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Javier Cabral

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

Womanizer-Killing Demons and Pulque: A Look Into Horror Nights’ Popular Latino-Inspired Maze

What does it take to bring a culturally accurate "haunted house" to L.A.’s best Halloween attraction at Universal Studios? Hint: Diego Luna, Danny Trejo, and a morbid curiosity for the macabre side of Latin America’s pre-colonizer history.

September 18, 2023

Our Birriamania Event Is Back, And You Have One Day Left For a Discount

We are hosting our 2nd annual BirriaMania! On September 30th at Santa Anita Park! This event will be all ages and every ticket goes towards supporting our tiny independent newsroom. Come try L.A.'s best birrieros, both beef and chivo versions will be available, of course.

September 14, 2023

One of L.A.’s Oldest Mexican Restaurants, Olvera Street’s La Golondrina Café, Faces Eviction

The future of Olvera Street as a tourist destination has been in jeopardy since the pandemic, with reduced foot traffic and tens of thousands of back rent owed by concerned tenants there, who have all reported lower sales from both restaurants and merchandise.

September 14, 2023

The 14 Best Carnitas Tacos in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County is a porker's paradise. 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 handmade corn tortillas, too.

September 12, 2023

Border X Asked To Pay Almost $100,000 In Rent In ‘3 Day Or Quit’ Notice From Landlord, Beer Thug Taking Over

Last week, Border X Los Angeles posted an update on Instagram stating that they were closed due to a "legal situation with an illegal tenant." Edgar Preciado, the founder of Beer Thug Brewing Co. and only other tenant in the shared brewery has provided a statement addressing the situation.

September 5, 2023

Legendary L.A. Graffiti Icon TEMPT ONE Dies At 54

TEMPT ONE was an iconic graffiti artist whose hand styles first harmonized the precision of Chinese calligraphic lines with the boldness of classic serif Los Angeles "cholo" letters. L.A. TACO has confirmed that he has passed away at the age of 54 after fighting ALS for 20 years.

September 1, 2023

The 11 Best Restaurants In East Long Beach

Thai pizza, Cambodian-Cajun seafood, carne en su jugo, and Lao sausage. The diversity of these restaurants speaks volumes as a reflection of the vibrant, diverse community that surrounds it.

August 15, 2023

These New Sonoran Beef Rib Asada Tacos In Whittier Are Changing L.A.’s Asada Culture

The family-owned truck is hidden deep in Whittier and also make paper-thin handmade flour tortillas for all their tacos and burritos, which is also a rarity in L.A.'s Taco Life. Everything on their menu is done well, from their strawberry horchata to their velvety beans.

August 10, 2023

Latino-Owned Pioneering Beer Bar In Boyle Heights Xelas Is Closing Due to Landlord Dispute

Xelas opened in 2018 and quickly found an audience in Boyle Heights for its engaging beer menu and accessibility. The couple behind the beer bar aim to be back at another location "stronger and more vibrant than ever."

August 8, 2023