ere is what is going on in our tortilla-fueled city and some new spots to support this weekend.
Macheen is Back
Here’s a crazy fact, the tacos that won this year’s Taco Madness have not seen the streets since the stay-at-home orders were given before Taco Madness. We know! We all miss Macheen’s tacos! Chef Jonathan Perez of Macheen has been busy building a fantastic menu of Japanese-inspired tacos for Bar Hermanito, but he tells L.A. Taco that he misses his tacos too. And now, he’s ready to hit the streets again. This weekend he’ll be on the meme-on-wheels known as On The Go LA, the ‘hood-famous rent-a-taco truck that cruises through neighborhoods like an ice cream truck. Look for him this Saturday roaming through Boyle Heights starting at 11:00 am. 
Teddy Expands, Again, This Time To East L.A.
Last Tacowire, we brought the news that Teddy’s Red Tacos had opened up a new location in Downey. This week, the streak continues with his fifth location opening up at 6438 Whittier Boulevard in “East L.A.” But is it really in East L.A? Our resident east-los raised foos Erick Huerta and Javier Cabral assert that it’s actually Montebello and not in East L.A., despite what official maps and resident brilliant person Erick Galindo says. Anyone still have a Thomas Guide handy? But whatever! Point is, when you’re sitting there enjoying a warm consomé with some birria-stained toasted tortillas in a brisk outdoor patio with a scenic view of Whittier Boulevard, remember to post a picture and tag @theglutster, @elrandomhero, and @lataco and tell us what city you’re in.
6438 Whittier Boulevard, East Los Angeles
Mr. Menudo Opens a Third Location
The Compton father and son duo are bringing their velvet-smooth, cruda-curing menudo to Whittier and East L.A., and by East L.A., I’m referring to the undisputed part of East L.A. (See Teddy’s above). Find them Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:00 AM until sell out for the morning-after cure, or Friday’s after 5:00 PM for some soul-replenishing comfort food to regenerate yourself after what was likely another inebriating week of reality. Don’t forget to take your cazuela so you can bring a pot back home for the fam.
5646 Whittier Blvd, East LA
8000 Pioneer Blvd, Whittier
15323 Atlantic Ave, Compton
HomeState and Chicano Batman Team Up For Two Non-Profits
How about this next unlikely string of random words: Flour tortilla champs, HomeState, and psychedelic indie funk-rock music artists, Chicano Batman, team up to create a vegan Texas breakfast taco to raise funds for the Watts Empowerment Center for youth and No Us Without You who feeds undocumented kitchen staff and their families. It’s part of a five-year-old program by HomeState called Band Tacos, which raises money for community organizations by creating limited-time taco collaborations with popular music bands to support local causes. For this cause, the band built a vegan taco using soyrizo, potatoes, guacamole, and opted to skip HomeSate’s tournament-winning handmade flour tortillas and elected to use Kernel of Truth Organics corn tortillas instead for this taco. It’s a rare intersection of L.A. favorites, down to the tortilla, and all in support of the Watts Empowerment Center and No Us Without You! They will be receiving all proceeds from this taco.
Tamales Elena y Antojitos Opens In Bell Gardens
Sweet and spicy lengua with plantains, mole verde served with tamales nejos (unfilled tamales) instead of tortillas, banana leaf wrapped tamales, and red, green, white and vegan pozoles garnished with chicharrones, queso fresco, and avocado in addition to your typical toppings. It’s a unique Afro-Mexican cuisine from La Costa Chica in the Mexican state of Guerrero that Chef Maria Elena Lorenzo and her daughters will be serving in Bell Gardens beginning this upcoming Wednesday, “making it perhaps the only restaurant of its kind in the United States” according to Bill Esparza in his latest feature for Eater. Oh, and it has a drive-thru!
Tamales Elena y Antojitos: 8101 Garfield Avenue, Bell Gardens, CA 90201
