Mega Food Fest Tacolandia Lands June 6 in Downtown's El Pueblo

It’s almost Tacolandia time. The third iteration of LA Weekly’s annual taco throwdown hits downtown’s El Pueblo de Los Angeles on June 6, but presale tickets go up tomorrow at 10 a.m.

So what can everyone expect from the seriously popular daytime event? Long lines, for one. Last year’s Tacolandia had people snaking around tents, past bathrooms and up against the chain link fence meant to keep everyone inside. Beyond that, it’s always a good idea to anticipate a need for sunscreen and bottled water, plus cash for the beer, wine and cocktail bars. Oh, and plan on not being able to buy tickets at the door — this one always sells out.

The popularity comes from the vendors themselves, which are hand-picked by Bill Esparza. More than five dozen taco makers are already confirmed for the day, with a total of 80 taco vendors anticipated overall. Big names include Aqui es Texcoco, Bar Ama, Border Grill, La Guerrerense, Guerrilla Tacos, Tacos Kokopelli and more. There are also some surprise additions, like the yet-to-open Trejo’s Tacos, plus Orange County’s Taco Maria and new mariscos star El Cristalazo. According to Instagram, even recent Watts find All Flavor No Grease will be on hand.

This year’s Tacolandia promises to be more fulfilling for the vendors as well, thanks to the Weekly’s partnership with The Vendy Awards. The prestigious street food awards program will bestow their stamp of approval on six different taco makers at the event across several categories like Best Traditional Taco, Best New School Taco, and People’s Choice.

General admission tickets are $35, with limited VIP tickets open at $55, which includes a VIP lounge, separate access, and a gift bag. Grab tickets here when they go up for presale tomorrow at 10 a.m. — just use code TACOEATER.