Post-Punk Rising Star Depresión Sonora on L.A. Culture Shock and Tacos
L.A. TACO caught up with Madrid’s rising post-punk crooner over tacos de pulpo on Sunset Boulevard. We talked about the critical differences in the tacos in L.A., Spain, and Mexico, his favorite cheeseburger in Los Feliz, and a new album out soon.
Baekjeong KBBQ Brings Its Star Galbi Back to Koreatown
While a pop-up in East Hollywood offers Nigerian and Kenyan influences in dishes like rosemary lamb suya and short rib biriyani, and Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer bring brisket to an L.A. mall.
City of L.A. Quietly Abandons Plans To Expand Electric Car Share Program To South L.A.
BlueLA shut down last month after the city received a multi-million dollar grant to expand the car share service into South Los Angeles.
The Original Pantry Cafe Lives Again at This East Los Taquería
If you ever dreamed of having Original Pantry's breakfast with a full salsa bar on the side, your dreams have just come true. This East L.A. taquería is giving a new home to Original Pantry Cafe workers after the century-old diner’s lamented closure.
The Seven Best Tacos in Azusa
In Azusa, you'll mostly find CalMex and the simple joy of traditional taquería fare. But there are a few glorious outliers involving mole negro, fried quesadillas, and stewed spicy pork leg. Here's where to go.
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Little Tokyo’s Japanese American National Museum Stood Up For DEI, Then Lost Funding
Like many museums across the country, JANM has recently been targeted by the Trump administration. After receiving a letter saying that their programs do not align with the current administration’s goals, their funding was cut by $1.7 million (with an additional $5 million still in limbo).
Casamigos and Don Julio Cited In Massive Lawsuit Over Adulterated Tequila
The lawsuit filed by three plaintiffs in the United States District Court Eastern District of New York allege that Diageo is "falsely marketing its highly popular tequila brands and selling adulterated tequila to consumers.”
Bite This: Modern Indian Restaurant’s ‘Avocado Burrata Chaat’ Links the Obsessions of California and India’s Streets
The dish is a take on the tangy-savory highlights and varied textures of an Indian chaat, using two of California's favorite ingredients.
Iconic Virgil Village Pink Trumpet Trees Illegally Trimmed ‘Beyond Recovery’
The trumpet trees were picked by a coalition of Mexican, Salvadoran, Filipino, Japanese, Black, and Ukrainian residents for their sturdiness and colorfulness. Some of the trees were even given names.
The Eight Best Cemitas Poblanas In Los Angeles
Named after the type of bread they are made from—a giant, egg-enriched sesame bun—a cemita is like the torta's cousin from Puebla. It comes stacked high with milanesa, pápalo, quesillo, avocado, chipotle paste, and pickled jalapeño. Here's where to find the best ones from East L.A. to The Valley.
Announcing the Winners of TACO MADNESS 2025!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted and attended TACO MADNESS 2025 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on Saturday night! Your passion for tacos and true independent journalism made this event successful, not just for our taqueros (many of whom closed their shops to be there!) but also for our tiny newsroom. This event directly supports us and helps us keep going financially and morally.
Revisiting ‘Mi Familia’ and the Main Filming Location In Boyle Heights 30 Years Later
Boyle Heights has changed since Gregory Nava filmed 'Mi Familia' 30 years ago, and gentrification threatens the neighborhood’s very essence. Unchangeable, however, is the commanding presence of the concrete viaduct at 4th and Lorena where he shot most of the iconic film.
News
L.A. Dispensary Owners Say Excessive Permit Fees Are Pushing Them Out Of Legal Market
Speaking in solidarity with social equity licensees, Catalyst Cannabis CEO Elliot Lewis said the Department of Cannabis Regulation has “done nothing to earn the tax money of this industry. The [social equity] program is an abject failure.”
Westlake’s Oldest Gay Bar Launches GoFundMe to Raise Funds For Relocation Costs
This unforeseen situation has put us in a precarious position, and we urgently need your help to relocate and continue our mission of serving the community that has supported us for so many years,” Vasquez wrote.
Ozempic Sponsoring the L.A. Olympics? Who’s Behind This Billboard In Echo Park?
And what does it mean?
Cop’s Daughter Seeks Justice For Fatal LAPD Shooting of Her Husband Holding a Plastic Fork
“The same institution that he was murdered by is the same institution that he was married into,” Alex Smith said. “If this is something that can happen to a cop's daughter, this can happen to anyone.”
Guides
The Eight Best Latino-Owned Coffee Pop-Ups Serving Labubu, Gansito, and Duvalín Lattes From Their Front Yards
Beyond the specifics behind the perfect pour, a high-quality bean, and a great aroma, coffee is about community, the people who serve it, and the people we share it with.
The 15 Best Carnitas Tacos in Los Angeles
We scoured every corner to bring you the most melt-in-your-mouth, sticky, slow-cooked carnitas all over. These are some of the best cazuela players in Los Angeles, including a handful that make their own handmade corn tortillas, too.
The 4/20 Guide to Underground Parties and Events to Celebrate Cannabis Culture In L.A.
A free music festival, workshops on how to grow your own herb, and other underground things happening around town to celebrate this year's 4/20!
The 20 Best Chilaquiles in Los Angeles
Chilaquiles are L.A.’s unofficial brunch dish, dotting almost every breakfast menu, no matter the restaurant. However, contrary to popular belief, chilaquiles are NOT "breakfast nachos." They also don't necessarily work with just any salsa and a bag of totopos (tortilla chips). We found the best ones for you to try, from Pico Rivera to West Adams.
Neighborhoods
This Brazilian Barbecue On Wheels Makes The Best Picanha Sandwiches In L.A.
These slider-sized sandwiches are served five to an order for $16. Built on a split bun of pão de queijo, each contains a single wedge of picanha sliced perfectly to fit inside, slicked with a garlicky aioli and churrasco’s chunky longtime companion, the salsa known as molho a campanha.
Starting Friday, You Can Finally Get King Taco On L.A.’s Westside
But it may not be exactly what you think, as the chain's lengua-covered nachos and esteemed salsa roja will be living with the likes of Gywneth Paltrow's Goop Kitchen.
Remembering the Whittier Man Who Taught Us to Sip, Not Shoot, Tequila
Everyone laughed when Tomas Estes first preached about tequila having terroir in the 70s, just as much as a French wine. Today, the premium "single estate" tequila this Whittier kid co-founded is one of the best-selling and smoothest in the world.
From Highland Park to High-End Steakhouse: How a Linebacker From Franklin High Became the Master of Mastro’s
L.A.-born Walter Mayen worked his way up in the kitchen, from shucking oysters to running one of the most legendary steakhouses in the country. And even has the scar to prove it.
