Let the LA Taco Wars Commence
There's no city in the US for Mexican food like LA. And is there any single Mexican food item as universally beloved as the taco? Whether it comes from the kitchen of a nice restaurant, a strip-mall hole-in-the-wall or a truck in the wee hours of the morning, the taco is the official snack of the City of Angels -- we even have a whole blog dedicated to it. What follows is a concise overview of the city's taco offerings; whatever your poison, from al pastor to battered shrimp, I've got a place you've gotta try. And I'm sure you know of someplace even better, so do your good deed for the day and tack it on in the comments.
Yuca's
2056 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Gentrified neighborhoods aren't generally the best places to look for taco stands, but Yuca's has been holding its own in Los Feliz forever for a reason. And that reason, … put simply, is the cochinita pibil tacos -- citrusy, slow-roasted pork with pico de gallo. You eat it right in the parking lot, either at one of their hand-me-down tables or sitting on the trunk of your car. Alas, salsa fans, this is not a place that bothers with condiments. But don't let that get between you and the rich stewed-pork goodness. [link]
Taqueria El Tapatio
1266 S Glendale Ave
Glendale, CA 91205
Do yourself a favor and visit this little taqueria the next time you're in the mood for carne asada. Their version, with onions, cilantro and a dash of lime, is served on … a cute little corn tortilla. Recently the owners seemed to catch on to their restaurant's increasing popularity and upped the prices a notch, but they're still pretty reasonable, especially given the quality of the ingredients. Remember to bring cash, because your Visa's no good here. [link]
Senor Fish
4803 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
As the name suggests, the only reason to go to Senor Fish is the fish taco. The fish itself is lightly battered and in portions huge enough that you'll find yourself … eating your taco with a fork. A light, spicy sauce is the perfect compliment, and they serve a couple kinds of beer to offset the burning on your tongue. The tortillas aren't the best, but what can you do? Oh, and if you're watching your waistline, all the seafood is available grilled as well as fried. [link]
Loteria Grill
6333 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Inside the 3rd Street Farmer's Market, Loteria serves up creative variations on authentic Mexican cuisine at slightly inflated prices -- hey, they gotta pay the … exorbitant rent on that stall somehow. The little carnitas tacos are heavenly, but the real treats are the rich, chocolaty chicken mole tacos. Wash 'em down with a glass of agua fresca to feel as close to Mexico as possible while still being within throwing distance of the Grove. [link]
King Taco
1118 Cypress Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90065
You can't talk about tacos in LA without mentioning one of the city's great taco success stories. King Taco started out in 1974 as a converted ice cream truck. Now there … are 16 locations around the city serving up great carnitas and al pastor tacos alongside a full menu of authentic, flavorful Mexican -- all made fresh, all distributed fast-food-style. Factor in salsa verde that puts most others to shame and you've got the perfect combination. [link]
