Is LA's Most Famous Potato Taco Maker Gone Forever?

If you've driven past El Atacor #11 in Cypress Park recently, you might have noticed a rather sore sight: the place is all closed up, and no one seems to know when they'll be reopening.

You might be familiar with the numerically-named El Atacor #11 thanks in large part to Jonathan Gold (who else?), as the critic first reviewed the unassuming restaurant's now-famous fried potato tacos years ago. They were not only the most popular order at the place, but something of a quintessential dish in the greater LA-area taco lexicon.

The Eastsider is on the case of what's become of El Atacor #11 most recently, though, pointing out a few disconcerting fact while trying to get to the bottom of it all. First, the simple sign on the door that only reads 'Closed for Remodeling'. And yet a peek inside shows no real work being done, other than a few pieces of the kitchen pushed out of place. The phone for the place is also disconnected, which is never a good sign.

Yelp is now reporting the place as being completely closed — and as of some time earlier this year, which certainly isn't a good sign. So what gives?

A commenter on the Eastsider post seems to indicate it could be a lawsuit issue between employees and ownership, though that's very much conjecture at this point. And, as others have pointed out, there's no use asking the other El Atacor down the street; though they share a name, the two are wholly separate in both ownership and recipes, so don't expect a lot of love lost from those folks.

Got more news on what's going down with El Atacor #11? Hit the comments section below.