El Big Taco

The sign says Big Taco but don't let the name fool ya. The menu is massive with everything from costillas de puerco to pozole to street eats like burritos and tacos.



I ordered a couple tacos and a large tamarindo and enjoyed a complimentary plate of chips with frijoles and queso drizzled with a smokey red sauce while I waited. At first I thought that I was being bribed because I'm a taco reporter but then I noticed that the chips were free for everyone. Boy they were delicious though.



With a big cup of tamarindo over ice in one hand I devoured my tacos.They were so small it only took two bits but boy were they satisfying. The asada was greasy, juicy, and delicious. The smell of the toasted corn from the tortillas hit me first, with the smokey salsa roja nipping at my senses.



The Al pastor was just as good with tender slices of pork and carmilized onions with the right amount of saucyness and charred bits of puerco. Excellente!



Next time I'll ask for the big taco.



El Big Taco
(818) 786-9161
7427 Van Nuys Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Tacos $1 each

Los Panchitos

save me jebus!

Some people like to relax with a cold stiff drink or at a massage parlor. I like to relax by sitting at a taco truck with a plate of tacos and a lime jarritos. I can relax by doing those other things as well but this is a family friendly taco hunt.

So that's how I ended up at the Los Panchitos taco truck at the corner of Venice and Bonnie Brea on a friday afternoon. An early start to the weekend and in search of some relaxation.

I ordered two asada tacos and one al pastor. Lately I've been sticking to this formula when ordering my tacos because the best way to gauge the quality of a taco truck is to sample their best cuts of beef and pork.

Los Panchitos serves the pico-union community and does business under the shadow of King Taco which is less than 1/4 mile away. You can enjoy tacos, tortas,mulitas as well as complimentary frijoles and grilled green onions which you'll find in large tins on a table as well as a salsa roja and verde in containers packed into the ice compartment of the truck.



With the downtown LA skyline creeping overhead I sat back and enjoyed my plate of tacos. The beef, finely cut and lean went well with the chile arbol based salsa.The pork was soft and although there was some pork fat I am beginning to believe this isn't always a bad thing. You won't catch me wearing a pork fat rules t-shirt but I can deal with a little pork fat.



The tortillas could have used a little pork fat. As luck would have it they were dry and wilted.With some well oiled tortillas these would have been much better tacos. Having said that they were still good tacos but it goes to show how important every part of the taco is to the overall taste.

I'll be back to Los Panchitos to try the mulitas and other items on the menu.It's a convenient taco truck stop coming out of downtown to avoid the freeway traffic jam.




Los Panchitos is at Venice Blvd and Bonnie Brae tacos $1.25

a mini taco conquest

El Taco Movil

It was a late afternoon and the summer sun still beating down on the city when I headed west on 3rd street in the heart of Los Angeles in search of tacos. My search for finding taco truck activity was getting desperate when I realized the no parking before 7pm signs on one side of the street. I was about to try another Blvd when I noticed a taco truck in the horizon. Was it a mirage? a taco mirage? As I got closer I saw the trucks name , El Taco Movil.

El Taco Movil translates to the mobile taco. Clever name for a taco truck but my favorite name for a taco truck is still El Matador.

El Taco Movil has a full menu of mexican fare with chorizo, lengua, cabeza, asada, pastor. I ordered al pastor and carne asada and popped open a bottle of coke.

al pastor and carne asada

A counter with salsas and condiments awaited my naked tacos. I topped some onions, cilantro and salsa roja on them and took a seat on one of the chairs. The al pastor was rustic and heavily spiced and went just right with the spicy salsa roja. The roja was complex with a hybrid of chiles. I could taste guajillo chiles among them but couldn’t make out the others. The roja was one of the best salsas I’ve tasted on this taco hunt. The salsa was so good it made the tacos so much better than they would have been with a weaker salsa. The meats were well prepared but this salsa, wow it was special.



El Taco Movil 3900 W 3rd St tacos $1.10

Tacos Taluca



Next I hit a taco truck parked outside the Jons supermarket at 8th and Ardmore that showcases a large al pastor spit.
The truck called Tacos Taluca has no menu, just a large spinning hunk of pork that can be viewed through a long window.After announcing my order the cook cut slices of pork off the spit and on to the grill where they sizzled and then were scooped up with two toasted corn tortillas.


The salsa, a smooth tomato and cilantro based salsa was delicious. It was unlike the usual taqueria salsa roja and had a garlic and jalapeno taste. It went very well with the pork which was excellent. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad taco from an al pastor spit. I did find a couple fatty bits but overall these were great tacos.



8th ave and Ardmore tacos $1 each


La Tehuana



Night started to fall but I wasn’t done with my conquest of this taco-centric area of Los Angeles. I found myself back on 3rd street at a taco truck called La Tehuana . I found a long truck with crowds of people hanging around. Some were loitering and looking for handouts but most were leaning up against the back wall waiting for their orders. You know a taco truck does good business when they not only have their own customized t-shirts but they give you a reciept with your order number on it.

I watched while mounds of beef and pork smoked on the grill with the cook constantly pressing down on the meat with his kitchen tools and dicing up the finished product. There were also bowls of salsa rested at the counter with cups to take salsa to go. They had all the bases covered.


al pastor and carne asada with a liberal dose of salsa roja

When my tacos were ready I walked back to my car and sat on my hood to enjoy them. With an ice cold bottle of orange soda in one hand I reached for one of the medium sized tacos. Not knowing which one I grabbed I soon felt the sweet sensation of pork fill my mouth. The pork was tender and sweet and with the intense salsa roja and the orange soda I was in taco heaven. The roja reminded me of King Taco’s firey hot sauce. The carne asada was great also. The beef was shaved and finely cut and very tender.These were pretty big tacos and at only $1 each quite a deal.



W 3rd st and S Ardmore. tacos $1, 7pm-??

R&R



I thought my night was over but when turning left at Western and 3rd I saw a taco trailer called R&R catering. Upon closer look this trailer also had bacon wrapped hot dogs on the grill as well as a grilled onions. A table adjecent to the trailer had two different salsa rojas, a salsa verde and a guacamole salsa. There was also a small TV that was showing world cup highlights.

The tacos were small but very tasty. Both meats were tender and the smokey salsa roja and sweet grilled onions were excellent condiments. I would have ordered more tacos and tried their other meats if I wasn’t already so full.



western and 3rd, 7pm-? . tacos $1

During the drive home I wondered where my taco journey would take me next. Certainly I must head to Cheo’s , the famed taco truck in El Sereno and there is El Taquito Mexicano, Pasadena's finest taco truck and of course Leo’s tacos in eagle rock and the hundreds of other taco trucks that roam the city.One day I will climb that mountain and try them all. Only then will I be able to call myself a taco conquistador.

taco news

I was browsing the internets and came across this photo of a roasting al pastor spit.

What a beautiful sight.This photo belongs in the Smithsonian. Senor Bravo has captured the essence of al pastor.

Polar Inertia has an informative look at the taco truck business in Los Angeles. They say that LA has as many as 4000 taco trucks! Maybe I should reconsider my goal to review all of them.

Also don't forget to email the City Councilabout the new taco truck ordinance. The ordinance goes into effect July 23rd.

I might have to send some El Matador tacos over to City Hall.

Machos Tacos

Machos Tacos is a mexican food hut in the heart of Los Feliz. I’ve passed by it for years on my way to Yuca’s but I've never pulled over to check it out.

There’s some heavy taco competition in the area with Yuca’s and Casa Diaz but Machos seems to have a loyal following.

The first thing I noticed when perusing the menu was a taco called the damn good chicken taco. I of course had to order it but felt a bit silly saying the words damn good. I also ordered the chicken mole taco, carne asada and carnitas.



If you’re going to give one of your tacos the title of “damn good” it better be damn good. Lettuce, cheese and tomatoes go well with a hard shell taco but with the soft shell corn tortillas these extras are just filler. If the chicken had a strong flavor and alot of taste to it the taco could have been something but there wasn't much flavor here. I would like to rename this taco the damn waste of $1.50


"damn good" and chicken mole

I wasn’t too crazy about the carnitas either. The cubes of pork tasted off and the texture and shape of each cube reminded me of canned carnitas. I doubt this was the case but avoid the carnitas at all costs.

The chicken mole taco was interesting though. It was my first mole taco so I have nothing to compare it t. The tangy mole, mild peppers and cheese went well together and the chicken breast was very moist. I’d order this again.



The carne asada was the best of the four. The charred bits of flank steak had alot of flavor and juicyness. I could have done without the guacamole though, it was too bland and hid the flavor of the charred steak.

So Machos was kind’ve hit and miss. I’d probably try a burrito next time. There were quite a few people eating so I’m sure there is something on the menu that is attracting them all. The tacos didn’t impress me though.



MACHOS TACOS 1670 N VERMONT AVE LOS ANGELES 90027

Tacos Chatos

Tacos Chatos at one time parked in front of the public works building at Mclaughlin and Venice in Mar Vista. They've since moved to a new location in front of the strip mall that houses Howard's Bacon and Avocado burgers about a 1/4 mile east in Culver City. Their new setup has chairs and more lighting and an overall more relaxing feel.

I ordered two tacos de cabeza and two tacos al pastor and popped open a lime jarritos.


Cabeza is cow head, or to be more specific cow cheek. Most cabeza I have had has been too fatty and unappetizing. The cabeza at tacos chatos however was special. The soft velvety beef literally melted on my tongue. Some cabeza can be chewey with a strong beefy flavor that overwhelmes the taco but this was anything but . The flavor of the beef was subtle allowing the avocado salsa,and sala roja an equal part of the taco.


Squirt some lime over the soft beef and dig in, you wont find better cabeza than this.


For those taco eaters that havn't made the leap over to the more exotic meats and are interested in trying your first cabeza taco look no further than Tacos Chatos. If you are like me and your first cabeza taco was gamey and flabby and put you off ever ordering it again it's time to put it behind you and try these tacos .



I still had some room left for the al pastor but even while biting into the pork tacos I still had the cabeza on my mind. The crumbled bits of pork didn't reach the heights of the beef but they weren't bad. The avocado salsa and roja and the soft fluffy tortillas made sure the taco would be an enjoyable one.



so what are you waiting for? go to tacos chatos!

order the cabeza

for Tacos Chatos cabeza

Tacos Chatos Venice Blvd 2 blocks east of sepulveda, Culver City. Tacos $1.25

LA city council passes mobile truck ordinance

you're in violation of the new taco truck ordinance


"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, dude" - Walter Sobchak

The LA City Council has passed a draconian ordinance against hard working taco vendors. When I first heard of this I did not believe it. "Not my city" I said out loud "not Los Angeles". But it's true my friends, the taco culture in Los Angeles as we know it is under attack.

There may be some legitimate concerns with traffic and restaurant owners but this policy will not solve these issues. This ordinance only adds confusion to the problem where a creative solution would be more beneficial. This is a law that if policed effectively could put many taco vendors out of business. This is all but a ban on taco trucks when you consider the ordinance allows a truck only one hour at a location before they must move and find another location a half-mile away.

When looking at this problem the city council did not take into account the cultural institution the taco truck is in Los Angeles. The taco truck adds character to the working class neighborhoods of our fine city and many taco trucks are an extension of their communities where locals gather to enjoy tacos and socialize. These loyal taco truck patrons expect their farmiliar truck to be at it's normal location every day. I'm afraid if these taco trucks were forced to move from their location it could tear at this fabric of community. Angelenos from all walks of life rub elbows at taco trucks enjoying plates of tacos and a cold beverages. This ordinance threatens this taco truck culture.

So I ask the City Hall this...Does LA really want to lose an important part of her identity?

The future is now my friends. Either we can sit back and allow the government to chip away at the indentity of our city or we can do something about it. I urge all taco hunt readers to email city council members to voice their concerns.



Catering Trucks Get New Parking Rules

(CBS) LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved an ordinance that restricts parking for catering trucks in order to protect businesses and keep traffic flowing on city streets.

Food truck drivers will be limited to parking in commercial areas for up to an hour. Vendors must then move their trucks more than a half-mile away for at least an hour before they can return.

In residential neighborhoods, the trucks can remain parked in the same spot for 30 minutes before having to move to another location more than a half-mile away.
(more at url)

Dos Burritos

So I found myself travelling east on Hollywood blvd on my way to an important engagment when I saw out of the corner of my eye a taco establishment called Dos Burritos(technically a burrito establishment with tacos). I checked my watch and I was making good time so I pulled over and ran inside and ordered a carnitas and carne asada taco. The cook was about to put my tacos on a hard plate but I asked for them to go(I was parked illegally).

When I got back to my car I didn't have much salsa on my tacos but I dug in anyway. No big deal though cuz driving with salsa dripping down my wrist on to my le tigre shirt would have ruined my night.



The carne asada was the first to go. The meat was soft,juicy and very well prepared. I didn't have the luxury of looking at my taco after every bite to see if any gristle was present so I pretty much put my faith in the taco and well I'm a believer. There was no gristle and the finely cut beef was very tender.



The carnitas was pretty standard. The pork was soft with some crunch bits but I could have used some extra squirts of salsa roja to spice it up.

In my haste I forgot to look at how much the tacos were . They must have been about a $1.50 each because I remember the total coming to just over 3 bucks. If that's the case it's a little steep for a street taco. I'll have to head back there soon and try the other meats and actually sit at the taco counter and enjoy the tacos with a cold beverage.

I guess you could call this drive by taco reporting. I prefer to savor my tacos and take my time with a cold bottle of lime jarritos but sometimes the situation calls for eating on the run.

Dos Burritos 6364 Hollywood Blvd (between Cahuenga and Ivar)

Baja Buds

So I noticed that 8% of my readers favorite taco is chicken and that I’ve dedicated exactly 0% of reviews to chicken. So I headed to my favorite tacos de pollo establishment, Baja Buds Del Norte. Yeah it’s a chain and yeah this may be lazy taco reporting but it’s hard to find a good chicken taco at a taco truck. If there’s one thing you can count on at an authentic cali-mex chain restaurant it’s the pollo asado.



In my opinion Baja Buds reigns supreme over Baja Fresh, La Salsa and their other competitors. When I’m at baja buds I don’t feel like I’m eating at a chain restaurant where a focus group has decided on the best combination of ingredients.



The chicken is lean and chargrilled and each taco comes with one freshly made corn tortilla. Everything is fresh at Baja Buds right down to the corn tortillas which they form right in front of you before tossing them on the grill.



Intense flavor from a salsa roja could overwhelm the chicken so I prefer a pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime when eating chicken soft tacos. This may be the reason pollo is not a popular choice at taco trucks. The taco truck focuses more on meats that go well with a chile salsa and onions and cilantro.



There are great tacos all over the city my friends. Whether they come from taco wagons that burn the grill til the wee hours of the morning in working class neighborhoods or from chain restaurants that fall under the fresh healthy mexican grill banner.



11205 National Blvd, West LA
11819 Wilshire Blvd, West LA
1315 3rd Street Promenade
10850 Pico in Westside Pavilion
8575 Santa Monica Blvd W Hollywood
21801 Oxnard St Woodland Hills