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L.A. TACO

Brenda Nicolas is Zapoteca born and raised in Los Angeles. She is also Assistant Professor in Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) whose research looks at Oaxacans in California and Oaxaca, Mexico.

Brenda Nicolas

Food

Meet the Indigenous Mujeres From Oaxaca Cooking Tlayudas for Struggling Families in Mid-City

Multimedia journalist covering everything under the sun. 562 born and raised. News editor for Talon Marks.

Daniel Suarez

Tacos

Neighborhood Taquería Spotlight: The Buttery Tacos Al Vapor at ‘Tacos Estilo Guadalajara’ in Downey

Lexis-Olivier Ray is an award-winning staff investigative reporter for L.A. TACO known for holding powerful people in Los Angeles accountable and his reporting on Los Angeles culture. As well as an artist and filmmaker. In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists&#8217; Los Angeles chapter named Ray one of their &#8220;distinguished journalists.&#8221; In 2023, Ray won a second place Anthem Award in their Health Innovation category for a texting service geared towards the unhoused community and service providers that he launched in 2021 with L.A. TACO and Subtext. Ray was a 2020 USC Center For Health Journalism (CHJ) Data Fellow. As well as a 2022 CHJ Impact Fellow. As a freelancer, Ray has contributed to the L.A. Times, Men&#8217;s Health Magazine, KCET and SFGATE.

Lexis-Olivier Ray

Featured

Garcetti Said That L.A.’s Hand-Washing Stations for the Homeless Were Regularly Refilled, Records Obtained Show Otherwise

I document Los Angeles. I walk the streets religiously trying to expose every alley, avenue, and crack the sidewalks have to offer.

Kemal Cilengir

Photo Essay

‘Guns Down, Squabble Up:’ L.A.’s Underground Fight Club Continues to Provide Gang Members An Alternative to Squashing Beef

Astrid is a Salvadoran-American poet and writer based in Los Angeles.

Astrid

Eat This Black-Owned Vegan Taco to Help Build South Central’s First Organic Grocery Store

Professional punk and Editor-In-Chief for James Beard Award-winning L.A. TACO. Associate Producer for JBA-winning Las Crónicas Del Taco. Former restaurant scout for Jonathan Gold. Co-author of &#8220;Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and &#8220;Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling&#8221; (2023, Abrams).

Javier Cabral

Watch Matty Matheson and Benny Blanco Lose Their Minds After Eating L.A.’s Best Tacos (and Ceviche)

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Janette Villafana

He Got a Ticket From the Police He Called to Protect Him, Then Long Beach Had This Street Vendor’s Back

Meet Eric Eztli, The SELA Community Leader Throwing Open Mics In His Childhood Home

Capital & Main

Troubled South L.A. Oil Well Site Remains A Danger To Locals

Cesar Hernandez is Lynwood&#8217;s second best export behind Weird Al, and a writer and podcaster. Illustration by Tommy Gallegos.

Cesar Hernandez

Hotbox Burgers: Made For The Community By The Community

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