Gracias Señor is a terrific taco truck drawing crowds in a deeply unexpected location for central L.A.'s taco obsessed—the Palisades. The black taqueria with the bright green avocado stenciled on its rump parks Thursdays through Tuesdays in the heart of Pacific Palisades, one of L.A’.s most insular, well-heeled Westside enclaves.
We’ve eaten our fair share of tacos far from of L.A.’s beaten paths through the years. But Gracias Señor’s attention to detail, personal cooking, and inspired menu thrive in one of the more unusual spots we’ve seen. Not in a remote parking lot or word-of-mouth backyard. But front-and-center in a wealthy white seaside community.
Making it here has not been an easy road for owner Rodolfo Barrientos. In 2014, he was a 25-year-old DREAMer attending Santa Monica City College while working his way up the managerial chain at Pinkberry. “Because I couldn’t go like a regular kid in the U.S., I have to work really hard to pay for school,” he says. “The truck is allowing me to continue my education.”
After moving on to a series of new opportunities, he wound up giving $5,000 to a manager of his to partner up on a food truck. Barrientos had shared his dream of starting a culinary concept with the man. Once he handed over his life savings, he never saw the dude again.