Ryan is the editor of one of the best sites about LA of all time, LosAnjealous.com. Here's his top ten tacos as we count down the days to TACO MADNESS 2011:
1. Tacos Sinaloa: the vampiro (Highland Park)
Ave 54 / Gold line general vicinity
Note that this is an entirely different “Vampiro” than the vegetable drinks that are called the same thing at Cactus #1 on Beverly. Of the two, when hungry, this easily being the Vampiro you will prefer. Though I no longer date a girl in HP I REALLY MISS THIS TINY TACO WAGON!
2. El Atacor 11: Potato Taco (Cypress Park)
2622 N Figueroa St
Buy in bulk. Great party food.
3. Tacos Chapalita: al pastor (Lincoln Heights)
(2929 Broadway)
Al pastor is spotty but when it’s on, it’s on – and you cannot beat the price here.
4. Cactus: chorizo (Tinseltown)
(willoughby/vine. everybody knows where this is located)
No-nonsense, ridiculously reliable chorizo.
5. Mariscos 4 Vientos: shrimp taco (fried shell, drowned in salsa) (Boyle Heights)
(Seafood truck somewhere around 3000 Olympic - near the housing projects)
There are competing trucks nearby, offering similar wares. Great Taco Hunt seems to prefer a different truck. I’m not convinced, but I look forward to trying more of the competition!
6. Hole Mole: late night fish taco happy hour (Long Beach)
Hole Mole has a few locations in LB; the crucial location near all the punk and hipster bars being at 1327 East 4th - literally stumbling distance from Fern's. Tough to beat the price and quality of the late night fish taco.
7. Tacos Chapala: carnitas (Long Beach)
3205 E Anaheim Street
Give it a whirl when on Anaheim. You’ll be oh so glad.
8. 76 Service Station, Genesee @ Beverly: Choco Taco (Tinseltown)
By no means the exclusive purveyor of the legendary ice cream treat; still, judging by how many times I trudged down there to partake in years past, it surely must be one of my favorites
9. Yuca’s: cochinita pibil (Tinseltown)
Still not a fan of the prices – but let’s face it, no list is complete without it. If Chapalita is the place that you take your father, Yuca is the place you take your mother (both true). (Hollywood Blvd location)
10. Loteria (3rd/Fairfax farmer’s market)
Before you groan: What this stand does great, end of day, is prepare you for the west side of Los Angeles in general: long lines, few taco options, price gouging, small portions, but a quality product. And while I can’t in good faith pay $3 for a napolitas taco when napolitas comes free as a garnish down in the D. F., that $3 mini-scoop of cochinita pibil is as solid a mini-scoop as you’ll find in these waters.
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