No one does tacos like Los Angeles. In fact, if there was a signature dish that best encapsulates the city, I think a strong case can be made that it’s the street taco. Whether you’re out on a date in an upscale Mexican-fusion restaurant with a wall of rare tequilas or just grabbing a late-nite bite from a truck, stand, or street vendor, the taco is versatile enough for practically any occasion, adaptable enough for regional cuisines from across the world, and affordable enough for the meagerest of budgets.
Consider the amazing variety of possibilities the taco presents, as opposed to say another handheld Angeleno favorite, the burger. First, there are several types of meat options (beef, chicken, fish, pork, chorizo) cooked in a variety of ways (grilled, fried, al pastor, birria, carnitas, carne asada, and barbacoa, to name a few. There’s also vegan options, including mushroom, cauliflower, tofu, and other non-meat sources of protein. Furthermore, topping selections are nearly endless, and to really differentiate itself, the heat level can be adjusted from mild to scorching, with a range of chiles, salsas and hot sauces for every palate.
With this in mind, and with no further adieu (you know where this is going), I will share some of my favorite taco eateries in town.
Located on Vermont Avenue in the heart of Los Feliz, right next to the movie theater, this taqueria offers a rather extensive menu, featuring several protein options including adobo or tomatillo chicken, bulgogi, braised brisket, frijoles & questo, among several others, as well as a few vegan options such as the potato taquito or the squash, tomato, corn and mojo de ajo sauce. You can also get your taco vampiro-style – on a lightly fried and cheesy four-and-a-half-inch corn tortilla.
The sauces here run from the tame tomatillo (mild) to the bold salsa roja (medium) to the daring avocado serrano (hot). There’s even a vegan chipotle aioli. And don’t forget pickled jalapeno and hibiscus-pickled onion. To counter the heat, I’m a fan of both the horchata and the agua fresca, made in-house. Or consider one of their two signature drinks – the Guava Sunrise, composed of guava, lemon, hibiscus and simple syrup.
The Westside also has a taco culture of its own, and one strong example of that is Sonoritas, in the Sawtelle District, (by the way, they also have a downtown location, but there’s no shortage of taquerias in that area). This is a sit-down joint in a dining destination, and the prices will reflect that. But you’re also getting the highest-quality local ingredients in dishes like the Angus beef short rib tacos with sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, or the filet mignon, or beef tongue.
The beverages also reflect a sophisticated palate, such as the horchata de pistache (yep, pistachio) or Sidral Mundet (a Mexican apple carbonated soda pop). That’ll help put out the fire of the habanero salsa.
This is apparently where the president goes when he wants tacos. To be fair, he was staying at a hotel down the road. Tacos 1986 has expanded to seven locations across the county, and in neighborhoods as far afield as Santa Monica, Pasadena, downtown, Beverly Grove, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and the aforementioned Westwood space. The menu is on the concise side, but the five varieties of salsa create a huge array of combinations.
The in-house jamaica, horchata, and lemonade complement any meal here well, and the soft-serve ice cream is ideal if your mouth is on fire after putting away the spicy La Fresa salsa.
Another taco joint expanding its footprint is the creation and namesake of famed Angeleno actor Danny Trejo. With locations at the Original Farmer’s Market, Mid-City, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and downtown, there’s no excuse not to hit up a Trejo’s to try something you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. For example, the young jackfruit taco, which is served on a corn tortilla with a citrus slaw marinade, topped with a vegan avocado crema, pico de gallo, and verde slaw.
The menu is rather substantial and also includes blackened salmon, chicken tinga, and spicy shrimp tacos, among others. Enjoy with a cold Jarritos soda, or Trejo’s own bottled water.
Taco Town
Check out more of LaLaScoop’s favorite tacos in LA, on Instagram, and at Smorgasburg LA.
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