Skip to Content
Featured

Wes Avila Steps Down as Executive Taquero From Guerrilla Tacos After Eight Years

11:12 AM PDT on August 3, 2020

Los Angeles, California – April 23: Wes Avila, Chef/Owner of Guerilla Tacos in Downtown Los Angeles on April 23, 2020. (Brian Feinzimer)

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]his morning, Guerrilla Tacos has officially announced that its founder and Los Angeles’ most significant taquero of the last decade will no longer be the executive chef. This bombshell of an announcement in L.A.'s Taco Life comes after eight years of Wes Avila working his way up to the top of L.A.’s taquero ranks. 

Under Avila’s direction, what started as a taco cart in front of a coffee shop pushing the limits of what can be placed on a tortilla in the Arts District eight years ago grew to be arguably L.A.’s most iconic brick and mortar taquería on the corner of 7th Street and Santa Fe Avenue. The news of Avila relinquishing his post also follows the announcement of him opening a second taquería in Kyoto, Japan, and after a revealing personal essay written by his business partner, Brittney Valles, on the challenges of running a restaurant in Los Angeles during a pandemic published for Eater LA

 

View this post on Instagram

 

In August 2012, I started Guerrilla Tacos out of necessity. I only had $167 and rent to pay. Now, 8 years later it has taken on a life of its own. Guerrilla Tacos started as a cart, with just me and my Wife Tanya. Over the years, growing Guerrilla Tacos has been a labor of love. Now, I have decided to pass the reigns and step down as Executive Chef. I am looking forward to the ability to spend more time with my family. Growing a small business takes hard work, I have been the Captain of a large ship and I am ready to move on to the next adventure. Chef Jason Beberman takes over as Executive Chef and my longtime right hand man, Chef Steven Londono will continue to fulfill my vision as Chef de Cuisine. It has been a pleasure cooking for you all. I look forward to the next chapter. Much love and respect. Wes~ • 🌮 • • #guerrillatacos #LADontPlay #michelinbibgourmand #LA #bestfoodfeed #bestfoodLA #besttacosintheartsdistrict #latenight #Tacos #eeeeeats #eaterLA #Netflixfood #TheChefShow #JGold #GT #ThisIsLA

A post shared by Guerrilla Tacos (@guerrillatacos) on

L.A. Taco received numerous tips over the last few weeks with rumors about this happening. When reached out for a statement on July 20th, Valles responded with “he is just focusing on his current project and trust that the team he built is holding it down.” In the post on Instagram, Guerrilla Tacos shares that Chef Jason Beberman, formerly of Grammercy Tavern and Empellon in New York,  is taking over as Executive Chef. Along with his “longtime right-hand man,” Chef Steven Londono.

Valles continues, “Wes has been focusing on his new restaurant in Japan since March. He is still behind the scenes allowing other team members to take point.”

L.A. Taco first celebrated Avila’s distinct approach to tacos in 2013, when his tacos were featured at a street art pop-up we hosted. Dozens of tacos later, we still champion his game-changing tacos, his “L.A. Don’t Play” philosophy, and the institution he’s built. 

Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Become a Member

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Spot Check! Caviar Cakes, Champurrado Pot de Creme, Tamal Ice Cream, and Free Elote From Becky G

You can also party with L.A.'s first Black women-owned dispensary, enjoy a Lebanese legend past midnight, and pair quesabirrias with funnel cakes.

September 29, 2023

The Seven Best Tacos Along Metro’s K Line, From Crenshaw to Inglewood

The K Line is Metro's newest light rail line that cruises through the heart of Black Los Angeles, from Nipsey Square to Leimert Park. The taco scene along this route is all about hustle, featuring some of the cities must under-the-radar community gems like a historic L.A. taquería with a killer red salsa, lightly crunchy "enchilada tacos," and so much more. Next stop: flavor.

September 29, 2023

Is Hollywood’s Walk of Fame The World’s Worst Tourist Attraction?

A local news station scanned Google, TikTok, and other online reviews to cherry-pick a handful that calls the Boulevard "grubby, slightly scary... dirty, unsafe" and "one of the worst tourist attractions on the planet." We weighed in on the subject.

September 28, 2023

The Eight Best Punk Bars and Venues in Los Angeles

This may be the last generation of beautifully grimy punk bars and venues in a city that is overdeveloping all of these counterculture community spaces into the post-gentrification abyss. Go and support by buying drinks at all these places to make sure they stick around for the next generation.

September 27, 2023

L.A.’s Best Secret Ecuadorian Restaurant Opens Weekends Only at This Wilshire Blvd. Cafe

On weekends,Cafe Fresco transforms into one of the rare places in the city to find seco de chivo, llapingachao, guatita, and other regional Ecuadorian eats.

September 26, 2023
See all posts