Taco Madness ~ The Final Four
After nearly three weeks of intense battling, comments squabbling and behind the scenes get-out-the-vote campaigns, the results are in and the final four have been confirmed. Here they are, with their path to the finals:
#3 Tacos Por Favor
Seeded third, Santa Monica’s most popular taco shop has proven to be a resilient competitor, with loyal west side fans turning out in droves to vote for “TPF”. The Olympic Boulevard spot beat Carnitas Michoacan in round I, and the mighty fish tacos of Tacos Baja Ensenada in Round II to secure a spot in the final four.
vs.
#1 King Taco
The heavyweight chain with a legion of fans spanning the entire city and its outskirts handily chomped its way through the competition, proving the #1 seeding was accurate. Round I saw an initially heated battled with West LA’S Two location mini-chain Tacomiendo that ultimately proved no challenge to the King. Round II was much the same, with an easy win over Echo Park’s beloved Taco Zone.
–
#3 Kogi BBQ
The internet sensation was reviled by many in the comments, who felt that the two-truck fusion korean tacos were not authentic enough for the competition. Still, purists can take solace in knowing that Kogi defeated the competition’s other most controversial entrant, seventh seed Tito’s Tacos in Round II. Round I was a cakewalk for Kogi as they easily beat the Valley’s only entrant, Tacos El Zorro.
vs.
#4 Yuca’s
The seeding committee is fans of Yuca’s but mistakenly seeded them 4th, thinking they were more of a local favorite and not a taco heavyweight. Defying those expectations, Yuca’s battled for every vote and ultimately defeated Loteria Grill in Round I and upstart Cactus Taqueria in Round II. Yuca’s family owned mini chain is beloved by people from all over the city, it seems, but they will need to rally their fans to beat internet supernova Kogi BBQ.
VOTING IS OPEN UNTIL THURSDAY. A CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED MONDAY of NEXT WEEK!
King Taco vs. Tacos Por Favor
- Tacos Por Favor (2077%, 28,184 Votes)
- King Taco (-1977%, 587 Votes)
Loading ...Kogi BBQ vs Yuca's
- Yuca's (54%, 474 Votes)
- Kogi BBQ (46%, 402 Votes)
Loading ...- Taco Madness 2009 Round 1 Voting ~ La Estrella vs. Taco Zone
- Taco Madness 2009 ~ Taco Tournament
- Taco Madness 2009 ~ Sabrocho!
- Congratulations to Yuca’s! ~ Taco Madness 2009
- Taco Madness First Round Voting ~ #2 El Taurino vs. #7 Tito’s Tacos
- Taco Madness Round 1 Voting ~ #3 Kogi BBQ vs #6 Tacos El Zorro
- Taco Madness 2009 ~ The Finals ~ Yuca’s vs. Tacos Por Favor
(26 tacos)
ritzyp wrote:
dude, kogi? really?
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 11:43 am | Permalink
Jason wrote:
It’s gonna be a major upset if TPF comes out on top of King. GO TPF!!!
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 12:03 pm | Permalink
soledadenmasa wrote:
Kogi’s? No mames, güey.
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 4:08 pm | Permalink
Manny Guzman wrote:
If Kogi added handmade tortillas to their arsenal that may qualify them to be in this comp. After this id done & over with PLEASE set up a taco truck battle. RAMBO’S FTW!
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
D wrote:
C’mon King Taco!
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 6:25 pm | Permalink
Tenoch Slim wrote:
Kogi –
That one step taco to gentrification.
No mames is correct!
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 7:36 pm | Permalink
Hadley wrote:
Could it come down to King vs. Yuca’s?
Posted on 30-Mar-09 at 9:54 pm | Permalink
Chef David wrote:
I’ve had Kogi, and it’s enjoyable. But if Kogi wins this (due to its Internet viral effect), that would be like The Woz winning Dancing with the Stars for the same reason (and that’s not out of the question).
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 9:54 am | Permalink
Carol wrote:
YUCA’S are the BEST! They have been our
family favorite for since the early 80’s
GO YUCA’S Love Ya!!!! Carol
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 11:39 am | Permalink
Jayne wrote:
YOU GO, YUCA’S! Their tacos are even better than those in Merida. I know!
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 12:16 pm | Permalink
Michael wrote:
where are the vote tabs?
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 1:55 pm | Permalink
Z. Garces wrote:
Voting King Taco all the way. Yes it’s a big ol’ chain now but it’s the original and still da best….
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 2:42 pm | Permalink
M Marrufo wrote:
Yuca’s Los mejores tacos y excelentes burritos ( The best tacos and much better burritos)
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 4:09 pm | Permalink
Sundish wrote:
KING TACO should NOT be in this competition. They suck.
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
Neal wrote:
ritzyp… +1.
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 4:35 pm | Permalink
Garces wrote:
Sundish you don’t know shit! king taco does not suck!!!
Posted on 31-Mar-09 at 4:45 pm | Permalink
Michael wrote:
I don’t understand why the Yuca v. Kogi face off has over 400 less votes. WTF?
Posted on 01-Apr-09 at 3:39 pm | Permalink
Mookie wrote:
Stopped by Tacos Por Favor for lunch today – mighty mighty tasty, top quality ingredients and mucho friendly staff. Huge fan of Kogi (mighty tasty too), but gotta with the classic TPF.
Party on fellow Taco aficionados.
Posted on 01-Apr-09 at 4:38 pm | Permalink
OxDx wrote:
all of these choices saddens me… when there are so many great trucks and street vendors!!!
Posted on 01-Apr-09 at 4:52 pm | Permalink
Erich Redson wrote:
@OxDx it’s a popular vote, popularity contest. A lot of the ‘best’ places got defeated earlier because they aren’t as well known. Doing a popular vote means it’s basically people’s favorite spots as opposed to the ‘best’.
Posted on 01-Apr-09 at 4:56 pm | Permalink
lovegalo wrote:
man – there are many missing. I wish I would have been on this since the getgo – but there is also Marielas, Carnes Apache in Boyle heights to name a couple. But I agree – King Taco should not be in this and neither should Cactus – they madly SUCK. Y luego Kogi Tacos?? – quema mucho el sol guey!
Posted on 02-Apr-09 at 8:42 am | Permalink
Ricardo wrote:
King Taco is OK (no limes), TPF is good, Yuca will be going there this week sometime, Kogi is good. People with there “no mames” should embrace the uniqueness of the Kogi taco. There are thousands of Asians in Mexico that contribute to Asian/Mexican cooking and just because it crosses the border it gets discounted. I don’t think Kogi should win (just not my preference) but they shouldn’t criticized based on their name, origin or style. This is what makes Soledad and Tenoch POCHOS!
Posted on 02-Apr-09 at 2:51 pm | Permalink
Michele wrote:
Yauca’s is great.
Posted on 02-Apr-09 at 4:30 pm | Permalink
Chapman wrote:
Yuca’s forever! Dora and Mama Soccoro run the best place in town. Their tacos are great, as are their burritos and cochinita pibil tamales.
Posted on 02-Apr-09 at 8:32 pm | Permalink
Kathy Godfrey wrote:
Go Yuca’s the best, my kids were raised on the beans, yum and swear by Yuca’s their absolute favorite. They are 31, 26 and 23 and Yuca’s remains a family favorite. Congratulations Mama and Dora.
Posted on 04-Apr-09 at 3:09 pm | Permalink
Mary Rodriguez wrote:
I vote for YUCAS!
Posted on 06-Apr-09 at 8:20 am | Permalink
James wrote:
You forgot El Taurino!
Posted on 15-Apr-09 at 3:36 pm | Permalink
Geoff wrote:
From here “downunder” you all, the final 4 all sound really good.
Posted on 12-Aug-09 at 9:46 pm | Permalink
Geoff wrote:
Oops – I forgot who won the battle??
Posted on 12-Aug-09 at 9:51 pm | Permalink