“Es que me sube el colesterol, mi amorcito,” by Fito Olivares—rest in peace—should be the soundtrack to the adventure we are about to take you on, but it’s all in good fun because rarely do we see chicharrón trending online. That’s right, chicharrón, which comes in different shapes and sizes and is usually made out of crispy pork belly or pork skin, is currently the newest trend hitting TikTok. And we at L.A. TACO are about to put you on some of the best chicharrón you can find in Los Angeles. From big chunky pieces that give your lips that porcine glow that no lip gloss could ever achieve, to thinly sliced chicharrón that is as perfect on a tortilla as it is in a guisado. Here are the 12 best locations to find the best chicharrón in town.
Photo by: Janette Villafana for L.A. TACO.
Chicharrón from Chicharroland.
CHICHARROLAND
Chicharroland in south Los Angeles is a must-stop when looking for perfectly crunchy chicharrón, one bite and you’ll be hooked. When you enter Chicharroland, you automatically see the collection of cochinitos (pigs) all over the restaurant. Their wall inside reads in big letters, “Michoacán, Mexico D.F., and Los Angeles,” representing the different generations of chicharrón makers that make up Chicharroland. And although they’ve been in business for 10 years, their expertise goes way back, and the owners have proof, some of them were mere kids when their families began making and selling chicharrón. The family-owned restaurant prides itself in its fried pork skin, when you turn over a piece you automatically notice the graph-like cuts on the skin. According to the owner, this ensures a crispy bite from end to end. Whether you have it on one of the restaurant's handmade tortillas with some nopales on the side or maybe you have it on its own, we have no doubt you will enjoy each bite.
Location: 4714 S. Main St. LA, CA 90037. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 48 - “Main/47th”, Bus Line 45 - "Broadway/47th" or Bus Line 105 - "Vernon/Main."
Open: Monday-Sunday, 8 AM-6 PM closed Thursdays.