Self-Deport or Stand Firm: The Heartbreak of L.A.’s Undocumented Street Vendors
Trump’s crackdown on immigration could disrupt Los Angeles’ thriving street vending industry, and in some cases, already has. Some street vendors have reduced their presence on the street. Vendors Camacho and Lopez have gone from five days a week to just vending on the weekends.
This Crispy Honduran Fried Chicken Is Harvard Heights’ Juiciest Hidden Secret
Tucked away in a strip mall on Western Avenue, this spot serves crispy Honduran fried chicken that’s juicy and bursting with flavor. Served with tajadas and chimol-topped cabbage, it’s a must-try for L.A.'s fried chicken-obsessed.
Punk Icon Shawn Stern On the World’s Best Underground Scene (and Surviving Slam Dancing in the Desert)
We caught up with Shawn Stern on the day after Youth Brigade played first show in five years with all three brothers in the lineup again. To get his insights on the how L.A. became—and continues to be—the epicenter of underground punk rock, and practical tips for surviving the chaos and camaraderie of Punk Rock Bowling this weekend in downtown Las Vegas.
The Giant Taco Hiding Under The 10 Freeway
This giant rolled taco challenges your preconceived definitions of what a taco is and is not.
The 11 Best Birria Tacos in Los Angeles
From goat to beef to birria de lengua, and even a jackfruit birria, these are the best birria tacos in L.A.
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Six Musical Legends You Forgot Are From South L.A.
While the world may be familiar with the South Los Angeles roots of Dr. Dre, Serena Williams, Kendrick, and Flo-Jo, numerous musical legends people forget come from the city's heart. That’s why L.A. TACO is here to remind you of some musical legends from South L.A.
‘Deportation Set Me Free:’ Deported Influencer Is Building Community and Thriving In Mexico
"I view the U.S. as a golden cage with many of our immigrant brothers and sisters trapped inside a system out of fear of the unknown in their home countries," says Anni Garcia, an influencer who has been documenting herself thriving in Jalisco.
This SELA Taquería Cooks Its Tacos Straight In The Fire…
This weekend, we're also pointing you, loyal L.A. TACO members, to pho brisket tacos, a secret Beirut sandwich spot, and a new noodle shop in Venice from a winner of The Great Food Truck Race.
The People of Los Angeles Can Finally Go Back to Therapy
If you are one of the 4.9 million Kaiser Permanente members in Southern California who have been unable to see your regular therapist since mental health workers began striking in October 2024, the good news is that the strike is finally over.
A Running List of Mom N’ Pop Businesses In Danger Of Closing That Need Community Support Right Now
It feels like almost every other month, we hear about a business closing its doors or attempting to stay open. To help these businesses stay open rather than report on them once they’ve closed, we created this ongoing list of restaurants and businesses in Los Angeles that need the most support. Did we miss any? Let us know which ones also need love in the comments.
Hildegardo ‘Japo’ Joya, Guardian of Raicilla’s Coastal Soul, Dies at 92
Japo had a presence that loomed large everywhere his raicilla landed, whether that was in one of Mexico’s most beloved cumbia mezcal bars, like Guadalajara’s Pare de Sufrir, where people order raicilla by name of the master distiller instead of brands they are associated with. Or in Torrance on Madre’s mezcal menu, where they still have 20 bottles left of a label Japo made for the restaurant. Like the greats in any craft, he created his own style of distilling that no other raicilla has come close to replicating.
Brisket Pupusas Bring Ray’s BBQ Back to Its Salvadoran Roots in Huntington Park
“This is a special item that we kind of gate-kept,” says Sebastian Ramirez of the giant masa treats stuffed with stretchy mozzarella, Salvadoran frijoles de seda, and hand-chopped brisket that’s been smoked for 16-18 hours on post oak in the bellies of Ray’s two behemoth J&R Smoke-Masters.
News
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.
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.
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.
Guides
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.
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.
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.
Neighborhoods
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.
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.
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).
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.
