L.A. TACO is embarking on its biggest mission yet: to create a taco guide for every single neighborhood in Los Angeles! Along the way, we will also be releasing brief histories of each neighborhood to understand L.A. a little more and why each and every neighborhood that makes our fine city is unique in its own way. Check out our Artesia guide and history on our neighborhood page.
Historic South-Central is the land of tender barbacoa and a hundred tacos. Driving down San Pedro Street at night, you'll find tacos on every other block. Drive down Central Avenue during the day. You'll find just as many birrierías and other breakfast and lunch-only taquerías while the sun is out. While tacos are plentiful, from al pastor to birria, the sheeps run this 'hood.
On weekends, you'll find barbacoa on almost every main street. Some of these barbacoa makers are part of the same family. Others are from different regions. You'll likely find barbacoa on the menu if you visit a birriería or an older taco shop. But which of the hundred tacos concentrated in this neighborhood are the best? And which of the dozens of barbacoa stands are worth it?
After hitting the streets and putting my pansa to the test, these tacos stood out above the rest.
Here are the best tacos and barbacoa in Historic South-Central.