of sautéed al pastor, peppers, onions, bacon, and Oaxacan cheese are a DIY taco party, and on any given night, Tamix might be the best in LA for their al pastor, too.  

La Flor De Yucatan

LA doesn’t have many restaurants representing the Yucatán peninsula, but the Burgos family has been delivering the (baked) goods since 1971. Order a taco de relleno negro, where shredded turkey is cooked in a black achiote paste contrasted with pickled red onions and creamy guacamole. Chasing each bite with a whole raw habanero is conventional, but for humanity’s sake, it’s optional.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Narvaez (@the_fotographer) on Aug 6, 2017 at 10:14am PDT

A Quick Guide to Tacos in Los Angeles, 2017 Edition

20 Tacos to Try Before You Die in Los Angeles

One of LA’s most celebrated contemporary Mexican seafood stands, created by chef Gilberto Cetina Jr., who also runs the next-door Yucatán-cuisine institution Chichen Itza, Holbox is located inside the Mercado La Paloma complex. It’s a real destination for seafood tacos, like delicately smoked kanpachi tacos; grilled Maine scallop tacos with bright, spicy chile x’catic; or grilled octopus in a briny bed of squid ink sofrito.

The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles

22 Incredible Restaurants to Try in South LA

Tacos La Güera

The al pastor here is worthy to be among the top vendors in town, but where this food truck sets itself apart from others in its grade is by serving true suadero, or brisket tacos. Tacos de fritanga, or meats fried in a stainless steel disc with a convex center are mostly supplied by Jaliscans, who don’t get into as much offal as their CDMX (Mexico City) counterparts, but one can still find chorizo, hog’s maw, chitterlings, and brisket.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Los mejores tacos al pastor LA (@tacoslaguerala)

One of the latest contemporary Mexican seafood trucks to draw a crowd comes from Oaxacan chef Francisco Aguilar’s bright blue lonchera, which offers sharp ceviches, refreshing seafood cocktails, and an impressive lineup of modern Mexican seafood tacos. Start with fish al pastor, marinated then grilled, and placed on a corn tortilla with grilled pineapple, fried and grilled onions, and guacamole. A pair of tacos is not a bad start, but follow them up with a crispy soft shell crab taco dotted with smoky chintexle aioli, a stinging, delicious Oaxacan chile paste. Dip into the colorful array of homemade salsas like a blistering hot habanero-garlic salsa called no mames, or “you’re f***ing kidding,” to spice up Aguilar’s inventive tacos that evoke the multilayered flavors of Oaxaca. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Simón | Mexican Seafood Truck (@simonfoodla)

There’s much to love about Jennifer Feltham and Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguez’s warm storefront taqueria — its menu of regional Sonoran tacos, the lorenza, caramelo, carne asada tucked into Sonoran wheat flour tortillas, and the chivichanga. The proposition of well-seasoned chicken, melted cheese, roasted Anaheim peppers, and tomatoes wrapped in a tasty flour tortilla, which is then lightly fried, is a simple pleasure worth repeating. 

Cielito Lindo

There’s no room for nostalgia here, but these legendary taquitos aren’t just the original taco in Los Angeles. They might be solely responsible for the current taco craze in America, and they’re delicious. Order deep-fried beef taquitos drowned in a runny avocado salsa oozing with a piquant beefiness thickened with avocado. It’s like being one with the taco universe. Since 1934, the story of the taco north of the Rio Grande begins and ends here. 

14 Stellar Lunch Spots Across San Francisco

20 LA Tourist-Friendly Restaurants That Are Actually Good

Los Dorados LA

Steven Orozco Torres’s flautas (deep fried tacos) are as colorful as his ice cream truck, splashed in a kaleidoscope of purples and blues. With golden crunchy pipettes filled with smoky chicken tinga, potato and chorizo, or potato, the tacos are dressed in thick avocado sauce, cream, and a thin line of red salsa, coated in finely-crumbled cotija cheese. But the lamb barbacoa is on a whole other level. Opt for the dark, silky salsa, a secret blend of dried chiles that sticks to the flauta like a truck wrap. Antojitos don’t get better than this.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Los Dorados LA (@losdoradosla)

More in Maps

Tacos el chino.

Just four years old, Eduardo Arizpe’s Tijuana-style taco stand already counts three successful locations and has become a breakaway hit in the Latino community on social media. The Puebla-born taquero honed his skills working for a couple of years in Tijuana prior to opening in Los Angeles, and is known for well-filled tacos de adobada (al pastor) sliced into meaty cuts. Fans also love the gut-busting quesadillas overflowing with Arizpe’s juicy adobada, and tender chuck steak roasted over mesquite wood that comes wrapped in handmade corn tortillas. It all gets slathered with copious amounts of Tijuana’s signature, creamy guacamole of course.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tacos Estilo Tijuana (@tacos_el__chino)

20 East Bay Taquerias and Food Trucks That Are Slinging Excellent Tacos for Takeout

Tacos Y Birria La Unica

Taquero Yasmany Mendoza’s popular food truck is one of the big winners in LA’s birria wars, always commanding a long line of taco devotees that show up for goat and beef birria. Mendoza serves the most requested Tijuana-style taco dishes Angeleno’s crave: tacos, dorados (crispy tortilla), mulitas (taco sandwiched in between two tortillas), quesatacos (tacos with melted/fried cheese), vampiros (taco on a toasted corn tortilla), and quesadillas dripping with birria juices. But with birria trucks on practically every corner, it’s the rich, herbal stew with streaks of animal fat in this truck’s birria that keeps them coming back for more. 

Mariscos Jalisco

Could a recipe define a city? The secrets of flavorful shrimp are tucked into a corn tortilla and then further obscured by the frenetic blistering of hot fat cooled by frothy tomato salsa and a slice of avocado. Los Angeles hides its treasures in plain sight, under the fleeting shade doled out by rows of iconic fan palms, but on East Olympic Boulevard it’s the taco dorado de camarón from San Juan de Los Lagos that is an indelible image.   

Let These 12 Fabulous Restaurants Cater Your Big Fat LA Wedding

The 17 Essential Restaurants on the Eastside of Los Angeles

From backyard barbacoa in Boyle Heights to Baldwin Park and even a residency in Santa Monica, veteran barbacoa master Petra Zavaleta offers one of the most unique barbacoa styles in LA from her hometown of Tepeaca, Puebla. Since then, Santa Monica and Baldwin Park have closed, but Barba Kush is back with an ongoing operation in Boyle Heights (check Instagram for the location). In addition to tender, flavorful lamb, and barbecued lamb skulls with eyes, tongue, and cheeks attached for making tacos with warming lamb consommé, there’s a rich, iron-flavored lamb menudo called mole de panza enchilada. 

Get Into the Guts of LA Dining With 15 Tasty Offal Dishes

Has there ever been a time when chef Jonathan Pérez, and his sister, Ana, weren’t running to their next pop-up location, hyping a constantly evolving menu of modern Mexican-American tacos? Currently, they have a steady gig at Milpa Grille in Boyle Heights, where devoted fans can bite into umami-rich mushroom al pastor tacos, chicken in a sweet white mole, and fried chicken tacos with hibiscus slaw, brought back by popular demand. The most talked about item is a hefty pork belly breakfast burrito, swelled by crispy hash browns, and spicy, melted cheese.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Macheen (@_macheen_)

Carnitas El Momo

The best way to have carnitas at Romulo Acosta’s shrine to Mexican confit-style pork cuts is to skip the onions and cilantro, and squeeze in some juices from a pickled jalapeño, chasing each bite of moist pork with some of the chile. That’s the way it’s done in Salamanca, Guanajuato. For more than half a century, “Momo” has been making artisanal carnitas, a trade he’s passed onto his children, ensuring the best carnitas in the U.S. are here to stay.

Find Mulita Perfection at These 9 Los Angeles Spots

Birria El Jalisciense

There’s nothing more welcoming on a Sunday morning than the sight of Héctor Ramírez’s modified pizza oven, as he removes baking sheets full of blistered slabs of birria tatemada de chivo, or oven-roasted goat birria. Ramírez’s recipe comes from the northwestern highlands of Jalisco. Tender, charred goat birria comes in tangy consomé, or separately to make your own tacos with corn tortillas. Slurp the meat stock separately, and for a dollar more, get the maciza, the connoisseur's choice — a meaty, juicy boneless cut from the leg.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BIRRIA EL JALICIENSE (@birriaeljaliciense)

Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla

Tacos árabes aren’t possible without the special tortillas, called pan árabe, that are made exclusively in Puebla. Most vendors will just place the roasted pork — cooked on a vertical spit just like al pastor but with a different marinade — on a corn tortilla, which are actually called tacos orientales in Puebla. The Villegas family brings in traditional products from Puebla and prepares their tacos with tender pork and a tangy chipotle salsa.

Birrieria Nochistlan

Jalisco is the gold standard when it comes to goat birria, followed by respected traditions in Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, especially Nochistlán de Mejia, Zacatecas, just three miles from the Jalisco state line, where the Moreno family originates. Their Boyle Heights outpost serves an austere rendition of braised goat in stock made from the drippings with only a hot chile de árbol salsa, chopped onions, and cilantro as condiments. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BIRRIERIA NOCHISTLAN ZAC. (@birrierianochistlan) on Aug 9, 2019 at 11:50am PDT

It would be easy for a customer from one of LA’s Mexican communities to see wayfaring taquero Walter Soto, a Tijuana native with culichi roots who has worked in Sinaloa, Sonora, and LA, and his wife Julia Silva’s truck as curators of LA taco hits, but there’s more than meets the eye. El Ruso is the most meta taqueria in town, with a menu of tacos about LA taco and tortilla trends. Here Mazatlan-style chorreadas, Tijuanense birria de res, Sonora-influenced carne asada with Sinaloan condiments, and Sonoran burritos wrapped in sobaqueras made by Silva from Baja Californian wheat filled with chile colorado reflect a menu that could only happen in LA. 

Where to Eat Near Dodger Stadium During the 2024 Season

Even in Taco-Loving LA, These Burritos Reign Supreme

Tacos El Paloma

Carlos Pardo’s backyard beef head taco destination is back in action at a new location after a few years away. Pardo has been slowly building his business back with a handful of picnic benches and a steady stream of to-go orders out of his Compton home. Show up early for well-seasoned, steamed Sinaloan beef head cuts. Here tongue, head, cheeks, and palate arrive on corn tortillas, dressed with chopped cilantro, diced white onions, and a tangy salsa verde. Ask for beef head cuts in consomé, dressed with the same condiments eaten with corn tortillas.

Tacos Al Carbon Estilo Sinaloa

Over 40 years ago, taquero Javier Morales began his career at Tacos El Memo in the Juan Carrasco neighborhood of Mazatlán. In 2005, he opened LA’s first Mazatlán-style carne asada stand in Compton, and today he continues to turn out satisfying tacos, chorreadas, and vampiros filled with mesquite-grilled chuck steak, covered in a flurry of finely cut cabbage and red onion, plus mild tomato and avocado salsa. Go for the spicy torito, a carne asada taco augmented by roasted chile Anaheim and melted cheese in a large flour tortilla, a meal of complex northern Mexican flavors.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by EL TAQUERO DEL VERDE ™️®️ (@tacosalcarbonn)

Lupe's Burritos No. 2

It is well documented in Mexico that burritos are tacos (tacos de harina, or tacos norteños) and since 1972, Manuela and Adeline Portillo’s East LA burrito stand has been a local favorite. Inside the classic 50’s-era burger stand, now run by grandson John Anthony, Mexican Americans queue up for LA-style combo burritos packed with refried beans, melted cheese, beef, and either a mild green salsa or a spicy red salsa. It all gets folded together inside of a large flour tortilla warmed on a steel top.

Tacos Don Cuco

With poblano roots from Huehuetlan el Grande Puebla and Coatzingo, Puebla — the land where Tijuana taqueros are forged — father-and-son team Don Cuco and Jonathan Rios have crafted one of LA’s best taco spots. Along with family friend Manuel Mendez, who was on to help out at the 2018 opening, this group has managed to excel at tacos, mulitas, and tostadas topped with a tender mix of well-chopped chicken and shoulder clod steaks. It all comes dressed with diced onions and cilantro, mild tomato salsa, and a heaping serving spoon of creamy guacamole on a warmed corn tortilla. The family restaurant now counts three branches along with a pair of street stands (East LA and Boyle Heights).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tacos Don Cuco de Tijuana (@tacosdoncuco.tj)

Asadero Chikali

Originally part of a second wave of Baja California-themed carne asada trucks, the Pérez family has added tacos made with northern Mexican guisados: steak and potatoes, scrambled eggs with ham, or chicharrónes in a red salsa. Get the guisados sampler; grab a stack of handmade flour tortillas made by Melva Pérez, and start eating. 

One of the original fish taco stands in southern California opened in 1998 by co-founders Lourdes Toscano and Martin Vásquez, featuring a highly-guarded, secret tempura batter for Ensenada-style fish and shrimp tacos. Toscano, now the sole owner, runs three busy locations alongside her daughters on the strength of the taquería’s golden, crispy fish and shrimp tacos, cooled by pico de gallo, crema, and cabbage. Don’t forget to grab the flavorful chiles güeros dressed with lime and chile powder, and for a taste of the restaurant’s Sonoran roots, order the weekend-only caguamanta, served as stingray soup, stingray tacos, and vichis, an umami-rich stock.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tacos Baja "Simply the Best" (@tacosbaja__)

Tacos La Carreta

Regional carne asada has disseminated in recent years with provincial styles representing Mexicali, Tijuana, Sonora, and now Mazatlán, where mesquite-grilled steaks for chorreadas and vampiros fill the tangy beach resort air with a the balm of roasted meats. Now serving out of a taco truck, Jose Morales Jr. grills quality steak, greases a thick tortilla with asiento (unrefined pork lard) and melted cheese, then piles on the meat, creamy avocado salsa, pico de gallo, and slices of cucumber to snack on the side. The truck now has a brick-and-mortar store in Whittier that draws lines every day.

The 20 Essential Long Beach Restaurants

Burritos La Palma

Northern Mexican burritos (a regional style of taco) filled with savory stews were as much an innovation when the Bañuelos family opened Burritos La Palma in Jerez, Zacatecas in 1980 as they were when the first U.S. branch launched in El Monte five years ago. The beef birria burrito drips with simply seasoned meat juices and a light smear of refried beans, whose fragrant flavors permeate the fresh flour tortilla, staining through in a reddish-brown. Try the chile verde-topped burritos for something special.

The Perfect Road Trip Pit Stops From LA to Palm Springs

Mariscos Odaly

Stingray soup, tacos, and caguamanta draw in a crowd to Gabriel Morales’ food truck in Fontana . Expect brilliant shades of blue at this busy spot that pulls from Sonoran breakfast culture and highlights images of Mexican politicians and narcos. There’s a lot to take in, from the colorful pop-up canopy and the trailer that scoops hot, buttery stingray soup, to barra fria items (ceviches) and shrimp, tuna fin, and surimi that is served in bowls with corn tortillas so customers can make their own tacos de caguamanta. 

Mariscos Los Corchos

It’s well worth the drive to Rialto for one the most exciting Mexican seafood dining experiences that showcases pescado zarandeado estilo Playa Los Corchos, a locals-only beach in Nayarit with its own cooking traditions. Chef Anthony Placencia, working alongside his Nayarit-born mother, Maria Carrillo, and other family members, has recreated a one-of-a-kind tacos de pescado zarandeado recipe served on folding tables in the family’s backyard. Plascencia’s pescado zarandeado is marinated in an adobo and then cooked tender, revealing the natural flavors of mesquite-grilled sea bream, snook, or Barramundi. The package includes tacos de frijól, an assortment of salsas, handmade corn tortillas — plus sliced red onion, cucumber, and limes to garnish the tacos. Order pescado zarandeado “estilo Los Corchos” for an add-on of octopus and shrimp zarandeado which gives the meal a true taste of Playa Los Corchos.

Tacos de Cabrito y Machito El Lagunero

It’s well worth the drive to the semi-rural town of Muscoy for the only northern-Mexican spit roasted young goat in the state of California , prepared by Francisco Salinas and his wife Vanessa Sánchez. In front of a tire shop each Sunday morning, the couple serves spit-roasted cabrito that’s cooked in the tradition of Torreón, Coahuila, in the Lagunero region of Mexico. There’s also machitos, an intricate macrame of innards twisted around a metal rod and slowly cooked over fire, then chopped into chunks and bits for making tacos. The spicy consomé, a rich broth dripping with smoky, gamey juices from the goat meat, is a must.

• Where to Eat in Palm Springs
• 12 Places for Happy Hour Drinks and Deals in LA
• 18 Exceptional Korean Restaurants to Try in Los Angeles

Related Maps

• Where to Dine in Palm Springs

Follow Eater LA online:

• Follow Eater LA on Twitter
• Follow Eater LA on Facebook
• Follow Eater LA on Youtube
• Follow Eater LA on Instagram

Site search

• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• Philadelphia
• Portland, OR
• San Francisco
• Twin Cities
• Washington DC
• Neighborhoods

Los Angeles Taco Tour by Bike

• All the tacos you can eat on the ride
• Safety Vest
• Water Bottle
• Driver/guide
• Entry/Admission - LA Cycle Tours
• 1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA Please look for our white box truck across the street from Phellipes Sandwich Shop.
• Infant seats available
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Most travelers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at 1001 N Alameda St 1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA Please look for our white box truck across the street from Phellipes Sandwich Shop. See address & details
• 1 LA Cycle Tours Stop: 3 hours - Admission included ride bicycles to different Taco Trucks, Taco Stands, Taco shops and restaurants in search of LA's tastiest tacos. Finish the tour off with a stop for some churros. Learn about LA's history, culture and cuisine on this all you can eat bicycle adventure. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• Iain S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic bike tour with a local guide The ride was great. A little too far for me as although I've cycled all my life, i've not been doing so much recently, but can't complain because the description warned me. On the other hand I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of it. The whole ride was really interesting and Art was a knowledgable and enthusiastic guide on lots of subjects. Art, culture, politics, history. I really enjoyed the variety too, and there was a lot of that. Also the love for the street art we saw all along the route - was really good to see. Definitely gave me some feel for LA and some memories that will last. Read more Written February 7, 2020
• terriw1212 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour This was my second taco tour with Art, and I brought 2 colleagues with me to share the experience. They are both born and raised in Whittier, 15 miles from Boyle Heights where we did the tour, and they couldn’t believe how much they learned. The places we visited to eat tacos were all so different, and incredibly delicious. The things that make this tour so special is what we learn about the history area, and beginnings of Los Angeles. It’s about 9 miles of biking, only a couple of inclines, and you feel very safe biking. I highly recommend this tour, I’ll be back to do it a third time! Read more Written January 11, 2020
• Dexmorris 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Bike Ride Graffiti, History, Culture, Architecture We did private tour 9 people. La Cycle Tours extremely accommodating with time and tour. Great narration with portable speaker by leader with safety person bringing up rear. Special bike for the birthday guy. Wonderful mix of history culture with great local knowledge. Saw a tremendous amount, Art district warehouse district, flower district, clothing district, skid row, broadway district etc. I asked and we stopped for coffee at cool place. Riding was flat mostly off busy streets, (although some but felt fine) crazy graffiti alleys, interesting buildings was great. Everyone on tour had fantastic time. If you have a birthday or special occasion, ask them about a private tour, they can arrange some fun/funky things. Next time Taco tour! Read more Written December 6, 2019
• omaryafi 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An excellent way to explore the city Great tour and a very fun way to explore a large city as LA. Art had a great local knowledge of the different art pieces around the city. Highly recommended tour for everyone. Read more Written July 11, 2019
• AustinRichardHermes 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Tour!! I've been living in LA since 2004 and even now that I know tons of stuff about it I still learnt a lot about it, It was really enjoyable and interesting, the tacos were delicious! Totally recommend to everyone to try this. Read more Written April 11, 2019
• Castro42 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Superb A genuinely great experience with Art exploring some tourist parts of LA and some areas that are off the beaten track. Art was a great companion, not just the knowledge that he had but his easy way of communicating and the real passion that he has for LA and for bicycles. Having visited LA several times this tour introduced me to new parts and a new perspective on the city and even after eight hours could have still gone further. Thoroughly recommended. Read more Written January 5, 2019
• JurijsI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour from Art with endless historic details about LA I took "Downtown Los Angeles Historic Bike Tour" in end of December and I really enjoyed it. Art is very nice guy and true history geek as me. He knows everything about LA and California. Bikes are super easy to ride and very well adjusted, one of the best bikes I ever got on tour, well done! Read more Written January 4, 2019
• Judith C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highlight of our trip We got a bit lost finding the meeting point, but Art was great when we arrived and got us settled onto the bikes (which were great) It was just the two of us, as other couples had cancelled, fearing rain. It never did rain and so overcast conditions meant it was perfect for cycling. Art took us all round downtown, seeing historic areas, new builds and skid row, as well as the amazing Art district. We also went through Little Tokyo, and ended up going back there for lunch - to a place we would never have found if we'd explored on our own. He knew so many interesting facts and gave us a really good grounding in Los Angeles. It was a perfect thing to do on our first full day. Highly recommended. Read more Written November 2, 2018
• Laurie M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Delicious, Fun, and Educational! This taco bicycle tour was a fantastic experience. I have lived in LA for about ten years now and I still learned a lot of new and interesting things about the history, culture and current events of the Downtown LA and Boyle Heights area. Our tour guides were helpful, knowledgeable, and prioritized the safety of the group while riding through the streets. The bike ride itself was very enjoyable with only a few small hills and stops sprinkled along the way. The stops included three taco shops, a taco truck, a mariachi store, an indoor marketplace, and the historic Mariachi Plaza. Last, but not least, the tacos were delicious! We ate a variety of tacos with lots of different ingredients and different styles of preparation. Be sure to arrive hungry! I highly recommend this tour to out-of-town visitors and locals alike. Read more Written July 30, 2018
• Björn V 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles First day in LA Best thing i day during my stay in LA. Art was very relaxes and gave me a lot of info about the city and its past. I've seen parts of LA that you wouldn't normally get to see as a tourist. Art was very experienced and we rode at a good pace. If you want a comprehensive tour that covers the whole of LA you should do this one. Read more Written June 21, 2018
• tkaplan604 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Historic tour of DTLA with the best tacos included We took the tour and Art, the owner, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of downtown LA. Included with the tour was some of the best tacos I have ever eaten. This tour is a MUST for visitors or locals Read more Written June 5, 2018
• ochw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Eating and exercise, what could be better? What fun on a cool Sunday in January? Taking the Taco tour opened my eyes to one small part of the incredible diversity that LA offers. It was extremely well organized, safe and filled with such great food. One stop was at a Jonathan Gold top list taco place - a pleasant surprise. All the food is good & homey; no fru fru nouveau stuff. A few times, one of the guides went ahead to pre-ordered so we didn't waste time waiting at our next stop. Arturo, the main guide, was a font of knowledge about all things Boyle Heights, discussing history, social issues, architecture, street and mural art, mariachi - so much I can't list it all. Bikes were comfortable, new, and very well maintained and our safety was a priority. I'd do it again and maybe try one of the other interesting tours they offer. Great activity to do with friends.Highly recommend this toour and this company. Read more Written January 26, 2018
• Zydecojc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Arts District Tour with LA Cycle Tours This was one of the best bike tours I have taken! Art and his colleague, who rode double height bike with an ease a circus performer would envy, took us not only to the Arts District, but all around where there were distinctive and interesting wall murals along the LA freeways), around Olvera street (ceramic art), and the downtown arts district. He explained the different types; stencils, graffiti, wall murals, posters, etc and was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire history of the differences between east and west coast graffiti artists, the evolution which has occurred, etc. Really wonderful tour and lots of fun. We rode at a leisurely pace and all questions were answered. We also were given tours of the Fashion District, bits of Little Tokyo and passed the infamous and heartbreaking Skid Row on the outskirts, where LA's homeless encampments are - although they are throughout downtown LA. So three hours sped by and had I more time, I would have taken a few more of their tours. They both were really helpful with food tips as well and it was fantastic tour! Read more Written October 10, 2017
• Gervil2403 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great ride with Art I did the "I climbed it" tour with Art. It was the perfect mix between a nice workout and sightseeing. I can really recommend it. Saw places in LA that I never myself would have found and learned a lot about the different neighborhoods and other places along the route. Read more Written September 24, 2017
• TobiasRy 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lots of knowledge about L.A. We took the downtown L.A. (DTLA) tour in the morning (9-12 a.m.). The tour guide Art showed us around in different areas and talked about the history of L.A. and about various buildings that are or had been important in the L.A.-history, Some of these buildings (like the Biltmore Hotel) we also went into. He was really very knowledgeable and well prepared. We learned tons about L.A., and biking is really a great way to see a city! Tour assistant Adrian was also very good. Highly recommended! Read more Written August 4, 2017

More to explore in Los Angeles

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Los Angeles Taco Tour by Bike provided by LA Cycle Tours

With its proximity to the Mexican border, it is no surprise that the flavors of Mexico are so deeply ingrained in California’s food scene. In fact, burritos, quesadillas and tacos are just as common as typical American fare on the menus of the state’s bars, food trucks and restaurants. So if you’ve got a craving for tacos when visiting the Golden State, read on to discover some mouthwatering options.

Los Angeles

Ricky’s Fish Tacos, Los Feliz

When it comes to Baja-style tacos, Ricky’s Fish Tacos is one of those one-time secret food trucks that has developed a cult following. Ricky himself takes pride in serving fresh shrimp and white fish fried in a light tempura and topped with one of a selection of his spicy salsas. Look for him parked up under a bridge at the southern entrance to Griffith Park, and remember that he’s only open at lunchtime.

Sonoratown LA, Downtown

Sonoratown developed such a following that they had to expand into the unit next door to accommodate their loyal customers. It is the flour tortillas that they come for mostly, each one paired with expertly grilled meats and vegetables. Tackle the Caramelo, a lightly-toasted tortilla with cheese, pinto beans, salsa and avocado. There’s craft beer, too, to wash it all down with.

San Francisco

El Tonayense, Mission District

Around about the spot where Mission District meets Soma on Harrison Street, you’ll find the El Tonayense food truck. These guys have been serving up delectable, no-frills tacos from their window for over 20 years and show no signs of stopping. Whether you want al pastor, carne asada, tongue or tripe, it all comes with beans, rice and either a hot or mild sauce.

La Taqueria, Mission District

Tacos are everywhere in Mission District and if you can avoid the temptation to opt for the award-winning burrito at La Taqueria then you’ll find some of SF’s finest here. Punters have been coming to get the same acclaimed meat thrown into taco shells and doused in dressings since 1972. The cute colonial-style building gives it an added touch of Mexican authenticity.

El Zarape, University Heights

On fun-loving Park Boulevard, El Zarape is the perfect pitstop on your way to and from a bar. If seafood is your thing then you are in for a treat with the lobster, salmon and scallop options. Otherwise, there’s classic carne asada and grilled chicken. Still can’t decide? Select from the burrito-taco, enchilada-taco and rolled taco combinations.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, Pacific Beach

Follow your nose a couple of blocks back from the beach to this casual hole-in-the-wall style taco joint. Fish and seafood are the stars of the menu at Oscar’s Mexican Seafood , but if you are an avid meat eater then mix it up with a Surf and Turf Taco. The grilled octopus option will have you drooling and dreaming for days. Order takeout and then chow down at beach.

Salud!, Barrio Logan

For less than five bucks, Salud! whips up hearty tacos that taste like they’ve been served straight from a street cart in Mexico City. Homemade corn tortillas, grilled meats, flaky fish and fresh pico de gallo ensure that you’ll stop by more than once when in San Diego. The Breakfast is a hangover-busting monster filled with chorizo, bacon, egg, cheese and avocado.

The Best of the Rest

Lilly’s Taqueria, Santa Barbara

As authentic as tacos get is the proud motto of Lilly’s Taqueria . With a choice of grilled and steamed tortillas and fillings such as beef cheek, beef head, beef tongue and tripe, it’s hard to argue. There’s vegetarian options, too, delicious beans and the freshest cheese. Lilly’s has one location close to Stearns Wharf and another in Goleta.

Tacos El Gordo, Chula Vista

Should you find yourself in Chula Vista then Tacos El Gordo is the closest you’ll get to Tijuana-style grub without physically crossing the border. The handmade tortillas and tender meats are a devilish combination, especially when eaten with guacamole and salsas made fresh every day. El Gordo started back in 1972 and has now branched out to San Diego and Las Vegas.

Taco Nazo, La Puente

What started life as a modest food truck in 1978 grew to become one of the first Californian restaurants to offer Baja-style fare. Taco Nazo now has six locations, spread mainly around Los Angeles County, but it is the original in La Puente that still shines brightest. Do your stomach a favor and order the fish and shrimp tacos, inspired by flavors from Ensenada, Mexico.

Tacos Por Favor, Santa Monica

Tacos Por Favor spoils you for choice with over 20 variations of hard and soft tacos. Almost all are served with a delightful guacamole, which just leaves you with the conundrum of what dressing to go for. The taquitos are great for when you want some variation but don’t have the appetite for more than one standard taco. This just scrapes the surface of the restaurant’s huge menu.

Where Else for Tantalizing Tacos?

San Diego Taco Fest

Fancy sampling tacos by over 30 of San Diego’s best Mexican restaurants? This 1-day festival in May lets you do just that while also sipping on craft beers and listening to local and international music acts. Find out more here: San Diego Taco Fest .

Tequila and Taco Music Festival

What’s more Mexican than eating tacos? Drinking tequila, of course. You can do both at this traveling festival, which stops in Santa Cruz, San Diego and Ventura. Find out more here: Tequila and Taco Music Festival .

Enjoy this article? Share it with a friend

5 Dark Sky Parks to Visit This Year

10 Things That Will Make You Want to Visit Alaska This Year

Incredible Destinations Featured in This Year's Oscar-Nominated Films

10 Hotels With the Best Views in the World

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of Los Angeles for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy Los Angeles without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best Los Angeles tours

Los Angeles tours like bike rides to Santa Monica bakeries and Arts District walks make it easy to see all of the city

When you’re visiting a city as vast as Los Angeles, tours are the best way to explore as many neighborhoods as possible during a short time. Choose a sightseeing tour if you must hit all the big Los Angeles attractions or opt for a food tour to sample the best tacos in Los Angeles . Movie buffs will want to go behind-the-scenes at film studios, and who doesn’t want to feel the sand between your toes on the best beaches in L.A. ? Whatever Los Angeles experience you want to have during your trip, this list of the best Los Angeles tours has something for everyone.

An email you’ll actually love

Best Los Angeles tours

Grand city tour of los angeles.

This five-hour tour might very well be the most efficient way to see all the top L.A. attractions. Kick things off in Downtown with a visit to the Walt Disney Concert Hall before heading west to check out the Griffith Park Observatory and catch your first glimpse of the Hollywood Sign. Next, it’s off to Hollywood Boulevard to experience the Walk of Fame, Dolby Theatre and TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. You’ll drive through Beverly Hills and loop back to the Original Farmers Market, where you’ll have time for lunch before heading back to your hotel. $75

Los Angeles Latin Food and Culture Small Group Walking Tour

It’s impossible to separate the culture of the city from the culture of the Latin-American residents who call it home. Venture into East L.A. and Boyle Heights and you’ll find the best tamales, incredible mercados and joyful mariachi bands. This tour uses the Metro Gold Line to hit spots all over East L.A., from the first tortilla factory in the city to a bakery that keeps at-risk youth of the streets. And don’t worry: There will be plenty of tastings along the way. $75

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Laurie Avocado

Movie Locations Bus Tour

It’s only fitting that a tour of Los Angeles’s most famous movie locations would depart from TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, a big-screen landmark in its own right. The three-hour tour crisscrosses the city to take you past more than 50 iconic filming locations from movies like The Graduate, Spider-Man and Chinatown . A 65-inch TV on the bus will play relevant clips as you zoom by each spot, in case you need to jog your memory. $60

Photograph:  Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Christian Haugen

Santa Monica Sweet Spots Bike Tour

Ice cream and truffles and lemon bars, oh my! Taste test some of Santa Monica’s most popular sweets on this dessert tour by bike. The tastings vary from tour to tour, but favorites include fudge brownies and authentic Mexican pastries. You’ll spy the Third Street Promenade and some of the city’s wealthiest streets as you pedal along. $89

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

See how movie magic happens with a behind-the-scenes tour at Warner Bros. Studios. Film geeks will love the chance to get an inside look at the production process, from the sound stages to the prop department. The tour ends with your chance to try on the Sorting Hat from J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter franchise and sit on the Central Perk couch where the Friends gang drank so many cups of coffee. $104

Neon Cruise

• Art and design

Talk about Instagram bait. The Museum of Neon Art’s popular Neon Cruise drives you past countless examples of L.A.’s illuminated electric art at night. Feast your eyes on the restored facade of Clifton’s Cafeteria, the marquee of the Los Angeles Theatre, the multicolored sign for the Frolic Room and many more neon novelty pieces. $55

South Bay Brewery Tour

• Things to do
• Walks and tours

The craft beer scene in Los Angeles has exploded in recent years, and nowhere is that more apparent than the South Bay. El Segundo, Torrance and Redondo Beach each boast a bevy of popular craft breweries like Smog City Brewing Co., Three Weavers Brewing Co. and Phantom Carriage Brewery. Visit three of the best and enjoy a flight of four testers at each location on a guided LA Beer Hop tour of the area. The best part? Your tour guide serves as an automatic designated driver. $69

Philip Mershon’s Felix in Hollywood Tour

Forget the star tours and flashy tourist traps: This tour of Hollywood looks past all the superficial attractions to get to the heart of the entertainment industry. Local historian Philip Mershon describes the origin stories of all the major film studios, record companies and television networks with such gusto that you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s a fascinating journey for anyone interested in the business of Hollywood. $40

Arts District Walking Tour

Craft breweries, hip restaurants, art galleries and vibrant murals abound in the Arts District, a neighborhood on the eastern edge of Downtown that’s known for its cool vibe. Spend two hours walking the streets of this trendy nabe to experience the art that made it so famous for yourself. The tour also includes a visit to ArtShare LA, the city’s largest private art warehouse. $22

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Passion Leica

Los Angeles Taco Tour by Bike

If Los Angeles had an official dish, it would be the taco. Locals know that some of the best come from sidewalk stands or taco truck parked outside strip malls. Navigate the streets of Downtown to sample some of the most beloved al pastor and carne asada tacos on this two-hour bike tour. $100

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ T.Tseng

Looking for more tours in L.A.?

11 L.A. tours worth going on with a date

Instead of meeting for drinks or seeing a forgettable movie, take someone special on one of these L.A. tours worth going on with a date.

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

Time Out magazine

The Best Tacos In Los Angeles

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Sylvio Martins, Garrett Snyder, Brant Cox & Nikko Duren

December 21, 2023

Is there a more ubiquitous food in LA than tacos? Doubtful. From late-night al pastor trucks in South LA to family-run taquerias with stunning carnitas, to say that LA’s taco options are unlimited still feels like an understatement. And let’s be clear—this is a very good problem to have.

The search for LA’s best tacos is also never-ending. And if you’re looking for the Best Vegan Tacos In LA , we’ve got you covered. Have a special spot we missed? Shoot us an  email  or slide into our  DMs —we’d love to hear from you. But for now, here are the 25 best tacos in LA, according to us.

Best New Restaurants

Tacos Los Cholos

There's enough mesquite charcoal smog inside this Huntington Park taqueria to make Smokey The Bear lose his ever-loving mind. But all that smoke is the key to Tacos Los Cholos' meats, which are just as good as (if not better than) America's best BBQ. Asada soaks up woody flavor. Beef rib crackles. Lime-marinated ribeye is soft like butter. Of course, the difference between Los Cholos and your favorite BBQ spot is that every slab of beef, pork, and chicken that comes off the asador is mounded onto a chewy tortilla with bright salsa. All of the above makes Tacos Los Cholos impossible to forget. When out-of-towners insist on trying just one taco when they visit LA, send them here.

photo credit: Krystal Thompson

Los Cinco Puntos

Boyle Heights

This decades-old market and deli in Boyle Heights is a neighborhood institution that sells everything from cheeseburgers to breakfast burritos to spices and dried chiles. You’re here for the tacos, though—and so is everyone else. Make sure to hit the excellent salsa bar, which is an attraction by itself: the tart, pickled nopales offer a counterpunch to fatty meats, and the guacamole is thick, chunky, and the color of Shrek so you know it's fresh. While their carnitas are excellent, the crispy chicharron is even better. Frankly, when corn tortillas are as thick and griddled as they are at Cinco Puntos, we’ll drive across the city to eat anything they’re wrapped around.

Tacos La Rueda

A Sonoran-style taco is only as outstanding as its flour tortilla and smoky meat. By that logic, you'll find LA's best versions at this recently opened spot in Bellflower. We're talking golden, buttery tortillas so thin they're nearly translucent but still require molars to tear into. We're talking evenly charred asada whacked with a cleaver, scorched tripas that somehow taste like fatty chicharrón, and puddles of sinus-zapping salsa verdes. Brighten up your tacos with limón, and you're in for an unforgettable dining experience.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Mariscos Jalisco

Crowning the best taco in Los Angeles is like trying to explain to that one relative that they're texting you through their email—nearly impossible. But crowning the most famous taco is easy. That would be the taco de camaron at Mariscos Jalisco in Boyle Heights. Few single-bite experiences in LA compare to eating this deep-fried shell stuffed with plump shrimp and smothered in bright tomato salsa and fresh avocado. We would travel across oceans to spend time with this thing, so let’s all be thankful it’s just right off the 5 (and, thanks to its fleet of trucks, now also in Mid-City, Pomona, and Downtown LA as well).

At El Ruso, a Sonoran-style taco truck in Echo Park, the tortilla is king. Made with flour that the truck's owner sources from his hometown of Tijuana, these are the kind of chewy discs that make each bite a euphoric experience. As far as El Ruso’s excellent mesquite-grilled meats go, the muñeco combo remains our top choice. Smoky chopped carne asada and spicy chicharron en salsa roja pile into one of those golden tortillas, plus you have the option of adding stewed pintos, cabbage, and diced onion to create a hearty beast of a taco. And if they happen to have them on the menu that day, don't leave without a burrito wrapped around one of their sobaqueras, a stretchy hubcap-sized Sonoran flour tortilla that's the only one of its kind in town. 

Carnitas El Momo

If you love juicy, fat-simmered carnitas as much as we do, there’s a good chance you’ll agree that no one does pork better than Carnitas El Momo. This Boyle Heights curbside operation has expanded to Monterey Park with a full counter-service restaurant (complete with a giant pig mural). At both spots, you'll be greeted by the same incredible porky aroma. Though you can order tortas and quesadillas stuffed with their caramelized Michoacan-style carnitas, the standard tacos shine the brightest on the menu. They're so obscenely rich they require little embellishment beyond a dab of salsa verde and some pickled jalapeños. Pick your cut (shoulder, belly, skin, burnt ends, or, our favorite, the mixed “Aporkalypse'' style) and watch the people cooking heap melting bits of meat onto warm tortillas, then do your best to not drip any of those precious pig juices on your shirt.

photo credit: Matt Gendal

Downtown LA

Carne asada competition is tough in LA, but Sonoratown has managed to take a tiny taqueria space in Downtown and build it into a full-on institution for Sonoran-style tacos. The legendary housemade flour tortillas here melt in your mouth, and the charred steak that gets tucked inside has the exact right degree of saltiness. You can certainly opt for Sonoratown's regular tacos, but our move is the caramelo, which measures roughly double the size and comes topped with pinto beans, jack cheese, salsa roja, avocado, and diced cabbage. There's a second location in Mid-City as well, with much easier parking.

Silver Lake

From the presentation to the thoughtful tastes and textures, Simón pushes the curbside taco experience to another level. You can find their blue truck across from Bacari Silver Lake Tuesday through Sunday serving creative mariscos dishes cooked by a Oaxacan chef with a fine dining background. Imagine spicy tempura soft shell crab tacos topped with tangy pineapple salsa and a slathering of smoked chile mayo. Imagine a fish al pastor taco that gets dressed in nutty salsa macha and very spicy carrot habanero. These dishes wouldn't be out of place at a fine dining restaurant, which feels kind of magical in its own right.

Chichen Itza Restaurant

South Los Angeles

Owned by the same family that runs Holbox , this busy stall inside Mercado La Paloma near USC has been serving traditional Yucatan cuisine for the past twenty years and is still going strong. You're going to want to start with their flagship cochinita pibil—sweet and savory slow-roasted pork that’s been marinated in achiote and sour orange and cooked inside a banana leaf. It's the best version in the city and therefore sets the standard for all others. But don't ignore the shredded turkey panuchos, housemade longaniza, and char-grilled pollo asado, too. These are tough decisions to make, which is why we usually order several rounds of tacos at Chichen Itza rather than choose one entree—somehow, you can always find room for one more taco.

Tacos Los Poblanos #1 Estilo Tijuana

You’ll smell Tacos Los Poblanos before you see it. This nighttime Tijuana-style taco stand (and Tire Shop Taqueria rival) grills its carne asada over mesquite charcoal, which sends a smoky trail wafting down Slauson Ave. Our usual order goes like this: a few asada tacos, plus a cheese-lined vampiro with chorizo, then a step back to watch the taqueros thwack-thwack grilled meat with a cleaver and fling spoonfuls of salsa with acrobatic precision. Each taco is crowned with a dollop of thick guacamole and wrapped in paper like an ice cream cone. Paired with a big gulp of agua de jamaica, it’s essentially a taco ASMR experience.

The Best Pizza Spots In LA

Tacos Los Güichos

Head to Tacos Los Güichos, a truck in South LA that parks at a tire shop right off the 110, and you’ll know immediately you’re in the presence of al pastor royalty. Most nights you’ll see two, perhaps even three, big reddish-orange trompos with taqueros carving the pork using long knives and handing out tacos that are scarfed down in seconds. Charred on the edges, embarrassingly juicy, and a touch sweet, the Mexico City-style al pastor here is unmatched. But two caveats: the truck doesn’t roll out the trompos until 5:30pm, so don’t come before that. And don’t expect a slice of pineapple on top or a side of avocado salsa (though their earthy salsa roja is A-plus). Los Güichos’ owner considers them distractions and is happy to tell you so.

Tacos El Negro

You can’t fake a great taco al vapor, more or less because there’s simply nothing to hide behind. This purist style from Jalisco involves beef cooked for hours over a steam bath until it practically jiggles, paired with corn tortillas that have been warmed to a custard-like texture. And we consider Tacos El Negro, with locations in South Gate and Bell Gardens, the LA al vapor specialist. At El Negro, nearly everyone orders tacos by the plateful and you should do the same (no joke, this place pumps out more steam than a sauna). Top them with a little onion and cilantro, some creamy thinned-out guacamole—plus a dab of their wicked habañero salsa if you’re feeling masochistic—and savor the beefy bliss.

Tacos La Carreta

This street-cart-turned-food-truck—which relocated from Compton to an industrial stretch of North Long Beach a couple of years ago—specializes in Sinaloa-style chorreadas, a toasted corn tortilla that’s slicked with pork fat, then topped with a mound of chopped grilled steak and a rough salsa thickened with chopped cabbage. It might look a little like a standard asada taco, but your first one will provide a near-religious reckoning. You can add melted cheese to the whole setup to make it a vampiro, or swap in a baked potato for the tortilla to make it a papa loca. All of them are fantastic with agua de cebada, a creamy-sweet drink that’s like horchata but made with roasted barley. Make sure to check La Carreta’s Instagram for hours of operation.

Tacos Y Birria La Unica

Tacos Y Birria La Unica is the food truck we head to for all things birria. With both beef and goat versions on the menu, you can enjoy the spicy, chile-braised meat in a taco, quesataco, mulita, or even in a cup of ramen when visiting this Boyle Heights destination (with a second location in Mid-City as well). The goat is particularly delicious, and the cash-only truck’s rich consommé does an excellent job of enhancing the meat’s natural gaminess. But, in order to try a little of everything, we usually go for the holy trinity: a goat birria taco, a beef birria taco, and a goat birria quesataco. When it comes to their quesataco, La Unica gently fries housemade corn tortillas to a nice crunch before stuffing them with juicy birria and lots of molten white cheese that oozes and stretches with each bite. Pour on a bit of their habañero salsa for an extra dose of heat.

Cacao Mexicatessen

Cacao Mexicatessen doesn’t just have one of the most phonetically satisfying words in the English language in its name (Mexicatessen is our personal " cellar door "), it’s also a Northeast LA staple that has been serving delicious and inventive tacos for over a decade. The famed duck carnitas here are a must-order, with its sweet, fatty meat soaking perfectly into a warm blue corn tortilla. We also love the Ensenada fish tacos, which come with a giant piece of golden fried fish topped with cabbage, crema, and pickled onions (add sea urchin if you want to go big), as well as the sesame-topped Korean short rib and the guisado de pato, duck cracklings and nopales stewed in a savory chile de arbol salsa. Order at the counter and then sit in the large adjacent dining room with TVs and a cocktail menu if you want to hang out.

Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla

Plain and simple, this family-run food truck serves tacos that are unlike anything else in the city. Made with marinated roast pork and smoky chipotle salsa wrapped in a thick, soft flour tortilla that almost resembles a pita, the signature tacos arabes here can be traced back to the Mexican city of Puebla, where 19th-century Arab immigrants intertwined kebabs and shawarma with central Mexican cuisine. Our favorite order here is the Especiale, which is a traditional taco arabe upgraded with stringy quesillo and buttery slices of avocado. Once you see the heft of these babies, you’ll realize you might only need one. OK, maybe two. Tacos Arabes is open Wednesday through Sunday, and usually parks in Mid-City during the daytime and in Boyle Heights at night, though we recommend confirming their hours/location on Instagram .

The Best Birria In LA

Guerrilla Tacos

Arts District

Guerrilla Tacos used to be one of LA’s best taco trucks, and before that one of LA’s best taco carts, and ever since it moved into a permanent space in the Arts District a few years ago, it’s been one of LA’s best taquerias, too. Though it’s no longer the new kid on the block, Guerrilla Tacos is still one of our favorite places in the city for creative tacos that treat the tortilla like a blank canvas. The menu changes fairly often, which means you might find wackier options like a fried “fish & chips” taco topped with mashed pea guacamole or a black pepper steak taco with peanut chile crisp and a squiggle of hoisin sauce. That said, the menu staples—like the sweet potato taco with feta, or the fantastic pork belly one—still hold their own. Add in their great cocktails and raw dishes, and you’ve got a complete sit-down taco experience with something to please everyone.

Asadero Chikali

While most of the city is either sleeping or suffering through some 7am workout class, Asadero Chikali is busy simmering batches of soul-warming stews for breakfast tacos. This East LA food truck serves spectacular Mexicali-style tacos de guisado served on tender handmade flour tortillas and filled with things like shredded beef with roasted potatoes, chicharron cooked in tangy salsa, and spicy chorizo with scrambled eggs. Beyond breakfast, Asadero Chikali uses their tortillas for classic Norteño carne asada tacos seasoned with a nice charcoal flavor from the grill. Grab one of their cheesy vampiros, too: a corn tortilla toasted until crisp and browned, then piled high with handfuls of melty cheese and grilled asada on top.

Angel's Tijuana Tacos

North Hollywood

If taco stands were judged the same way as baseball prospects, Angel’s Tijuana Tacos would be what coaches call a five-tool player. Not only does this taco stand with locations all over LA County excel in the art of juicy al pastor with a flick of pineapple, but they also serve smoky grilled asada and flavorful braised meats like cabeza. In fact, from the bright salsas to the pressed-to-order tortillas, we’ve yet to encounter anything Angel’s doesn’t do well (dry cleaning? tax services?). Even if you insist you’ve had better this or that at other taco spots, rarely can you find all of it in one place, never mind an operation that has locations stretching from North Hollywood to Long Beach. We're not Angels fans but we're Angel's fans, dig?

25 Classic Restaurants In LA

Villa's Tacos

Highland Park

This Highland Park taquería takes a more-is-more approach with fully loaded tacos. Each one comes on a Dodger-blue corn tortilla layered with crispy griddled cheese, diced onions, cilantro, crema, cotija, guacamole, and a mesquite-grilled protein of your choice. (Oh, and the option to add seven different salsas and hibiscus-pickled onions, too.) If this sounds like a messy mountain of a taco, you're not incorrect. But it's a mess worth making. Order the Villa's Trio, a cheesy, three-taco sampler that includes grilled asada, chorizo with potato, and chicken with black beans.

Carnitas El Artista

The name of the game at Carnitas El Artista in Inglewood is Michoacan-style carnitas—tender, slow-fried chunks of pork that are beautifully crisp and bronzed along the edges. You’ll find excellent pork shoulder carnitas at this father-and-son operation, but El Artista also incorporates other cuts, from pork ribs and chicharron to lengua and cabeza. Whether you go with their hefty tacos, a torta, burrito, quesadilla, or a big plate of chilaquiles topped with a fried egg as your carnitas vessel, you’ll catch serious aromas of garlic and lime rising up from the juicy, caramelized meat. For our money, you won’t find a more memorable carnitas experience west of the 110.

Brothers Cousins Tacos

Conveniently located at the corner of National and Sawtelle just off the 405, Brothers Cousins is the late-night taco kingpin of the Westside. Lines begin to form around 6pm for the main attraction: a wide, bubbling pan of meats that have been braised into submission. Choose your cut of choice—asada, carnitas, chorizo, lengua, suadero, among others—and the taquero plucks the meat from the pan and chops it to order, scooping it into a warm tortilla in one swift motion. They’ll usually have some soft, fat-cooked potatoes and carmelized onions to help yourself to as well, and the salsa station is always well-stocked and pristine

South El Monte

Since opening its first location in La Puente four decades ago, Taco Nazo has grown into a mini beer-battered fish empire. Nazo now has five locations across greater East LA, each serving flaky fish on warm corn tortillas with fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, and a big dollop of crema that tastes like tangy tartar sauce. If you’re in a hurry, you can use their convenient drive-thru, but don’t be surprised if it takes 20 minutes during the dinner and lunch rush (or even longer during Lent). We promise the two-fish taco combo with creamy frijoles and chips will be worth the bumper-to-bumper lines.

Macheen, a project that operates out of Milpa Grille in Boyle Heights on Monday through Saturday from 8am-2pm, makes one of our favorite breakfast burritos in LA. Well, we’re here to tell you that they're just as skilled at putting meats and vegetables on heirloom blue corn tortillas. Macheen usually offers a handful of inventive fillings, like fried chicken tossed in salsa macha as well as solid vegetarian options like sauteed mushrooms done al pastor-style. But the must-order here is the pork belly taco, which drips with juice and comes on a bed of black beans and nopales. The Boyle Heights location mostly functions as a takeout spot, but if you have time for a relaxed lunch, grab a table on their shaded streetside patio and eat your tacos with a turmeric cinnamon iced latte from Cafe Cafe, a craft coffee pop-up in the same space. Macheen also sets up at at Smorgasburg on Sundays, and at Distrito Catorce Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30am-2pm.

Los Dorados

Los Dorados is a tiny food trailer that only makes one thing: taco dorados. And, as you might expect from a place that sells just one item, they do crispy, deep-fried rolled tacos really, really well. Doused in housemade salsa roja, spicy mole sauce, or avocado salsa verde, then finished with a heavy sprinkle of cotija cheese—there’s nothing subtle about these crunchy, extra-long beauties. That’s exactly why we love them. There are usually four different fillings to choose from (lamb barbacoa, chicken, chorizo-potato, and bean and cheese), and while the lamb is our favorite, don’t fool yourself—you’re getting one of each. Los Dorados generally pops up around the Eastside on Thursday through Saturday, and at Smorgasburg on Sunday, so keep an eye on their Instagram and plan accordingly.

Suggested Reading

The Best Places To Eat In The San Gabriel Valley

Our 42 favorite places to eat in the San Gabriel Valley.

Where To Eat When You're Visiting Los Angeles

The best restaurants to get acquainted with LA.

The top restaurants for pizza in Los Angeles, according to us.

The Best Burgers In LA

Pub burgers, smashburgers, and anything else between two buns—we’re here to make sense of it all.