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L.A. TACO

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

Westlake

‘Look Out For ANTIFA’ LAPD Warns Neighborhood Council While Public Awaits Release of Tyre Nichols Arrest Footage

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

Featured

A beloved Churro Vendor In Downtown Was On Her Way To Work When She Was Struck And Killed By A Drunk Driver

This Latino From Glendale Is Going Viral for Transforming Cobijas Into Tote Bags

L.A. TACO STAFF

Koreatown

Koreatown: Ten Things You May Not Know About The Neighborhood’s History

Memo Torres is the Director of Engagement and multimedia journalist for the James Beard award-winning L.A. Taco. He is also the host of the Daily Memo and writes for Apple Maps’ ‘Where Memo Torres Eats in L.A.’ You can see him on Netflix&#8217;s Taco Chronicles and Pressure Cooker.  You can hear him on KCRW’s ‘Good Food’ occasionally. He was a finalist for the Ruben Salazar Award for Latino journalists and a former third-generation landscaper.

Memo Torres

The Tiniest Tamales in the World are Found in the Streets of Los Angeles

Headlines: Houseless Person In Sherman Oaks Killed After Being Run Over By An L.A. Sanitation Truck

One of L.A. TACO&#8217;s co-founders, Hadley Tomicki is a writer and editor on food, travel, and culture whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, UrbanDaddy, High Times, and many other places.

Hadley Tomicki

Tacos

The Seven Fanciest, Most Baller Tacos In Los Angeles

Holbox's Taco de Pulpo. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.

News

Headlines: Seven L.A. Chefs Nominated As James Beard Award Semifinalists

Vladimir De Jesus Santos is a Salvadoran-American “rocker foo” from Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA. He’s worked as a Cinematographer/Editor for the past decade, focusing on documentaries, short horror films, low budget music videos, and in 2019, he started his own podcast, “Ey, Foo You A Rocker?” which discusses the intersection between race and identity around extreme music in the hood. He’s interested in writing about culture, transnational politics, and his local taco spot.

Vladimir De Jesus Santos

The Ten Best Tacos In Koreatown

Headlines: Should LAPD Have Robot Dogs? L.A. Public Safety Committee to Vote Today

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