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Javier Cabral

Editor 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 “Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and “Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling” (2023, Abrams).

Last Night’s Taco Stand Robbery in South L.A. Marks Seventh Similar Assault Against Street Vendors Since May 1st

“I’m not going to lose my life over some money,” taquero Oscar Lozano told KTLA in an interview.

June 15, 2023

The Best 13 Tacos in Tijuana, Available Only In Our Printable ‘Tijuana Week’ Pocket Guide

L.A. TACO started out as a DIY online zine covering tacos and street-level art. We are honoring our roots in this printable "TIJUANA WEEK" zine in collaboration with USC Annenberg that you can print out and use as a real-life exclusive taco guide next time you are there. Each taco in the list was curated to better understand Tijuana's amazing taco culture, from seafood to asada and fancy to streetside. Find the link to our pocket guide on the site.

June 13, 2023

Social Distortion Frontman and Orange County Punk Icon Mike Ness Diagnosed with Stage One Cancer

Notes of support immediately started to pour in from fans, including positive words from L.A.'s Bad Religion and Mexico's División Minuscula.

June 8, 2023

Letter From the Editor: Welcome to TIJUANA WEEK!

TIJUANA WEEK is our attempt at fortifying the taco-laced bridge between Los Ángeles (the best in the country) and Tijuana (the best in Mexico). All of this week’s following stories were written by USC Annenberg’s students while in Tijuana.

June 6, 2023

A ‘Secret’ Thai Seafood Pop-Up With Bangkok-Style Drinking Food and Natural Wine in DTLA

The enticing dishes at the reservation-only pop-up at a food court in DTLA's Historic Core neighborhood include a whole, two-pound rock cod fried until a chicharrón-like crispness, basking in an addictively savory tamarind garlic sauce, curried crab, oysters, and more.

June 2, 2023

The Recipes at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Latest Exhibition Are Keeping the Memories of Mexico’s Disappeared People Alive 

More than 112,000 people have disappeared in Mexico over the last 60 years. A new exhibition, inspired by two books on the tragic subject, is now open at LA Plaza Cocina in downtown Los Angeles, honoring some of them with their favorite recipes for flan, pozole, and other regional recipes.

May 18, 2023

Headlines: Tijuana Crossing Times Into U.S. Expected to Get Significantly Longer After Today

L.A. TACO contacts in Tijuana have confirmed that thousands of immigrants have already lined up along Avenida Internacional, hoping to be able to gain asylum and receive entry to the U.S since Title 42 is expiring today. Many have already made their way into the U.S. side and are being held up by CBP.

May 11, 2023

Where I Eat in Long Beach After Being Out of Town

From sourdough conchas you can't even find in Mexico to so many mom-and-pop-owned dank and delicious Cambodian noodles, to Mexican-inspired tiki and a Roman-style pizza that tastes as excellent as it does in Italy. This is Javier Cabral's Long Beach.

May 10, 2023

Announcing TACO MADNESS 2023’s ‘Best in Show’ and Online Tournament Winners!

After 64 taquerías in our online tournament and ten taquerías at our live event, meet your champions. It was a hard-fought win for both taquerías.

May 9, 2023

Meet The Taquero From Mazatlán Bringing His Sinaloan-Style Carne Asada to TACO MADNESS This Saturday

L.A.'s best Sinaloan-style asada specialist out of the Long Beach and Bellflower area will bring his juicy, crispy, and umami-packed carne asada vampiros, cachetadas, and roasted chile toritos to our event tomorrow. Plus, a regional Sinaloa-style refreshing agua de cebada. (Like a horchata but made with toasted barley instead of rice).