Don't worry, there's always a lot of ground to cover when it comes to L.A.'s stellar taco scene. We've previously highlighted the potato tacos at El Atacor #11, the puffy tacos at Arturo's in Whittier and seafood highlights like Ricky's Fish Tacos and Mariscos Jalisco. But that's just the tip of the taco. Here are 21 more L.A. tacos to try before you die.
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21 More Tacos to Try Before You Die in LA

1. Aqui es Texcoco
Commerce, CA 90040
It’s all about the barbacoa at this Commerce institution, served with just a touch of fried crunch, little cups of lamb drippings and plenty of tortillas.
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2. Bar Ama
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Everyone knows about their fried puffy tacos, but don’t sleep on Bar Amá’s breakfast tacos, which are lumbering, eggy and perfect for clearing up a hangover.
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3. Cacao Mexicatessen
Los Angeles, CA 90041
It’s almost always huitlacoche season at Cacao Mexicatessen, which means you can get their funky corn tacos whenever you’d like.
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4. Chichen Itza Restaurant
Los Angeles, CA 90007
It’s all about the cochinita pibil tacos at this popular Mercado La Paloma space.
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5. El Parian
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tender, slightly funky birria (goat) tacos can be found on every plate inside this Pico-Union mainstay.
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6. HomeState
Los Angeles, CA 90027
It’s Austin-by-way-of-Los-Feliz at HomeState, where breakfast tacos rule the morning, complete with Cuvée coffee.
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7. La Estrella Taco Truck
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Highland Park has had it this good for years, with La Estrella’s popular street carnitas and asada tacos.
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8. La Isla Bonita
Venice, CA 90291
As perhaps Venice’s hardest-working taco truck, customers line up for the mariscos and carne asada — with stewed pinto beans on the side, of course.
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9. Los Anaya Authentic Mexican Food
Los Angeles, CA 90016
It’s all about the taco sampler platter here, moving from carne asada to mole to carnitas to al pastor seamlessly.
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10. Los Cinco Puntos
Los Angeles, CA 90063
East L.A.’ers know Los Cinco Puntos well — mostly for their boiling cauldrons of carnitas, served with a side of tortillas made by hand.
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11. Los Esquipales
Sylmar, CA 91342
Perhaps the Valley’s best birria de chivo, served in steaming bowls meant to be spooned out, straight into waiting warm tortillas.
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12. Malo
Los Angeles, CA 90029
The somewhat polarizing ground beef and pickle fried tacos at Malo deserve their place, if only for their originality within L.A.’s taco scene.
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13. Metro Balderas
Los Angeles, CA 90042
All parts of the porker are at work in this Mexico City-style carnitas shop in Highland Park.
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14. Tacos Cuernavaca
East Los Angeles, CA 90022
Seek out the suadero, cecina and al pastor at this East L.A. late night truck.
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15. Tacos El Pecas
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Boyle Heights locals (and J. Gold himself) have long loved the cabeza street tacos here.
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16. Tacos La Fonda
Los Angeles, CA 90065
North Hollywood’s Tacos La Fonda trailer brings thick, hand-patted tortillas and lots of carne asada, all doused in endless salsa table options.
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17. Tacos Los Guichos
This South L.A. parking lot operation turns out some of the city’s best carnitas.
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18. Tacos Por Favor
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Santa Monica’s longstanding Tacos Por Favor is the sort of everyday Mexican sit-down restaurant that the world could use more of.
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19. Tacos Tamix
Los Angeles, CA
With thick slices of al pastor and plenty of pineapple, Tamix is always willing to give Tacos Leo a run for their money.
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20. Taqueria Emanuel
Van Nuys, CA
Cheap tacos with lots of salsa keep the Van Nuys neighborhood going all day long.
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21. Tire Shop Taqueria
Los Angeles, CA 90011
A relatively recent addition to the South L.A. taco landscape, this Tijuana-style vendor is serving up impeccable carne asada.
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