La Oaxaquena: 200 miles to Tijuana, eat here

Sometimes I wonder why Lincoln blvd doesn't have more taco trucks. With the rush hour traffic you'd think that taco trucks would do quite well. Then again not everyone is as crazy about tacos as your humble taco correspondent. If it were up to me there would be a taco truck every hundred feet and I would hold an annual event called the Lincoln taco run. Each contenstant would start at La Playita and then run down Lincoln blvd stopping at each truck to eat a taco all the way to Brennan's Irish Pub.

But I wasn't on a taco run this day. I was on a bike ride actually and I saw one of my favorite local taco trucks, La Oaxaquena. So I stopped in for a few carne asada tacos.

asada and al pastor tacos

The tacos at La Oaxaquena remind me of tacos i've had in Tijuana. Each taco comes with grilled onions and guacamole salsa as well as a salsa roja on top of charred meat. As far as tacos go I usually like to keep it simple with onions, cilantro and salsa but I can make exceptions. Guacamole on asada tacos is traditional when it comes to tacos in Baja and it really works at La Oaxaquena. You get that baja taco flavor.

My only gripe with La Oaxaquena is the consistency. I've had 4 star tacos as well as 2 star tacos.I've had meat that was oozing with flavor and tenderness and meat that had grizzle and fatty bits . As a taco reporter I must point this out for future taco goers. Overall this is one of my favorite local taco trucks but by no means on par with some of the taco royalty I have already visited on this journey.

This is a taco hunt but I should mention that the carne asada burrito at La Oaxaquena may be the best Venice has to offer.

Update 12/5 Went back to La Oaxaquena and ordered the carne asada and al pastor tacos. Asada was tender and juicy. Al Pastor was forgettable.

2.5/5

La Oaxaquena is on Lincoln Blvd, one block south of Rose Ave in Venice. Tacos are $1 each, Burritos $3 each

Tacos El Gavilan: I'm lovin it

El Gavilan is a taqueria that was once a Mcdonalds. At one time there were big macs and mcnuggets being prepared were now asada,al pastor and carnitas sizzles. I salute Tacos El Gavilan for this valiant takeover and I wish more taquerias would take over Mcdonalds across this fine city. I wish I would have been present for this takeover and the day the burgers and nuggets stopped and the tacos and burritos took control of this land. A peace treaty with the mcdonalds faction probably read that the taco burger war was over but by this treaty the taqueria must keep part of the mcdonalds arches. How else can it be explained?

I thought of all this while waiting for my tacos. I might have done things differently if I was this taco general. I would have been a taco dictactor and refused to sign the treaty. But before I could contemplate it any longer my tacos were ready.

Tacos El Gavilan has quite a few salsas to choose from that are in large tin containers on the counter where you order. A salsa roja,salsa verde, and a pico de gallo as well as marinated carrots and jalapenos as well as onions and cilantro. I drizzled salsa roja on my tacos as well as onions and cilantro.


Like I've said before there are three musts to a great taco. Tortillas, meat, and salsa with some kick to it. If the tortillas are soggy it's because the meat is too greasy and the greatest salsa in the world couldn't save you and your taco will fall apart in your hand. If the meat is too fatty it can't be saved by soft homemade tortillas or a great salsa.

The corn tortillas were slightly greasy but firm enough to hold the fillings together.The meat was braised and very flavorul and the salsa roja? major kick!
Overall this was a great taco. As you can see the seasoning from the beef soaked into the tortillas which shows how much flavor is abound here.

I have undoubtedly had better tacos on this journey but there is something about the tacos at El Gavilan that makes you crave them. It may well be the spicy salsa roja or the heavily seasoned beef but I will have to return to El Gavilan again to better understand what makes these tacos so good.

3.5/5

Tacos El Gavilan is at 1900 S Central Ave, 90011(corner of Washington and Central) Tacos are 1.25 each

El Parian: paraíso asada a la parrilla

Driving down pico blvd during lunch hour I decided I'd grab a few tacos from the King Taco on Pico and Alvarado. But out of the corner of my eye I saw a sign read "El Parian" and remembered all the praise it had recieved and how much I had read about it. Change of plans, King Taco can wait it's El Parian time.

From the outside it looked divey: smoke stains on the wall, remnants of graffiti, and bars on the windows and door. Could this be the El Parian I had heard so much about? I opened the door and walked in. The inside no less divey but comforting. There were quite a few patrons seated and a friendly hispanic woman greeted me at the counter with a smile. "hola....tres tacos asada...para llavar" I said after a quick glance of the menu.

The cook heard me and I watched as he took a thick slice of raw meat and splashed it on the hot grill. Shhhhhhaaa!!! What a heavenly sound.
A few feet away a lady formed masa into discs to be pressed in a tortilla maker and then tossed the tortillas on to the grill.

When I got back to work I opened the tin foil that my tacos were wrapped in and stared in awe as the thick juicy cuts of carne asada looked back at me.

I was expecting small diced up bits of meat but what I had before me was thick strips of juicy meat naked on top of fresh soft tortillas. You could almost taste the grill on the thick charred meat and the flavor was unmatched by any carne asada I have had before . Simply put this is the best carne asada in the history of mankind.


photo jesusskateboarding.com flickr

with meat this good all you need is some fresh pico de gallo to compliment it

There's nothing left to say my friends, get down to El Parian ASAP and try the carne asada.
5/5

El Parian is at 1528 Pico Blvd. Tacos are $2.25 each(and worth every penny)

La Isla Bonita

La Isla Bonita might be my favorite name for a taqueria or taco truck. This Venice taco truck has gained it's following by serving up tasty mariscos and seafood tostadas as well as tacos and burritos.Your tacos at La Isla Bonita come with your choice of meat as well as onions, cilantro, salsa roja and pinto beans. Yes pinto beans! It's a nice touch and adds something to the overall taste of the taco. I've never asked for no pinto beans on my tacos and why should I? I'm actually afraid to find out what would happen if I did. I could get banned. The pinto beans on the tacos seperates La Isla Bonita from the rest of the local taco competition and it gives them their character. Who am I to defy this? I am just an anomalous taco reporter.


asada and al pastor

No trip to La Isla Bonita is complete without sampling their mariscos. Whether it's a shrimp tostada or cocktail or a fish ceviche tostada you can't go wrong. Especially on a saturday afternoon before a pub crawl along main st. Actually if you are going on a pub crawl stay away from mariscos and just load up on carbs with tacos and burritos.

it's Venice so you might see this guy

La Isla Bonita is parked on Rose Ave one block west of 4th St. Between noon and 2pm there is a steady crowd with workers from Main st and venice slackers enjoying the mariscos and taco truck fare. On the weekends there is a more relaxed scene with locals and mexican family's. I suggest finding a parking spot near the taco truck so you can use the hood of your car to place your plate of tacos, mariscos and bebidas. As far as drinks go they have mexican coke as well as jarritos to choose from.

3/5 for the asada tacos at La Isla Bonita

La Isla Bonita is on Rose Ave one block west of 4th st in Venice. Tacos are $1.25 each

Antojitos Denise's

After a weekend of binge drinking your humble taco correspondent was back on the taco beat. I got a report that some tasty al pastor tacos were being diced up in East Hollywood at Antojitos Denise's and I fired up the hog.

Right about now you are probably thinking " hey does this Bandini kid ride a hog to each taco stop". Maybe I do my friends or maybe I just want to embellish my taco journey but what's important is that your tacos are my tacos. This isn't fantasy land or Narnia where I am reviewing tacos that noone will ever be able to sample.There is no talking pig begging for a stay of roasting.If there was I would laugh at him anyway and say aha! you will be sizzling on my plate soon and I will eat you al pastor between tortillas you villanious swine!. What did you do to warrant such a demise pig? I will dip you in tasty salsa roja you degenerate pig and your kin will know that Bandini the swine impaler has devoured you!

But there was no talking pig my friends just a great taqueria. The taco counter inside was welcoming and I sat down and ordered my tacos. My tacos arrived on a glass plate with some chips and salsa roja. Ths is unusual for taquerias as I am accustomed to paper plates but I havn't been to any taquerias that had a lunch counter style dining area. The pork was tender and glazed, the onions carmalized and the sweet salsa roja completed the perfect pork taco. I enjoyed it so much that I forgot to take a photo of my tacos. What also prevented me from taking a photo was how close the counter was to where the tacos were being prepared. Any such photo attempts would have brought about questions. What if this is against the rules? I am a subtle taco hunter. What if I was captured for such an offense? I would be wrapped around the spit and sliced and offered for taco fare: tacos al bandini. I would be squirming there trying to plead my case like the nefarious swine I had already devoured.

But this isn't make believe. It's a taco hunt.I ordered two more al pastor tacos to go and got my photo.

Now I crave the sweet glaze of the al pastor and a thousand marching revengeful swine couldn't keep me away from some of the best tacos al pastor LA has to offer.

3.5/5

Antojitos Denise's as at 4930 Hollywood Blvd. Tacos are $1 each

Tortas a la plancha

There was a time when you couldn't get a decent street taco on the westside. The abundance of taco trucks with good carne asada and al pastor seemed to be exclusive to everywhere but the westside of Los Angeles. The outcry was similiar to those that would say that you couldn't good chinese food in West LA except the taco crowd had a gripe, you can get good chinese food in West LA.

But someone must have gotten the memo because the taco trucks are starting to put the westside on the map when it comes to tender carne asada and savory al pastor my friends. I no longer hear people say that " you can't get a good taco on the westside". Well, I do but then I get these people in a headlock until they admit that the westside does have good tacos.

But it's an understandable assumption. Lets face it, when one thinks of great taco trucks and taqueria's they think of East LA or Highland Park, the Valley,and even San Pedro. The westside of Los Angeles has long been neglected.

Which brings us to Tortas a La Pancha. This taco cart is stationed near the Mi-T-Mart on Santa Monica Blvd and Westgate Ave in West LA. This corner has seen it's share of taco trucks come and go.There was Ricos Tacos as well as Cocina Azteca de Oro. My recollection of these former taco trucks is shady at best with both experiences being after a night of drinking. I will refrain from a review on them because It was some time ago and I had one too many to accurately give a report.If you ever tune into this blog and you see an entry on how awesome Jack in the box's monster taco is you will know that your humble taco correspondent has had one too many cold ones and should be removed from his self appointed position as credible taco reporter.

As far as the tacos they have asada, al pastor, cabeza, lengua, y suadero to which you can apply to tacos, tortas or clayudas. Excuse my ignorance my friends but I dont know what a clayuda is. But what I do know is that this is a damn fine taco cart. I ordered asada tacos and the beef was tender and salted and the salsa roja spicy enough to make we want more. Next time it will be the cabeza or suadero or maybe even a clayuda.

3/5 for Tortas a la Plancha's carne asada tacos

Tortas a La Plancha is at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Westgate Ave. Tacos are $1 each.

Tacos Delta

Nestled at the bottom of Silverlake hills on Sunset blvd is Tacos Delta, an authentic family owned mexican fast food resteraunt well known to locals as a place to get cheap and delicious mexican food. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner you can't go wrong with Tacos Delta. If you are like your humble taco correspondent and like to have a few too many cold ones then there is no better place to recover the next morning than with a bowl of their menudo. Everything I've ordered at Tacos Delta has been great, whether it was a burrito smothered with enchilada sauce and cheese or their tacos. Call me a Tacos Delta fan boy. Guilty as charged.


When it comes to soft tacos I usually like to keep it simple with: meat, onions, cilantro and hot sauce. Sometimes I like to mix things up and that's where Tacos Delta comes in. Each taco has lettuce, tomato and guacamole layered over charred carne asada(or al pastor) and two fluffy corn tortillas. Ordinarily I dont like tomato and lettuce on my tacos but it really works here with the guacamole being the force that binds the taco together. Squirt some hot sauce on top of all this messy goodness and you are in taco heaven my friends. At $1 each these tacos are not only delicious but also a bargain.


I enjoy the atmosphere at Tacos Delta. After you order your food from the window you find a seat behind the kitchen in the dining area which is under a tarp like ceiling. Depending on the time of day cracks of sunlight creep through and shine on to the cactus plants and tables adorned with candles and squirt bottles of salsa roja. There are long tables with bench seating as well as small tables so if you are with a group of people dont worry about lack of seating. Or if you're just by yourself and popping in for a quick meal noone will scream at you for sitting at the big table with other people if the small ones are taken. If they do scream at you just say "hey pal this is silverlake, not century city. Go dick cheney yourself."

So my friends If you havn't been to Tacos Delta I suggest you do so. You will not regret it. Whenever I'm eating within the cozy confines of Tacos Delta I may be just yards from the frantic hustle of Sunset blvd but I feel miles away.

3/5 for Tacos Delta carne asada tacos


Tacos Delta is at 3806 Sunset Blvd in Silverlake. Tacos are $1 each

La Playita

There is a reason that La Playita is always bustling during day and night. They crank out alot of food at a dirt cheap price. Tacos are $1.25 each and twice the size of those at most taquerias . Burritos are packed with meat, rice, and beans and only $2.25. A small shrimp cocktail is packed with shrimp and topped off with a slice of avocado for only $3. Your dollar goes a long way at La Playita my friends and if you're on a budget and in the mood for a couple tacos and a seafood cocktail this is the place for you. The atmosphere at La Playita can go from calm to frantic in a matter of seconds. The line to order often trails on to the sidewalk and sometimes to the curb. One minute you're in line waiting to place your order and the next minute some kid in a big wheel is approaching at a high rate of speed with a baby carriage trailing him. I dont think I've ever been waiting in line where some kind of mechanical contraption didn't come rolling down the sidealk to break up the line. Whether it was a baby stroller or a someone trying to sell you a bicycle they just nicked from the bike racks at the Big Lots there is always something going down at this Venice/Santa Monica border Taqueria. When you pick up your food there isn't much seating but you'll find a long bench that's adjacent to the Auto Mechanic next door that will suffice.If the bench is full there is plenty of counter space to lean up against.


In the evening sit back and enjoy your tacos and seafood cocktail and be glad you aren't stuck in the Lincoln Blvd gridlock. On weekends and lunch time expect a long line but it moves quickly.


As far as the tacos two of them take up your entire plate and the beef that falls out of your taco you can scoop up with the carrots or radishes. Or if you havn't a care about how you comport yourself public-wise just use your fingers.

2.5/5 for La Playita's carne asada tacos

La Playita is at 3601 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica. Tacos are $1.25 each

El Gran Burrito

On the southwest corner of Vermont and Santa Monica Blvd in the heart of East Hollywood stands a massive mexican fast food haven called El Gran Burrito. Inside the doors of this establishment I found myself in line as patrons ahead of me one by one ordered burritos packed with meat , beans, and salsa. Your food is assembled right as you order from trays of meats, sauces, frijoles and various other condiments and from watching the people in front of me it looked as if you could have the cook put whatever you wanted in the burrito as long as it folded in the end. As I stood there watching these massive burritos being prepared and folded I forgot for a moment that I was on a taco hunt and had to regain my focus. The burritos looked so good I was pretty close to just giving up on the taco hunt and ordering a burrito but I came to my senses and ordered 3 asada tacos con todo.



El Gran Burrito also has a nice salsa bar with a salsa roja, pico de gallo, carrots and jalapenos as well as marinated tomatoes. I tried to take a picture of this but there were too many people waiting to fill their plates with salsa and I only had time to douse my tacos with salsa roja and plop a few carrots and jalapenos on my plate. I may be on a taco hunt but I always like to look after my fellow citizens. It's more important that they get salsa before their food gets cold than it is for your humble taco correspondent to get a silly photo. Actually I'm lieing. I did try to take the photo but I botched it and only got half the salsa bar and it was all because a fat kid got in the way.

how were the tacos you ask? good but not on the level of King Taco or El Taco Llama. The meat was braised and spiced with cumin but there were some fatty bits on my tacos.The bar has been raised to a high level and I dont expect every Taqueria to meet it. Some taquerias have better carnitas than asada. Some have better burritos than tacos. I will definitely be returning to El Gran Burrito but next time it will be for one of their massive burritos.

3/5 for El Gran Burrito's carne asada tacos

El Gran Burrito is at 4716 Santa Monica Blvd. Open til 2am, tacos are $1 each.

El Antojito

I decided that it was time to head south with my taco journey and acting on a tip from a reader I found myself at a taco and mexican seafood truck in Gardena called El Antojito .El Antojito is on the corner of Figueroa and 168th st on a big lot that also houses a juice bar as well as a large shaded seating area. What at first looked like a simple taco truck turned out to be quite an operation. This isn't your ordinary taco truck my friends. When you place your order you get a reciept and when your order is ready you'll hear your number over a speaker system. I took advantage of this by walking over to the juice bar and sitting under the tented patio area drinking a jarritos while I waited for my order to be called.


no sesos *phew*

My asada tacos arrived with a generous helping of veggies:marinated carrots,radishes, a jalapeno and a whole grilled onion. I love when taco trucks do this. I hardly ever eat the onion and radishes but I just like having it on my plate when I get my tacos. Sometimes I use the radishes to scoop up any meat that's left on the plate.

Right after I took this photo the onion fell off my plate and rolled into the street.

It was quite busy but my order came quickly. After the first bite I knew this taco was a winner. The beef had a nice pepper flavor to it and the salsa was smokey and mild with some sweetness to it. The tomatillo based salsa was much different than the spicy red sauce many taquerias put on their tacos but it was still very good.



Besides tacos, tortas and burritos El Antijoto also has a large selection of seafood cocktails and seafood tostadas. I was tempted to order one of them after eating my tacos but decided against it when a longer line started to form.


I will definetly be going back to El Antojito to sample their other meats as well as their mariscos. But until then another taco journey is complete and it is time to head west.

3/5 for El Antojito's carne asada tacos

El Antojito is on the corner of Figueroa and 168th St in Gardena. Tacos are $1 each.

El Taco Llama: no Llamas , great tacos

I was driving down magnolia blvd in Burbank when I saw a taco stand out of the corner of my eye. I quickly signaled and changed over 2 lanes and pulled over to park right in front of the car wash that this hut was nestled on. Before I started this taco hunt I wouldn't have been able to pull off that kind of maneuver. I probably would have noticed the taco hut only after it was too late. But now my taco vision is impeccable. I'm in the zone. The taco zone.

Mt first thought was El Taco Llama! What a name! Do they have llama tacos? isn't that illegal? I didn't want to ask so I just ordered 3 asada tacos. My tacos came quickly and I sat there in the hot sun eating my tacos and drinking a lime jarritos.


With confidence I can say that El Taco Llama have at least the best carne asada tacos in the valley. While I have only just begun my journey to sample the taquierias of the valley it will take alot to beat El Taco Llamas asada tacos. There are three musts for a great taco: the tortillas, the meat and the salsa. The tacos at El Taco Llama have all three. The tortillas have just the right amount of softness, the meat is tender and flavorful, and the salsa has flavor and kick to it. There is a smokey flavor to the meat that not many taquerias have. I definetly will be returning to try the other meats on their menu.


After finishing my tacos I pondered what had just happened. Could these tacos be better than King Taco? I unexpectedly stumbled upon this taco sanctuary and I had to gather my thoughts as to where these tacos rank with the tacos which I have long believed ruled the city. All the similarities were there with the spicy red sauce and marinated tender meat but I was not ready to confront this dilemna and decided that a return to King Taco at a later date could help appease my curiousity.



El Taco Llama is on Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood, one block east of Cahuenga. Full menu of mexican food. Tacos are $1 each

Cactus Taqueria: An Oasis in Hollywood

Cactus is another well known taqueria for los angelenos. It's a small hut on the corner of Vine St and Willoughby in Hollywood. It's open til 3am on the weekends so if you like to get drunk in hollywood and then eat tacos look no further than Cactus. If you are like your humble taco correspondent and you like to stand with the sun at your back on a lazy sunday afternoon and eat your tacos with a rice orchata and let the day slowly melt away you will feel at home at cactus taqueria.

Cactus has a heavy lunch crowd from noon til 1pm from alot of locals as well as workers from the local studios. They do pretty steady business throughout the afternoon but you wont wait anywhere near as long as you will during peak hours . At night they wheel out a salsa cart that contains vegtables such as radishes, marinated carrots and jalapenos and cucumbers as well as a salsa verde and a salsa roja that perfectly compliments their tacos. During the day time you can ask for salsa roja or verde but if you dont specify you will get verde on your tacos. I prefer the verde when I order a burrito but with tacos I go with roja. Sometimes I get crazy and put both verde and roja on my tacos.


al pastor and asada tacos

Cactus has several meats to choose from: carnitas, carne asada, al pastor, lengua, cabeza. The al pastor is tender and melts in your mouth. Try them all my friends. Tacos are only $1 each and if you're out of cash you can pay with your credit card.

While I was eating my tacos a homeless man tried to sell me a dirty lord of the rings mug. I dont know much about lord of the rings but this homeless dude knew quite a bit. He named all the characters on the mug to try to persuade me to buy it. I wasn't going for it though, I saw him pick it up off the ground in the parking lot before I ordered my tacos.

Four tacos out of five for Cactus Taqueria's al pastor tacos


Cactus Taqueria is at 950 Vine St, Hollywood 90038