Tacos in Los Angeles

[gtc]

I'm heading down to L.A. tomorrow for a few days. We're going to some ACLU concert Monday, but what I'm really excited about is finding some kickass Mexican food. Anyone have suggestions?

Would also like to hear suggestions for Vietnamese/Korean/Persian places too.
Not really interested in fancy pants stuff this time... more interested in the taco truck/noodle joint/kebab koobideh sorts of places.

[Yorkie]

If you are up for an eclectic eating experience check out Smorgasburg on Sunday afternoon in downtown LA. About 40-50 small eateries gather in the parking lot of the produce market and dish up truly great food. Peruvian lama tacos, Vietnamese sandwiches, southern fried chicken. It's great if you like the later night lunch trick experience served during daylight. Bands play and everyone gets fat. Even a beer garden.

[look 171]

WHat part of LA? For Vietnamese, you gotta to be in the San Gabriel Valley. For Mexican, I can send you to a hole in the wall, where my workmen goes for a home style kicking butt taco and Mexican meal, Salvadoran or Peruvian too if you like. My fav Middle Eastern id in Pasadena or Glendale.

We routinely make the rounds to these places a couple times a month

[gtc]

We are staying downtown in the Ace Hotel.
Looking for something like this or this. Pasadena and Glendale could work, as I want do Mulholland and the Griffith Observatory one day.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by gtc

We are staying downtown in the Ace Hotel.
Looking for something like this or this. Pasadena and Glendale could work, as I want do Mulholland and the Griffith Observatory one day.

If you want to do Mulholland send me a PM. I'll meet you in the Turbo and give you a tour. The three of us can fit with the top down and passenger seat slid forward. I'll take you to a real-deal hole in the wall Mexican in Moorpark or a authentic Persian place in the Valley if you have time. It'll have to be Monday though.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by gtc

We are staying downtown in the Ace Hotel.
Looking for something like this or this. Pasadena and Glendale could work, as I want do Mulholland and the Griffith Observatory one day.

You really like to spend time in the toilet, don't ya?

Funny you mentioned these two places. I drive by the one on ave 26 all the time on my way home if fwy traffic gets to be too much. my escape route. Hell no I wouldn't eat there and they are only there in the evenings. I have a rental about 3/4 mile from the other place near MLK blvd toward USC. No way in hell I eat there or go there as traffic is freaking nasty going that way. If you want that kind of Mexican food, there are plenty. Go here

https://www.yelp.com/biz/guisados-los-angeles-3 I know, I know, its taco for white people, but its damn good and different. I eat there over lots of these street taco stands. That hot sauce will make you cry for yo mama. I learned to eat hot stuff over the years, but that will kick your butt. Get there before lunch because if you don't you are sure to wait. Too bad the hipster has also discovered it. I grew up near there eating at various authentic Mexican joints and holer in the wall. That place its 10 min from downtown.

Go here if you like ramen. We deal with the traffic and drive there often. Its authentic https://local.yahoo.com/info-99373003-shinsengumi-hakata-ramen-little-tokyo-los-angeles?stx=ramen&csz=Los%20Angeles,%20CA&fr=lsrp

This place we frequent often. https://www.yelp.com/biz/elenas-greek-armenian-cuisine-glendale My dad's Armenian friends turned me on to this place. Be careful with which waitress you get. Last time we asked for water, we got a dish of salad instead. She may not understand you, so you know its the real deal. That's part of the charm, IMO.

For Vietnamese we drive 35 min to get to this place. We used to live there when the kids were small. We ate there at least once a week. https://local.yahoo.com/info-205917101-golden-deli-san-gabriel?stx=golden%20deli&csz=San%20Gabriel,%20CA&fr=lsrp

When they opened up years ago, there was nothing but your typical Vietnamese folks that ate there and communication was a huge issue, so we pointed at the food at other tables often. Thankgoodness for photos. Now, its pretty much mixed as the old time Vietnamese folks no longer go there due to the higher pricing. Food its still the same.

You have to get to these places early if not you are waiting for sure even during the week.

[Noah930]

Maybe a little gringo-ish, but I absolutely love the tacos at Loteria Grill at the Grove/Farmer's Market. Not too far away for the day you'll be at Griffith Observatory. I also enjoyed the movies at the Planetarium at the Observatory; cheap ($10?). If you go on the weekends, the parking lot gets full by 10-11, and you have to park on the roads leading up to the place.

[look 171]

Its only 2 miles From the Observatory in Atwater. This place's been there for over 30 years. We used to sneak off campus in high school and run down there and back just for their burritos. Standing room only on the sidewalk. You WILL love this place. https://local.yahoo.com/info-20426345-tacos-villa-corona-los-angeles?stx=burrito&csz=Atwater%20Village,%20Atwater%20Village,%20CA&fr=lsrp

[gtc]

Originally Posted by look 171

You really like to spend time in the toilet, don't ya?

Haha... I've never really had a problem with that sort of thing, but i get your point.

Guisados looks good... that might be a good compromise for the girlfriend. I will probably skip the crazy hot stuff- I'm still rebuilding my tolerance for heat after losing my taste last year during chemo - but maybe next time.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[gtc]

Thanks for the offer. I'll see if she's up for that. I suspect we might just play it by ear though, as this thread is about the most planning we've done so far.

Originally Posted by Craig T

If you want to do Mulholland send me a PM. I'll meet you in the Turbo and give you a tour. The three of us can fit with the top down and passenger seat slid forward. I'll take you to a real-deal hole in the wall Mexican in Moorpark or a authentic Persian place in the Valley if you have time. It'll have to be Monday though.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by gtc

Haha... I've never really had a problem with that sort of thing, but i get your point.

Guisados looks good... that might be a good compromise for the girlfriend. I will probably skip the crazy hot stuff- I'm still rebuilding my tolerance for heat after losing my taste last year during chemo - but maybe next time.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Oh no, you just add fire on it yourself.

[look 171]

Stay away from Martin Luther King Blvd. there's nothing down there and it isn't all that safe when it gets dark and if you really want the street taco, I can send you to the neighborhood hole in the wall not too far away from your hotel or just drive into East LA over the bridge and street taco are all over the place. I can ask my workmen where they go for that kind of stuff. Should you get hungry at night and are willing to drive, I know of a taco truck in Eagle Rock bordering Pasadena we used to go after our nightly walk. Its about 15-20 from downtown. Damn best street taco, IMO. Open after 9pm. When we go there, we are the only non latinos. Standing room in the parking lot of a gas station only.

[look 171]

If you like something a little different, Yucatan style taco, then this place is for you about 1 mile of so from your hotel. I wouldn't walk there after sundown. I make an excuse to stop there when I go to my rental. The tacos are pretty damn tasty, different from your typical northern Mexican food

Chichén Itzá
3655 S Grand Ave, South Central L.A., 213-741-1075.

[speeder]

There are a ton of good places for tacos downtown and in east Hollywood/Los Feliz. I love Guizados as there is one DT on Spring st. and one on Sunset in Echo Park, 5 min from DT.

PM me your number and I'll get some w you. I'm in DTLA everyday, Arts District.

[tabs]

Manuel El Tepache in East La. Wabash & Soto on Evergreen across from the Catholic church. Absolutely famous in LA. Bet u can not eat a whole Manuel Special burrito. Burger Continental on Lake Street & California in Pasadena run by Armenians. Both have been around for at least 50 years.

[KFC911]

Taco Bell!!!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by KC911

Taco Bell!!!

Ya gotta have the Sesso's burrito.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

Ya gotta have the Sesso's burrito.

Not familiar with Sesso's....but I want one !
Don't know how they compare, but I've been to San Diego quite a few times....near the harbor was a 24 hr joint we still talk about regularly...it was our go to spot.....Purple Burrito Heaven is what we called it...cheap and delicious.

Santanas....on Rosecrans...road trip !!!

[Charles Freeborn]

I'd go hunt down one of these trucks:
Kogi BBQ Taco Truck & Catering | Korean BBQ To-Go

[glewis80SC]

Cielito Lindo on Olvera Street...specialty are Taquitos best in the world.