In 2025, amid the devastation of raging firestorms and violent ICE raids, it sometimes felt like L.A.'s only bright spot was the city's taco obsession.
That endorphin rush from that first big bite of a new taco you've been wanting to try? That kept us going.
This year introduced many new, life-affirming tacos to Los Angeles, along with a deeper appreciation for local legends who stepped up to feed first-responders and those who fearlessly kept their doors open to feed their communities despite masked, armed federal officials kidnapping their customers in broad daylight.
Whether it’s the taco stand a block away that you walked to because that’s all you had the energy for after a hard day's work, a traffic-clogged trek across the city to a tried-and-true weekend classic, or simply when you've rolled the dice on a new spot you caught wind of—tacos fuel Los Angeles. Our world-renowned taco life is the one constant blessing everyone can share in our fine city and no administration can ever take that away.
This year’s openings emboldened our claims of being the best taco city in the country, as ever more regional styles commanded the respect they deserve. Meanwhile, hard-working immigrants continue to hustle their way into features in North America's "50 Best List," Michelin star rankings, fevered media profiles, and the hearts of L.A. foos everywhere ... while being hunted on the street by allegedly federal officials.
This marks the second consecutive year in which L.A. TACO is ranking our list of the city's best tacos. This annual, members-only guide is also dedicated to our loyal supporters who have had our back, from the week when we near shut down last year to this past summer's rush of international press. Every time you buy a shirt from us, take the time to read a story we wrote, share a post from our Instagram account, or just shout us out from your car and high-five us when walking down the street, your enthusiasm for our taco-fueled indie journalism means the world to us.
And sure, you can be as mad as you want about the rankings. Our newsroom cracked open a few cold ones and had to slug it ourselves, with not a staffer left unscathed. But as the city's only James Beard Award-winning publication led by editors who were raised in Los Angeles, who understand the taco life because we live it every day, we are prepared to defend our rankings in a dark alley if need be.
Our ranking criteria considered the quality of meats, tortillas, produce, and salsas, regional representation or originality, consistency, and accessibility; in that order. A certain X factor also went into play. Every year we set the bar higher. This year in particular, tortilla quality played an even more important role because it is 50% of a taco.
While tacos are one of the most democratic and working-class foods, they can also be ephemeral and sophisticated—dictated as much by what’s in season as how things were done in the hometown of one's mother, depending on the taco. We took everything into account. The taco is a many-faced god, after all. Catch us in the streets!
