We don’t know about you but nothing sounds as fresh and essential to summer than the perfect Taco. Maybe it’s a California thing, but with so many outstanding stops for Mexican cuisine, a list seemed necessary. Read on for our round-up of LA’s Best Taco shops!
Tire Shop Taqueria
Location: 4100 South Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
This unassuming spot inside of a tire shop is a south LA institution. The Tijuana-style tacos with mesquite-grilled meats provide flavor and texture from the smoky char, especially the carne asada. Tortillas are made to order, folded into little paper-wrapped cones that ooze the green salsa out of one end. Just be sure to bring cash, then make your way through the line, grab your plate, and take a seat and make some friends at the large plastic table.
Mariscos Jalisco
Location: 3040 East Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
This daytime-only truck situated in Boyle Heights is a unique LA experience. One of the long-standing heroes of the old-school taco trucks, Mariscos Jalisco has earned a deservedly loyal and devoted following. Their signature tacos dorado de camaron ($2.25) are far from a secret, but they live up to the hype with flavorful and fresh shrimp folded into a corn tortilla that is then fried to a golden brown and topped with thick slices of avocado and a vibrant and complex salsa roja.
Leo’s Tacos Truck
Location: Multiple Locations
Easily the best al pastor taco to be had in the city of tacos. You probably would have guessed that simply by driving by and being mesmerized by their flame-kissed spit of thinly sliced, marinated pork. Leo’s now has seven locations, but it’s the La Brea spot that offers the reliable outdoor trompo and talented taquero on weekends and after 5pm on weeknights.
Guerrilla Tacos
Location: 2000 East 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA
Not your average taco truck is the exceptionally popular, ridiculously delicious Guerrilla Tacos. Every day except Tuesday, Chef Wes Avila parks his Guerrilla Tacos truck, one of the best taco trucks in L.A., at hip coffee shops across the city, from the Arts District (Blue Bottle on Mondays, Blacktop on Fridays) to the Westside (Cognoscenti Culver City on Wednesdays, Blue Bottle Venice on Sundays). This farmers market fiend always gathers the best seasonal ingredients and serves them in tacos, tortas, tostadas, burritos and quesadillas.
Teddy’s Red Tacos
Location: 731 E. Slauson Ave, LA 90011 and 46 Windward Ave, Venice 90291
With multiple pop-ups and locations in South L.A., Pico Rivera and now Venice, Teddy Vasquez’s red-hot birria tacos ($1.99) are taking over. The taquero’s sudden rise is remarkable, both on the streets and online—with roughly 100k Instagram followers—and while it might have something to do with how photogenic those bright red, dripping-with-sauce TJ-style tacos are, it’s really due to the flavor. The long-simmered beef is tender enough, but before it gets served, each taco, quesadilla ($3.50), vampiro ($$2.75) or mulita ($2.99) gets a ladle of the spicy broth and it’s all fried on the plancha. Crispy, searingly hot and full of flavor, these are the birria tacos to beat.
Sky’s Gourmet Tacos
Location: 5303 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Sky’s Gourmet combines soul food and tacos in ways we didn’t realize were possible. Locally famous for well-spiced tacos that feature two 6″ corn tortillas with options that range from the usual beef or carnitas to lobster and shiitake mushroom, topped with shredded iceberg lettuce and cheddar, sour cream, tomato, cilantro and the famed “sassy sauce.”
Birrieria San Marcos
Location: 8633 Woodley Ave, North Hills, CA 91343
San Marcos is a taco truck serving fantastic beef birria tacos that people wait in line for hours to eat. We recommend a few regular tacos, one taco dorado (crunchy shell), and a giant queso-taco for the grand finale. Make sure to get a consomé as well – it’s one of the best versions in town and perfect for dipping your tacos into. Cash only!