Taco Madness 2012
And now, the moment LA’s taco heads have been waiting for since last April… The 4th Annual Taco Madness bracket is here! Also, make sure to add us on Facebook to help spread the word about LA’s original Taco Tournament.
The Winners
In a crazy, unprecedented battle between two of LA’s best and most beloved taco spots, something happened that no one could have predicted– a tie! We checked the votes several times (some sneaked in after the polls closed, only valid votes counted) and after 2 days of back-and-forth battling and almost 1,500 votes, we ended up with an exact tie. Rather than be disappointed that one winner was not crowned, let’s celebrate the fact that LA has so many great tacos, with two favorites!
Congratulations to Mariscos Jalisco and Guisados!!!!!! Viva Taco Madness!!!
Taco Madness 2012 is presented in conjunction with Yelp. Check out the Yelp event page for Taco Madness 2012 which lists all 32 locations in one place.
Will Campbell wrote:
I know you can’t include everyone but that doesn’t ease the pain of not seeing El Parian (on Pico Boulevard near Union) anywhere in the brackets.
Posted on 14-Mar-12 at 12:03 pm | Permalink
taco the town wrote:
Feel like El Parian has fallen off a bit the last couple of times I visited…
Posted on 15-Mar-12 at 10:57 am | Permalink
Bigmouth wrote:
King Taco parboils their meat, and Kogi should not even be on the list.
Posted on 16-Mar-12 at 8:36 am | Permalink
LATACO: Taco Madness 2012 | WHERE'S MY HIPPO wrote:
[...] continues Taco Madness again this year. Make sure to fill out your bracket and vote for your favorites! Want to know my [...]
Posted on 19-Mar-12 at 8:32 am | Permalink
s wrote:
Do you have the correct la estrella listed? Not the highland park one?
Posted on 19-Mar-12 at 3:24 pm | Permalink
L.A. TACO wrote:
Thanks, fixed the link to La Estrella. Technically though people could vote for any of the ones that are owned by the same people.
Posted on 19-Mar-12 at 3:28 pm | Permalink
mike bonino wrote:
Must eat at the all!!!!
Posted on 19-Mar-12 at 5:18 pm | Permalink
Lio wrote:
How do we nominate a taco place?
Posted on 20-Mar-12 at 9:17 am | Permalink
matt wrote:
i encourage you all to try EL TAQUITO on Fair Oaks, despite it not being in this madness, which makes it madness all the more. EL TAQUITO is by far the best tacos I’ve ever had and I am deeply saddened that they remain off. Check out their yelp, but mainly just check out their DAAAAAANK TACOS.
Posted on 20-Mar-12 at 9:53 am | Permalink
CRAL wrote:
YO El flamin taco is in Ech0 PaRque dont get it twisted
Posted on 21-Mar-12 at 11:13 am | Permalink
Frank wrote:
Go Guisados!!!
Posted on 22-Mar-12 at 7:54 pm | Permalink
steven wrote:
R.I.P Arizas *pour
One year you’ll get there!
Posted on 26-Mar-12 at 10:06 am | Permalink
james wrote:
Nothing beats Yuca’s carne asada tacos and burritos. Do yourself a favor and give them a try.
Posted on 27-Mar-12 at 10:35 am | Permalink
Lost wrote:
Awesome group in the final 8. My pick to win it all is Mariscos Jalisco!!! Their shrimp taco is simply the best!!!
Posted on 27-Mar-12 at 10:41 am | Permalink
Stephen A. wrote:
Yuca’s not only has great tacos and burritos with their secret flavors that you can not find at any other taco stand/restaurant. Anywhere. But also when you go there they treat you like family! Always pleasant – always gracious.
What more could you ask for!!
Posted on 27-Mar-12 at 1:49 pm | Permalink
Daniel Costa wrote:
I absolutely love Yuca’s Tacos. The major crucial ingredient that is necessary in any savory recipe is love… And luca’s Tacos inspire unconditional love… A rare commodity in our time.
Posted on 27-Mar-12 at 8:57 pm | Permalink
Lori wrote:
Yuca’s is my favorite- and the Cochinita Pibil is out of this world- Tell Mama and Dora- “extra Salsa please” Go Yuca’s!!!
Posted on 28-Mar-12 at 8:45 am | Permalink
SinoSoul.com wrote:
looks like it’s gonna be Marisco Jalisco vs. Mexicali…
Posted on 28-Mar-12 at 9:52 am | Permalink
Simmons wrote:
This Yuca’s – Mexicali battle is crazy!
Posted on 28-Mar-12 at 1:59 pm | Permalink
matt43 wrote:
ok, its like this I come from OC, orange county, this place is always packed great service best tacos great management
1-5 stars i give this taco haven * 5 -Stars “Guisado’s” thumbs up
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 12:20 am | Permalink
Pilarica wrote:
Yuca’s has the best tasty food in town y todo con mucho sabor Yucateco.
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 10:07 am | Permalink
JULIE TOSCANO wrote:
Tacos Baja…BY FAR THE BEST FISH/SHRIMP TACOS !!!
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 11:15 am | Permalink
Simmons wrote:
I’m going to personally eat at all of the final four taco madness taquerias this weekend and make my decision after that!! Whos with me?????!
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 11:22 am | Permalink
LOST wrote:
wow tacos baja vs. mariscos jalisco. that’s like sophie’s choice for me… overall I love the taco at mariscos jalisco the best but TBE has more options. Damn… hard to choose!!!
I haven’t tried Guisados yet, going to hit it up this weekend.
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 12:05 pm | Permalink
grace wrote:
let the best taco win!!! Mariscos Jalisco!!!
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 12:16 pm | Permalink
SuperVegan wrote:
How can you have a taco competition without Tacos Por Favor?
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 1:22 pm | Permalink
Susy Rendón wrote:
Best shrimp and fish tacos, ceviche, cocteles, caldos PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING!!!!! We eat there at least twice a week!!
Posted on 29-Mar-12 at 1:31 pm | Permalink
jocelynn villa wrote:
Mariscos Jalisco!
Posted on 30-Mar-12 at 5:56 pm | Permalink
Food lover wrote:
I just love Tacos Baja they have the best seafood ever.. love there shrimp tacos!!
Posted on 30-Mar-12 at 11:26 pm | Permalink
Stel wrote:
guisados!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 31-Mar-12 at 7:04 pm | Permalink
Spoiled wrote:
TACOS BAJA HANDS DOWN THE BEST EVER!!
Posted on 01-Apr-12 at 8:42 am | Permalink
Edgar wrote:
All you need is ONE bomb taco and that’s MARISCOS JALISCO!!!
Posted on 01-Apr-12 at 10:30 am | Permalink
NO COMMENT wrote:
What a set UP! not a fair game..
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 12:23 am | Permalink
L.A. TACO wrote:
All votes are in and were counted, if there was a discrepancy is may be due to the lag between votes cast and votes accepted, as some votes were made through proxy networks and then removed through the software.
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 12:32 am | Permalink
Mark S wrote:
Yup tacos Baja with 100+ votes in under 5 minutes. Cheating.
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 1:40 am | Permalink
Taco Maven wrote:
http://www.tacomaven.blogspot.com/2012/03/taco-madness-2012-final-four.html
This year’s final 4 sell the best tacos in the city. Well-rounded choices of perfect, smokey Asada, fresh Baja-style Fish, Crispy Shrimp and Traditional ‘stew’/guisados with a twist. Follow our ‘map’ for a great day of eating at the link posted above.
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 8:27 am | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
@taco maven u are so right!!! Let the best of the best win!! Mariscos Jalisco all thee way ;P
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
Alan M. wrote:
GUISADOS FOR THE WIN! NO DOUBT!
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 1:10 pm | Permalink
Fred Rodriguez wrote:
Very worthy competitors. I voted for Guisados. Partially because I live 2 minutes away!!!
Posted on 02-Apr-12 at 1:31 pm | Permalink
Edgar wrote:
Mariscos Jalisco FTW!
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 12:02 pm | Permalink
Richard K wrote:
El Parian has horrible salsa.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 3:29 pm | Permalink
Angie wrote:
Con hambre todo save bueno.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 6:59 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
WE WONNN!!! AT 7:00 MARISCOS JALISCO!!!!
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:03 pm | Permalink
Mark S wrote:
Exactly at 7. Mariscos Jaliscos was up. Winner?
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:08 pm | Permalink
Bro My God wrote:
Guisados! Wooo
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:09 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
EXACTLY WHAT IM SAYING!!! I REFRESHED MY PAGE EXACTLY AT THAT TIME!!!
MARK U HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION! ;)
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:10 pm | Permalink
Andrea wrote:
The real winners are Mariscos Jalisco they have the best shrimp tacos in the world.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:13 pm | Permalink
Alan M. wrote:
votes don’t add instantly…they keeping adding after 7pm.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:14 pm | Permalink
jocelynn wrote:
wth mariscos jalisco won exactly at 7 and people are still voting ???
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:14 pm | Permalink
Mark S wrote:
Yelp says voting doesn’t end till midnight today..
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:15 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
OUR VOTE SHOWS INSTANTLY ON ALL MY FRIENDS STUFF WHEN WEDO IT!!!!!! THIS IS BULL
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:16 pm | Permalink
Alan M. wrote:
yelp is bull. guisados by one! all we do is win win!!
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:18 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
ALAN WINNING BY A DEFAULT IF THAT MAKES U HAPPY!
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:22 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
JUST CHECKED OUT TWITTER ALAN AND MARK WE TIED AT 743…CHECK IT OUT!!
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:25 pm | Permalink
Uli wrote:
When is the contest actually over? The page says 7 pm but the event page on Yelp says midnight. Please clarify :)
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:42 pm | Permalink
L.A. TACO wrote:
It was over 7pm, the software was set to end at 7pm but for some reason some votes slipped through after. We reviewed every single vote by hand and found an exact tie at 7pm!! Madness.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:52 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
it ended at seven with many witnesses seeing that mariscos jalisco took it ;)
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:57 pm | Permalink
Uli wrote:
Then you should remove the votes that are logged in after 7 pm that sneaked through your software’s security settings and just call it a day. It puts everybody into a frenzy to organize a final push when everybody didn’t plan on it. I know that it’s something in fun, but this just makes it more complicated than necessary for both Guisados and Mariscos Jalisco.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 7:57 pm | Permalink
L.A. TACO wrote:
Uli, we didn’t count any of the votes that came in after 7. We arrived at an exact tie. Insanity! Madness!
Co-Champions is the only just solution.
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 8:24 pm | Permalink
Uli wrote:
LA Taco – This is just freakin’ awesome! I’m here at Guisados right now with Armando, the owner, and we’re both just in awe of how passionate people are about their tacos and the kind of buzz that your contest generated. He sends his bests to Jeff and the rest of the team there, along with congrats to Mariscos Jalisco! We’re both planning on going over there tomorrow :-)
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 8:38 pm | Permalink
G.0. wrote:
Gracias L.A. Taco!!!! For the opportunity!!! And when it comes down to competition we were each others competition!!! I guess the fair win with a tie!!! Congratulations Guisados for taking first place with us Mariscos Jalisco!!!! We had fun doing this!!! I love tacos especially in l.a. and we are Boyle heights too!!! xP …viva los Lakers!!! Y Mariscos Jalisco con guisados !!! xD
Posted on 03-Apr-12 at 8:47 pm | Permalink
Frank wrote:
Persinally I think it’s awesome it was a tie. Both tacos are sooo good
Posted on 04-Apr-12 at 9:16 am | Permalink
steven wrote:
I think the tie is pretty great too. Congrats! I guess the real winner is Boyle Heights.
Posted on 04-Apr-12 at 10:12 am | Permalink
Boyle Heights’ Guisados & Mariscos Jalisco Win Taco Madness « Cultura « MIS NEIGHBORS wrote:
[...] In a double whammy of sorts, both Guisados and Mariscos Jalisco have been crowned as the official 2012 Taco Madness winners. [...]
Posted on 04-Apr-12 at 2:37 pm | Permalink
Billy wrote:
That was tons of votes just like the semifinal! Did you use a “filter” too this time? I recommend you to have a fair system for next year, so there will be only legit people voting who cares about the food and shows who really are the best.
Posted on 06-Apr-12 at 9:50 pm | Permalink
Bigmouth wrote:
Finally tried Mexicali and was frankly underwhelmed. I’ve had tacos on the Westside that were better. Maybe it was an off say, but I have a hard time believing this is the best taco LA has to offer.
Still curious to try Guisados, though, as I have a feeling that’s more my speed.
Posted on 05-May-12 at 10:05 am | Permalink