[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]acos 1986 has found a new home outside of popular K-Town bar Mama Lion. The month-old Tijuana-style taqueria was on the fast track to best new taco stand when its original Hollywood location was shut down abruptly after a moment in the limelight.
Now they are back – a fact I personally confirmed by doing my duty as an Angeleno and stumbling through the streets at 2 am looking for tacos.
Tacos 1986 seemed like the perfect choice with TJ-style tacos that are always beautifully smoky. The new location near the corner of Western and 6th is perfect for pre-game snack before a night of drinking or a revelation after the night comes to a close.The scene at Tacos 1986 after last call is a drunken chaos but it is one that they manage without blinking.
A woman shouts slang at Jorge “El Joy” Alvarez-Tostado as he mans the al pastor trompo like a skilled swordsman. He ends her shouting by handing her some dark red al pastor tacos wrapped in paper. At a distance it seems like everything is going downhill but they wrangle the drunken patrons quickly. After eating, each customer sings words of satisfaction and praise.
It’s easy to see the appeal of 1986. They have a brand, a look, and an attitude, not just tasty tacos. I predict that they’ll be one of L.A.’s next big taco vendors. Let's just say I can see it in the taquero elder scrolls.
When I tell this to Victor M. Delgado, one of the co-founders of Tacos 1986, he says humbly that they’re taking it one day at a time. But El Joy, who is slicing some lightly charred pork from the trompo, agrees that they’ll be huge. “Victor’s humble, but I’m not. We’ll be millionaires.”
Make sure to follow Tacos 1986 on IG to keep up with their schedule.
