Where do you find the best carne asada in Los Angeles? Right here.
In the smoky, tender, sometimes citrus-marinated-or-sometimes-just-salt, thinly sliced, and simply seasoned grouping of words, you'll find below.
As Mexico's northernmost state, Los Angeles is fortunate to find itself with more than its fair share of outstanding carne asada spots, even if the live wood fires that may mark the style in its most proper form may be few and far between on our streets. (You can thank local food and safety codes for that.)
In honor of our forever sunny weather that still allows us to grill outside in short sleeves on most Sundays and the meat most likely to bring friends and family together, L.A. TACO is proud to present the 13 Best Carne Asadas in Los Angeles.
El Ruso
Asada tacos and burritos on handmade flour tortillas
A Sonoran oasis in Echo Park, El Ruso packs chopped, grilled asada into supple, handmade flour tortillas, including the oversized sobaqueras you'll only find here. Load your juicy, hulking tacos up with the offered options of bean and cheese-which will be griddled into a crust-and cancel any other dining plans for the next 24 hours. It will all be worth it. Make sure to check his Instagram account before making a small pilgrimage to his taco trailer because he is known to move around every few months.
1647 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 4 - “Sunset/Echo Park.”
Perro 110
Taco Perro
Tender, smoky carne asada spills from both ends of these tacos perrónes, or “perros,” splattered in a muddle of grilled mozzarella, Peruano beans, guacamole, onions, chipotle crema, salsa roja, and cilantro. Each comes with lusciously marinaded meat served on the owners' mom's handmade flour tortillas, brought over the border from Tijuana a few times a week. If these tacos are reminiscent of the tacos you used to drunkenly chomp on in Rosarito, it's because they are inspired by that style of "taco perron."
4630 Santa Ana St. Cudahy, CA 90201. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 260 or 611 - “Santa Ana/Atlantic.”
Tacos Don Goyo
Asada Taco
This Downey taquería is a united front of CDMX and TJ-styles on freshly handmade tortillas. The asada is grilled over flame to give it a smokey flavor, then topped with guacamole, onions, and cilantro. You can also get asada fries, burritos, or sopes. - Cesar Hernandez
8502 Telegraph Rd. Downey, CA 90240. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 62 or 266 - “Telegraph/Lakewood.”
379 W. Central Ave. Unit A Brea, CA 92821
Sonoratown
Burrito 2.0
This contender for L.A.'s best burrito—and taco, real talk—shines on three strong fundamentals: juicy, grilled asada, buttery house-made flour tortillas, and creamy frijoles. But adding the option of a smoky chile takes it to another level altogether.
208 E. 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 10, 28, 30, 33, 40, 45, 48, 55, 66, or 92 - "Main/9th."
5610 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 28 - “Olympic/Hauser.”
Tire Shop Taquería
Asada Quesadilla and Tacos
Taquería San Miguel's Tijuana-style tacos and quesadillas use hand-pressed corn tortillas filled to the brim with smokey meat grilled over mesquite coals and served with a healthy smear of bright green guacamole. It’s what I imagine is served in the halls of Valhalla if Valhalla was in Mexico. Note: This family were originally one of the first in L.A. to do Tijuana-style. - Cesar Hernandez
4077 S. Avalon Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90011. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 51 - “Avalon/41st.”
El Barrio Neighborhood Tacos
Wagyu Carne Asada Taco
El Barrio is for everyone who wants high-quality, healthy meats without losing the essence of a good taco. The mesquite-grilled Wagyu carne asada uses all-natural, farmed skirt steak, dressed with light avocado crema, tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo, and cotija cheese. - Memo Torres
3500 Overland Ave. #100 Los Angeles, CA 90034. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro E Line - "Palms Station" or Bus Line 33 - “Venice/Overland.”
Tacos La Carreta Mazatlecos
Carne Asada
La Carreta has a hyper-focus on asada, it was the only carne this young taquero carried for many years until they recently added charred-crispy tripas. The heavenly smell of his mesquite-grilled sirloin attracts those who know what’s up to come from all corners of the county. It is worth a destination trip to try these tacos if you are a serious fan of asada, though get there early because he is known to always sell out, especially on weekends. - Javier Cabral
3401 E. 69th St., Long Beach, CA 90805. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 266 - “Lakewood/Flower” or Bus Line 265 - "Paramount/70th."
Tacos Don Cuco
Asada Vampiro
One of East L.A.’s best Tijuana-style tacos, Don Cuco's adobada is grilled over coals instead of on a trompo like al pastor, which they believe to be the proper method of adobada. The result is a smoky, succulent pork that certainly tastes different. Try the vampiro with both adobada and asada, basically a crunchy and meaty tostada sandwich with melted cheese. They recently opened up a brick-and-mortar restaurant in La Verne, too. It is a massive triumph for the Inland Empire for these pioneering taqueros of Tijuana-style asada...that are actually from Tijuana.
752 S. Fetterly Ave. East Los Angeles, CA 90022. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 18 - “Whittier/Ferris” or Bus Line 258 - "Arizona/Whittier."
Tacos Los Poblanos
Asada taco
Tijuana-style tacos abound along Avalon and Central Avenue. Follow the big plumes of smoke that signal that tacos are near, or follow your nose like Toucan Sam. This taqueria's tacos highlight freshly made corn tortillas assembled with chopped asada, onions, cilantro, and super-speed, before a final aerobatic spoonful of salsa is applied in the air, and a thick smear of guacamole comes to rest over its top.
5821 S. Avalon Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90011. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 51 or 108 - “Avalon/Slauson.”
King Taco and El Taurino
All-Meat Burrito
King Taco and El Taurino are the hood’s answer to In-N-Out—fast, affordable, and consistently offering quality food to their respective barrios since 1974. They're both classic late-night spots opened by the same family, two brothers who changed the history of tacos in Los Angeles forever, to be exact. To me, the carne asada is the thing here. The limey marinade rivals any taquero’s, and the salsas are probably still the best in the city. Their asada burrito 'de pura carne' is the best thing on the menu. – Erick Galindo
Taquería El Poblano
Vampiro con Asada
El Poblano's vampiro is a crowd favorite, and asada its biggest draw. Tortillas are toasted over an open flame, filled with melted cheese, asada, salsa, guacamole, and topped with another tostada, making a tostada sandwich essentially. Of all the taco options at El Poblano, asada is the draw. - Cesar Hernandez
518 E. Rosecrans Ave. Compton, CA 90221. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 125 - “Santa Fe/Rosecrans.”
4253 E. Compton Blvd. Compton, CA 90221. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 127 or 260 - “Atlantic/Compton.”
1087 E. Holt Ave. Pomona, CA 91767
1210 S. State College Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92806
Tigres Fuego
Asada Taco
This Redondo Beach taquería's tacos de asada is a standout, served similarly to a perrón, in a flour tortilla with melted jack cheese, avocado salsa, and salsa roja. Especially when washed down with a coconut horchata. - Cesar Hernandez
1223 S. Pacific Coast Hwy. Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 232 - “Pacific Coast Highway/Avenue F.”
El Asadero Poblano
Asada and Chorizo Vampiro
This TJ-style taquería came out swinging with strong grilled meats, handmade tortillas, and paper-wrapped tacos. The vampiro is excellent, especially when mixing its smoked chopped asada with chorizo. - Cesar Hernandez
181 E. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90011. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 48 or 105 - “Vernon/Main.”
Editor’s Note: Did we miss your favorite spot? Drop it in the comments!
