clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Bar Ama

21 More Tacos to Try Before You Die in LA

View as Map

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.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Aqui es Texcoco

Copy Link

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.

Bar Ama

Copy Link

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.

Cacao Mexicatessen

Copy Link

It’s almost always huitlacoche season at Cacao Mexicatessen, which means you can get their funky corn tacos whenever you’d like.

Chichen Itza Restaurant

Copy Link

It’s all about the cochinita pibil tacos at this popular Mercado La Paloma space.

El Parian

Copy Link

Tender, slightly funky birria (goat) tacos can be found on every plate inside this Pico-Union mainstay.

HomeState

Copy Link

It’s Austin-by-way-of-Los-Feliz at HomeState, where breakfast tacos rule the morning, complete with Cuvée coffee.

La Estrella Taco Truck

Copy Link

Highland Park has had it this good for years, with La Estrella’s popular street carnitas and asada tacos.

La Isla Bonita

Copy Link

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.

A close up photo of tacos with beans and meat on flour tortillas.

Los Anaya Authentic Mexican Food

Copy Link

It’s all about the taco sampler platter here, moving from carne asada to mole to carnitas to al pastor seamlessly.

Los Cinco Puntos

Copy Link

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.

Los Esquipales

Copy Link

Perhaps the Valley’s best birria de chivo, served in steaming bowls meant to be spooned out, straight into waiting warm tortillas.

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.

Metro Balderas

Copy Link

All parts of the porker are at work in this Mexico City-style carnitas shop in Highland Park.

Metro Balderas Restaurant

Tacos Cuernavaca

Copy Link

Seek out the suadero, cecina and al pastor at this East L.A. late night truck.

Tacos El Pecas

Copy Link

Boyle Heights locals (and J. Gold himself) have long loved the cabeza street tacos here.

Tacos La Fonda

Copy Link

North Hollywood’s Tacos La Fonda trailer brings thick, hand-patted tortillas and lots of carne asada, all doused in endless salsa table options.

Tacos Los Guichos

Copy Link

This South L.A. parking lot operation turns out some of the city’s best carnitas.

Tacos Por Favor

Copy Link

Santa Monica’s longstanding Tacos Por Favor is the sort of everyday Mexican sit-down restaurant that the world could use more of.

Tacos Tamix

Copy Link

With thick slices of al pastor and plenty of pineapple, Tamix is always willing to give Tacos Leo a run for their money.

Taqueria Emanuel

Copy Link

Cheap tacos with lots of salsa keep the Van Nuys neighborhood going all day long.

Tire Shop Taqueria

Copy Link

A relatively recent addition to the South L.A. taco landscape, this Tijuana-style vendor is serving up impeccable carne asada.

Loading comments...

Aqui es Texcoco

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.

Bar Ama

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.

Cacao Mexicatessen

It’s almost always huitlacoche season at Cacao Mexicatessen, which means you can get their funky corn tacos whenever you’d like.

Chichen Itza Restaurant

It’s all about the cochinita pibil tacos at this popular Mercado La Paloma space.

El Parian

Tender, slightly funky birria (goat) tacos can be found on every plate inside this Pico-Union mainstay.

HomeState

It’s Austin-by-way-of-Los-Feliz at HomeState, where breakfast tacos rule the morning, complete with Cuvée coffee.

La Estrella Taco Truck

Highland Park has had it this good for years, with La Estrella’s popular street carnitas and asada tacos.

La Isla Bonita

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.

A close up photo of tacos with beans and meat on flour tortillas.

Los Anaya Authentic Mexican Food

It’s all about the taco sampler platter here, moving from carne asada to mole to carnitas to al pastor seamlessly.

Los Cinco Puntos

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.

Los Esquipales

Perhaps the Valley’s best birria de chivo, served in steaming bowls meant to be spooned out, straight into waiting warm tortillas.

Malo

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.

Metro Balderas

All parts of the porker are at work in this Mexico City-style carnitas shop in Highland Park.

Metro Balderas Restaurant

Tacos Cuernavaca

Seek out the suadero, cecina and al pastor at this East L.A. late night truck.

Tacos El Pecas

Boyle Heights locals (and J. Gold himself) have long loved the cabeza street tacos here.

Related Maps

Tacos La Fonda

North Hollywood’s Tacos La Fonda trailer brings thick, hand-patted tortillas and lots of carne asada, all doused in endless salsa table options.

Tacos Los Guichos

This South L.A. parking lot operation turns out some of the city’s best carnitas.

Tacos Por Favor

Santa Monica’s longstanding Tacos Por Favor is the sort of everyday Mexican sit-down restaurant that the world could use more of.

Tacos Tamix

With thick slices of al pastor and plenty of pineapple, Tamix is always willing to give Tacos Leo a run for their money.

Taqueria Emanuel

Cheap tacos with lots of salsa keep the Van Nuys neighborhood going all day long.

Tire Shop Taqueria

A relatively recent addition to the South L.A. taco landscape, this Tijuana-style vendor is serving up impeccable carne asada.