Best of 2005

Since starting this taco hunt in august I've become a more traveled taco eater. While I may not have been able to get to some taco destinations that I had on my radar I foresee 2006 being the year of the taco.

I've had some great tacos this year and I thought I would honor some of these great taco establishments with end of the year taco awards. I can only choose from taco establishments that I have reviewed so if you feel that there is a taqueria or taco truck that deserves to be on this list please let me know and I'll get to them in 06

without further ado


Best Taco Truck - El Matador
charred tasty carne asada and flavorful al pastor with a kicked up salsa roja

Best Carne Asada - El Parian
thick slices of succulent fire grilled carne asada to dream about

Best Al Pastor - Taco Cart on Cesar Chavez and Gage ave
outlaw eating at it's finest. charred slices of pork and carmalized onions

Best Carnitas - Casa Diaz
family owned taqueria with an unmatched secret recipe for carnitas

Best Chorizo - Tacos Por Favor
chorizo and cheese tacos give new meaning to the words taste explosion

Best Taqueria King Taco
still the King of the Los Angeles taco scene

Best salsa roja King Taco
makes you sweat a little and reach for that cold beverage

Best westside Taqueria Tacos Por Favor
homemade fresh mexican fare with a great salsa bar

Best westside taco truck Garcia Bros
spicy salsa verde and tasty tacos

Best marinated carrots Taqueria Estilo Mexico
crisp and flavorful...no mush here

Happy new year everyone and great taco hunting in 06!

Taqueria Estilo Mexico

Keeping with the theme of investigating my local taquerias I headed to Taqueria Estilo Mexico on Washington Blvd.

Nice decor inside with an expansive seating area would make this a nice taqueria to dine at but I had some cold coronas waiting for me at home so I ordered my tacos to go.


I ordered two asada, one carnitas and one adobado(marinated bbq pork) and filled some containers of salsa roja, salsa verde and some marinated carrots from the salsa bar.


carnitas taco

First up was the carnitas. I poured some salsa roja over the meat and dug in.The smell of pork hit my senses first as the tortillas almost broke apart under the weight of the juicy chunks of pork.I dont think I have had carnitas this soft and tender and after scooping up the remaining chunks of pork that fell out of my taco I regretted that I didn't order more carnitas. They were delicious.


adobado taco

Still had some pork to tackle though and I opened up my adobada taco. The first thing I noticed before pouring some salsa roja on the taco was how lean and heavily marinated the pork was.The pork was so tender with a glaze that was packed with flavor and the soft slices of pork and salsa roja really blended well together to make a great taco.

These guys really know how to cook a pig.


carne asada

As far as the carne asada it didn't compare to the pork. In fact it was pretty unedible. The beef was tough and chewy and the taco was a soggy mess. I got through the first taco but the second one was a struggle and I ended up scooping out edible beef with some of the marinated carrots.

The asada aside these tacos were great. The pork was very well prepared and the carrots from the salsa bar may be the best taqueria carrots I've had during this taco hunt. They were marinated and spiced just right and nice and crisp.

Another westside taqueria passes the test and I highly reccomend trying out the carnitas and adobada at Taqueria Estilo Mexico.



Taqueria Estilo Mexico 12406 Washington Blvd, Culver City. Tacos $1.25 each

Don Felix

After the holiday break(oops sorry Bill O'rielly, I mean Christmas)I was back on the taco hunt. It's funny how before this taco hunt I was always hesitant to go to westside taquerias. I live on the westside but I would always get my mexican food east of La Brea. All this time these great taco places have been right under my nose and I never had the sense of adventure to try them. Perhaps the unfair stigma when it comes to taquerias on the westside influenced me but now that I'm on a taco hunt I'll try anything and I've become a more complete taco eater for it.

So I walked into Don Felix, a taqueria on Sawtelle and Washington blvd and ordered some tacos. Don Felix is a taqueria adjacent to a carneceria and market of the same name and your able to place your order inside the market.I ordered two al pastor and one asada taco and popped open a lime jarritos and sat outside taking in the winter Los Angeles sun until my order number was called.



My tacos came with a spicy habanero salsa that made me curl up into a ball and want my mommy. After a few bites the cold lime jarritos I was drinking was almost gone and the sweat from my brow started to run down into my eyes. Emeril Lagasse must have been in the back with the habaneros yelling "bam!" because this was some intense heat. I dug through my pocket to get some change to purchase another drink and to my dismay I was out of cash. No need to panic I thought, I've got cold beer at home.But I couldn't psyche myself out, this was Homer Simpson hot pepper shit.



ok we get it you say,the salsa was spicy...but how were the tacos??

ok the tacos were frickin great. The al pastor was full of bits of sizzled pork and the asada was charred and just greasy enough. The salsa while kicked up to notches unknown to this taco reporter until now was still enjoyable. I like it when a taco can make me sweat it out a little and I'm proud to say these tacos had more going for them than that, the meats were well prepared and these were great tacos.



I was pleasantly suprised by Don Felix and I really shouldn't have been. The westside is on the map as far as tacos now. But dont take my word for it try it yourself my friends.



Don Felix Meat Market 3987 Sawtelle Blvd. Tacos are $1.25 each

Carnitas Michoacanas

The carnitas at Casa Diaz has left an indelible impression on this taco reporter. In order to put this in perspective I decided to head to Carnitas Michoacanas in Panorama city. Actually I was already in Panorama city and with my impeccable taco vision noticed Carnitas Michoacanas out of the corner of my eye.

There were a couple lunch patrons enjoying tortas and bowls of pozole but I was here for the tacos. I ordered two carnitas and two asada tacos.Any resteraunt with carnitas in their name must know a thing or too about shredded pork and I wasn't disapointed. The carnitas doesn't touch the originality and spice of Casa Diaz but it was moist and juicy enough to be enjoyable. No frills here , just your standard pork flavor but with the finely chopped onions and spicy salsa roja these tacos were pretty tasty.

carnitas taco

The carne asada had alot of lime flavor to it. The braised meat was tender and there was no gristle anywhere on the taco which is a major plus. There was also alot of meat on the taco. Some places load up their tacos with onions and cilantro but these tacos were packed with moist tender meat.


Salsa can make or break a taco and the salsa roja here really added to the taste and spice of the tacos and made me reach for a cold bottle of coke. The salsa reminded me of the salsa I had down the street at El Rincon Taurino. There were no bulls heads or matadors on the walls here but I wouldn't have been offended if there were. These were good tacos and if you live nearby I suggest checking out Carnitas Michoacanas.


Carnitas Michoacanas #2 15039 Roscoe Blvd, Panorama City Tacos $1 each

Casa Diaz

I needed to take a break from eating tacos. Dont get me wrong, I love tacos but I needed some space. I love tacos but I'm not in love with them. I prefer to play around. I used to be loyal to King Taco but since this taco hunt started I havn't been back to King Taco. I still love King Taco but I want to see what else is out there and I hope King Taco takes me back after this taco journey.

So I was in the mood for some carnitas and headed to Casa Diaz, a taqueria in Los Feliz on hollywood blvd. Los Feliz has it's share of taco competition. There is Yuca's on Hillhurst, a favorite of chowhounds citywide and a favorite of your humble taco correspondent as well. There's also a taco stand called Machos Tacos and a Dos Burritos.

Casa Diaz is a family owned taqueria with a menu of tacos, burritos, tamales and other mexican fare. I ordered three carnitas tacos and a rice horchata.


As far as the carnitas...Wow. Most carnitas is your standard shredded pork with not much kicked up flavor but this was different. The pork was juicy and seasoned and packed with flavor. The tacos also came with a light guacamole as well as a smokey salsa roja. The guacamole was subtle and complimented the strong flavors from the shredded pork just right and the salsa roja added a little bite to the taco. Neither salsa overwhelmed the real star of the taco which was the carnitas.

I can't wait to get back to Casa Diaz. There is a quality to these tacos that makes you crave them and the juicy shredded pork has changed my perceptions of what carnitas can be. This may be the best carnitas I've had.



Casa Diaz 4666 Hollywood Blvd Los Feliz 90027. Tacos are $1.25 each

the outlaw taco cart

When the sun goes down the streets of East LA come alive with taco activity. Outlaw taco carts set up on the sidewalks in front of auto shops,parks and discos and grill everything from carne asada to chorizo to al pastor. I found one such taco cart at 3889 E Cesar Chavez Blvd(corner of gage and cesar chavez)and rubbed elbows with all walks up life from businessmen in suits, to gents in cowboy hats and youths in baggy shirts and attitudes.

Al pastor was the star of this outlaw taco cart(as it is with most). A hunk of glazed pork on a spit twisted in front of a fire while the cook cut slices of pork from the spit on to the grill. The pork sizzled next to grilled onions and the magic began. Two soft corn tortillas soaked up the pork grease as the cook scooped the sizzled charred al pastor and carmalized onions into the taco and on to the plate.

I attempted to take a photo of the al pastor spit and other meats that were grilling but the women collecting the money looked at me and motioned not to do so. This is understandable considering these taco carts are illegal and probably violate every health code known to man. That's not saying any of the fare isn't fresh,it most likely is as fresh as your average daylight taco truck or more so.

I drizzled some salsa and onions and cilantro on my tacos and after the first bite I'm taken to a place I've never been before. The taste of the charred pork and carmalized onions and the sweet bite of the salsa is not one I've had . I've had my share of al pastor but this al pastor was on another plane. It was amazing.


This is what this taco hunt has been about. Finding these taco havens and becoming a more savvy taco eater in the process. Sometimes the city moves so fast that we need these occasions to soak in the night and slow it down with a plate of tacos on the sidewalk with the sound of salsa music blaring out of a nearby disco.

This is why Los Angeles is a taco town.



3889 E Cesar Chavez Blvd 90033. Tacos $1 each

Tacos Juanita's

When writing a blog solely about tacos it's hard not to be repetitious. But what makes the taco such an interesting food is that even though the ingredients may be the same(tortillas, meat, salsa) it can be interpreted in so many different ways. Since I've been on this taco journey I've found it interesting the way some taquerias choose to prepare their meats compared to others. I've had thick slabs of beef and pork and I've had finely chopped and braised cuts of meat. I've had salsas that make me sweat it out and wimpy salsas that make me yearn for that chile pepper Homer Simpson swallowed that made him hallucinate. I've had it all man but I can't get enough. I love tacos.

This curiousity towards the taco is why I stop at every taco truck and it's how I found myself at Tacos Juanita's at the corner of 3rd and Western. I wasn't ravenously hungry but I'm a taco reporter and I saw signs of taco activity.

The menu kept it simple with carnitas, asada, al pastor, cabeza and lengua to apply to taco, burrito or torta. One of these days i'm gonna give cabeza another go but on this night I stuck to asada and al pastor.

I sat back and watched the operation go into full effect as the meat was thrown on the grill and smoke billowed out of the top of the taco trailer. Tubs of condiments sat on the counter connected to the trailer and I spooned some salsa and onions and cilantro on my tacos. They also had a salsa verde and some whole jalepenos as well as radishes and marinated carrots.


As far as the taco triangle these tacos passed the test. The tortillas were firm and oiled just right and the beef was salted and tender without any gristle. The salsa had a little spice to it which was good and overall I really enjoyed the asada.

The al pastor lacked the peppery and bbq flavor that I look for when it comes to great al pastor.It was passable but when compared to El Matador up the street it wasn't in the same ballpark.

Overall it was a positive taco experience. The beef tacos were enjoyable and the salsa added to the flavor of the tacos. They're open late so after you're making a fool of yourself at the karaoke bars in koreatown swing by Tacos Juanita's for the asada tacos. Noone wants to hear you sing "Delilah" anyway.



Juanita's Tacos is at the SE corner of S Western and W 3rd st Los Angeles, 90020 Tacos are $1 each open nightly at 7pm

Rate Tacos Juanita's

Taqueria Jalisco

Sometimes taking a wrong turn ends up being the right turn. Since I've started this taco hunt I have been taking different routes home from work hoping to find taquerias and taco trucks I wouldn't normally know about. Not only has this allowed me to come across new taco establishments it's also brought a bit of serenity to my life. I'm no longer the guy that curses out other drivers on the 10 freeway.


And this is how I came across Taqueria Jalisco on Washington Blvd(3 blocks east of La brea). This taqueria has a full menu of mexican fare as well as tacos and burritos. There's no bulls head mounted on the wall but there is a portriat of Pancho Villa which ranks a close second in intimidation factor.



I ordered 3 asada tacos.Each taco came with onions, cilantro and a mild picante salsa that was quite tasty. I'm partial to that spicy salsa roja that makes me reach for a jarritos but this picante salsa had some nice flavor to it. As far as the rest of the taco the tortillas were oiled just right and firm and the beef was salted and tasty but a bit on the fatty side. There was a bit too much gristle and the trust I like to have with a taco was broken and I found myself plucking out fatty bits before sending the taco to my mouth for consumption.



In the end the tacos didn't overwhelm me but they did quench my taco thirst for the time being and I will try Taqueria Jalisco again to see if this gristle experience was an oddity or if it's a common occurrence.



Taqueria Jalisco is at 4755 W Washington Blvd 90016. Tacos are $1 each