Best tacos in SoCal

[yogachik]

Always worth revisiting this subject. With new stands and trucks popping up every month, my search continues. And, it helps to have found lataco.com. Every month, they create a top 10 list, and I'm enjoying eating my way (burp) through it (although sorry that my local favorite, Tacos Por Favor, isn't mentioned). Here's the most recent list, some are trucks:

1. El Parian (two months at #1)
1528 Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90036

2. King Taco
1118 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles 90065

3. El Taurino
1104 Hoover St one block south of Olympic.

4. El Matador
1174 N Western Ave in East Hollywood. Nightly after 7pm.

5. El Pecas #2
La Brea and Olympic nightly after 7pm.

6. Fiesta Taco
1110 North Hollywood Way Burbank, 91505

7. El Pique
York and Ave 53

8. El Taco Llama
Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood, one block east of Cahuenga.

9. Pepe’s tacos
4608 W Adams, Los Angeles (West Adams)

10. Rincon Taurino
8708 Van Nuys Blvd, Panorama City.

[steve]

if you ever find yourself in south orange county, check out el campeon in san juan capistrano. it's by far the best taco I've ever had in the US, the second-best overall. (the best was a 25¢ taco from a street vendor in tijuana)

la tiendita (affectionately called 'hole in the wall taco shop') in san clemente used to be very good while I was in high school. a recent trip back was dissapointing.. they've cleaned up; no longer a hole in the wall - and tacos are now $1; used to be 50¢.

[P_McPoser]

Ummm...... What about TJ?!!

I've had some pretty good shit off the main areas there.

The more roaches the better the food.

[ill-advised strategy]

everybody knows the best tacos are in utah.

[lobstahmeatwad]

El Taco Nazo
Multiple locations mostly in the inland empire I think. Covina area.
Fricken awesome shrimp tacos and Arkanoid, the sit down version.

[nutcase]

The best tacos are in San Diego holmes!!!!!

[tuffy109]

i love Tito's Tacos, you love Tito's Tacos
the only thing better than a Tito's Taco is 2

[Gebster]

Los Panchos across from SDSU was pretty good back in my days at State

[GheePup]

Hmmm...tacos? Hmmm...for lunch? Hmmm...one must first consult Ms. Yogachick before embarking on a taco lunch. After all, she is the expert. Lunch anyone?

[Viva]

Nice list and so apropos with my new sig. Some places there that I've never tried. We need to organize a Maggot SoCal Great Taco Crawl or something.


In addition to the above:

Puffy Taco and Esthers have great tacos

In OC, I like Mr. Taco

Yoga, next time you're in the Studio city area, look for Henry's. Good tacos there.

Now, if you're looking for some great menudo...

[BigKuba]

I hope to become an expert on the LA taco scene very soon, but for now here are my picks for San Diego:

Fish Tacos: Bahia on La Jolla Blvd in Birdrock

Rolled Tacos/drunk tacos: Ramiro's in PB behind the Denny's on Garnet and Mission

General goodness: El Cotixan in Clairemont on Genesee, next to the Circle K. Their Al Pastor is off the hook.

[Viva]

General goodness: El Cotixan in Clairemont on Genesee, next to the Circle K. Their Al Pastor is off the hook.

I used to live by there! I'd hit El Cotixan at 4:00 or 5:00 AM and get one of their breakfast burrito before heading out to the mountains for a run.

There's a little bitty place by the corner of Clairemont Dr. and Clairemont Mesa Blvd. that's really good.

[Blatant]

pink tacos..mmmmmm mmmmmmmmm.

[nutcase]

Rolled Tacos/drunk tacos: Ramiro's in PB behind the Denny's on Garnet and Mission

.

Ahhh. Ramiros. Good stuff. Not my all-time favorite but its way good.

[Arty50]

I'll tell you what the best tacos in LA are...whatever is open within staggering distance when I roll out of the bar hammered out of my mind.

With that in mind I have to give El Carmen a nod. An entire wall full of tequila and awesome tacos to go with it.

[Playa]

Yelp has a good list too

[seanpistol]

El Tariscos in Manhattan Beach is pretty damn good. they only have 6 barstools to sit on and eat your meal in the whole place... that's how you know it's good. i eat there every single time after surfing and it never gets old.

[BigKuba]

Ahhh. Ramiros. Good stuff. Not my all-time favorite but its way good.

Yeah, you can't beat 5 rolled tacos with guacamole, lettuce, and cheese AND the crack salsa for $2.75 after a night of drinking. Those guys haven't figured out the concept of inflation, that deal's been the same price (maybe within $0.25) for at least the last 8 years, while Bahia down the street has more than doubled their prices.

[steve]

Yeah, you can't beat 5 rolled tacos with guacamole, lettuce, and cheese AND the crack salsa for $2.75 after a night of drinking. Those guys haven't figured out the concept of inflation, that deal's been the same price (maybe within $0.25) for at least the last 8 years, while Bahia down the street has more than doubled their prices.

sounds like albertos..
another one that's not my favorite but is way good.


-steve

[Pura Vida]

if you ever find yourself in south orange county, check out el campeon in san juan capistrano. it's by far the best taco I've ever had in the US, the second-best overall. (the best was a 25¢ taco from a street vendor in tijuana)

la tiendita (affectionately called 'hole in the wall taco shop') in san clemente used to be very good while I was in high school. a recent trip back was dissapointing.. they've cleaned up; no longer a hole in the wall - and tacos are now $1; used to be 50¢.

I'll put another vote in for El Campeon. A few others come close, but overall everytime in the area and stop by El Campeon I can't believe how good it is. They also have the best aquas frescas I've tasted as well.

[SoCalTele]

get real folks, the best taco in socal is in Pacific Beach on turquoise st and Mission BLVD. it is called Los Dos Pedros. super cheap and open super late. it is just a little whole in the wall. but aren't those the best kind? the place is basically just a carry out, but there is some seating in the rear at a couple of picnic tables. the owners are cool and don't care if you bring a brewdog with you from across the st. at the albertsons. love it/need it/bring it

[SoCalTele]

lets not forget about El Coyote in West Hollywood. if your going to live in LA, you have to check out this place. it is a bit of a scene but the food is really quite good. and oh one more thing. none of those LA joints compare to any of the san diego spots. i mean SD is basically in mexico how can you get any more authentic. again los dos pedros....MMMMMMMM amazing

cheers

[Spats]

everybody knows the best tacos are in utah.

The carts in the Sears parking lot* are excellent, and 2/$1 is hard to beat. The farther you get from Sears, the crappier and more expensive the street tacos get.

* The one south of downtown, 7th x Main/Central, SLC

[rideit]

The carts in the Sears parking lot* are excellent, and 2/$1 is hard to beat. The farther you get from Sears, the crappier and more expensive the street tacos get.

* The one south of downtown, 7th x Main/Central, SLC

SHIT, I KNEW IT!!!
I always roll by them when going to cafe Trang, and I always get that gut feeling that 'oh shit, La Comida Verdad esta aqui, ahora!!!'
Gotta try it next time.

Do you have a favorite?

[BigKuba]

get real folks, the best taco in socal is in Pacific Beach on turquoise st and Mission BLVD. it is called Los Dos Pedros. super cheap and open super late. it is just a little whole in the wall. but aren't those the best kind? the place is basically just a carry out, but there is some seating in the rear at a couple of picnic tables. the owners are cool and don't care if you bring a brewdog with you from across the st. at the albertsons. love it/need it/bring it

Yeah, that place was on my regular Mexican food circuit. Their chicken burritos are pretty ridiculous, their other stuff was pretty good but I don't remember anything else that really stood out. Maybe it's because that one was kinda out of the way for me. The BYOB is pretty sweet though.

There's a second Los Dos on La Jolla Blvd (#2, this one is Los Dos #1). across the street from the 7-11 by Windansea that used to have a "B" cleanliness rating when I was in high school. They hid the placard behind the Neo-Geo machine and either stole another one or used an old one with an "A" and displayed it right over the door so you pretty much hit your head on it every time you entered the place. This is pretty much the only time I've ever seen a "B" placard.