So there you are facedown in bed on a Sunday morning with a raging headache, eyes with the light-sensitivity of Nosferatu, and a stomach feeling like you chugged a couple pitchers of Buchanan's.
If you search the internet for help, you’ll probably come across lists suggesting that the best cure for a hangover is to prevent from drinking so much in the first place. What?! Let’s face it, while some of the remedies may offer some relief, others (like limiting your booze intake) make no sense, and none are more instantly satisfying than the offerings from the places listed below – in no particular order:
Tortas Ahogadas El Rey (Lynwood) – Carne en Su Jugo
At El Rey, you’ll find some fantastic tortas ahogadas but for a hangover cure, suppress your desire for tortas and get the carne en su jugo. The owner told L.A. Taco that he prepares the dish based on what he ate in his childhood, and that all the pieces are prepared separately. Once it’s served is when all the elements go in: the beefy green consomé, bacon, beans, carne, and his secret weapon: potatoes. The added starch is welcomed after a long night out. This dish is sure to bring you back from the deepest depths of a hangover. – Cesar Hernandez
3100 Imperial Hwy, Ste B1-3001, Lynwood, CA 90262
Tacos Estilo Guadalajara (Lynwood) – Tacos al Vapor
Tacos Estilo Guadalajara has been serving some of the best tacos al vapor for the better part of this decade. These are made with no grease so they are a healthier hangover alternative. When you order, you’ll see the plastic stretched over a vaporera. When the taquero pulls the plastic up a cloud steam shoots up as he assembles a taco. Often times your order will be ready before you finish paying. What makes Estilo Guadalajara special is perfect balance of meat and tortilla. The meats are cooked to velvety perfection. They offer a simple menu with typical sides, radishes, limes, cucumber, and two sauces, habanero and green. But everything works to make a better dining experience. Afterward, you’ll understand the spiritual power of a taco al vapor. – Cesar Hernandez
10733 Long Beach Blvd, Lynwood, CA 90262
Tirsa’s (Downtown L.A.) – Chile Relleno Burrito
Tirsa's the Grand Relleno is a chile relleno burrito that you can get smothered in multiple salsas. The Grand Relleno concoction sounds insane, but actually when you bite into it, the perfectly prepared chile relleno is just nonchalantly chilling there, as if it always belonged inside a flour tortilla. The chile relleno is both crispy on the outside and soft with melted queso fresco on the inside, along with beans, rice, tomato, onion, and guacamole. The fresh flavors dance together, and it's delightful. - Mariah Castañeda
701 W Cesar Estrada Chavez Ave Space 108, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Buil Samgyetang (Koreatown) – Samgyetang
Samgyetang is soup made from a young whole chicken stuffed with healthy ingredients such as glutinous rice, red dates, ginseng and garlic. It’s usually served still boiling in an individual pot called a dolsut which helps retain the soup’s heat. The whole idea is to eat it while it’s hot, to fight fire with fire. I know because I lived in South Korea on and off for about 20 years, and ate samgyetang more times than I can count. Buil Samgyetang has but one thing on the menu, chicken ginseng soup, for those after the hardcore chicken ginseng soup experience. - Philip Iglauer
4204 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Mian (San Gabriel) – Chendu Zaijian noodles
If there is any food that is the perfect recipe for a hangover cure it is sichuan food. The cuisine is meant to burn and it will make you sweat all the cheap liquor out. Mian serves some of the finest dishes but the noodles with minced pork is one of the best in L.A. These spicy noodles are kind of food your body demands. Take one of these and call us in the morning. Added bonus: they provide complimentary tea. - Cesar Hernandez
301 W Valley Blvd #114, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Tacos El Primo (South Central) – Birria Tacos
El Primo has an elaborate process to breakdown the beef. The taquero takes the macsisa and chops slices off while intermittently ladling in their phenomenal consomé, to add some extra moisture (and flavor). The tostaditas are a small botana that are flavor and texture bombs and the tacos are just as magical. This all has to do with the balance of flavors that goes into their birria. Not too spicy but perfectly spiced, it stays true to the flavor profile of your mom’s or tia’s or abuela’s best birria. The elements come together in a symphony of flavor. Seconds are a must. - Cesar Hernandez
Hooper & 23rd St., Central Alameda
Mariscos El Bigoton (Commerce) – Pastelazo
Mariscos El Bigoton's pastelazo is a cake-shaped tower made of ceviche, shrimp, octopus, aguachile, scallops, and avocado slices as the frosting. The cake is served on a liquid bed of soy-infused consomé and surrounded by whole boiled shrimp. It’s basically a masterpiece on styrofoam. And that’s mainly because of the freshness of the aguachile, and the way the whole package comes together when you cut the cake with a tostada starting from aguacate, and down to scoop up the juguito from the plate. It’s hearty, like you’re biting into a steak made of ocean. - Erick Galindo
5458 Whittier Blvd, Commerce, CA
Chori-Man (San Pedro) – Chorizo Burrito
When you aren’t trying to use a fork and knife for breakfast, order your hungover, insert-coin-to-continue-having-ass a freshly made Chori-Man burrito and a chorizo taco for good measure. Whether it’s his red Zacatecano-style or green Tolucan-style chorizo, you simply can’t go wrong by ordering breakfast from fourth-generation chorizo maker Humberto Raygoza’s in San Pedro. The perfectly griddled burritos he serves hungry crowds every Saturday morning are loaded with artisanal chorizo, fried eggs, seasoned potatoes, pickled red onions, and a mozzarella-provolone cheese blend. Yes, this exists at a food stand in your city and if you haven't been yet, what have you been waiting for? - Gabriel Carbajal
2309 S Alma St, Los Angeles, CA 90731
Aqui Es Texcoco (Commerce) – Lamb Barbacoa
Slow-cooked lamb barbacoa, along with a bowl of rich consomé and a stack of warm corn tortillas serves as the perfect meal to help recover from even the most brutal hangover. The barbacoa is first covered in maguey leaves then cooked for hours in stainless steel ovens engineered by owner and barbacoa expert, Francisco “Paco” Perez. He designed these custom ovens to duplicate the same level of tenderness and flavor of the barbacoa from Texcoco, Mexico and surrounding Central Mexican states--which is traditionally cooked in underground pit-ovens. What ends up being served to your hungover ass is an order of succulent, fall-apart tender barbacoa –a dish typically reserved for breakfast on weekends in Mexico. - Gabriel Carbajal
5850 S Eastern Ave, Commerce, CA 90040
Balam Mexican Kitchen (Lynwood) – Menudo
This taco joint in Lynwood offers a wide variety of fusion tacos ranging from carnitas with Asian-style slaw to Korean asada tacos with grilled bulgogi sirloin, to their popular Tropical T taco with coconut shrimp, mango-banana pico de gallo, served on a crisp, refreshing hibiscus root tortilla.
However, it’s their menudo (served on weekends only) that’ll help combat that nasty hangover. The piping hot red-chile beef stew is loaded with heaps of perfectly cooked tripe, and also comes with a rich, gelatinous tendon and marrow-loaded pata de res. Be sure to add all the fixings (dried oregano, red chiles, lime, chopped onion) to get the full benefits of a well-balanced, fully-loaded bowl of menudo. They’ve got an open patio with a cool breeze always flowing, which might also help in getting you to snap out of that brain fog state of mind. - Gabriel Carbajal
11700 Long Beach Blvd, Lynwood, CA 90262
Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen (Bell Gardens) – Chilate de Pollo
The addictingly spicy Oaxacan chicken soup that’s thickened with masa and cooked with epazote will restore your life energy almost immediately. The soft, pillowy handmade tortillas that accompany this dish are just as magical. Chef Rocio Camacho’s extensive list of Mexican specialty dishes like enmoladas, enchiladas placeras, enfrijoladas and empanadas are extremely tempting, but for hangovers, go with the Chilate de Pollo. - Gabriel Carbajal
7891 Garfield Ave. Bell Gardens CA 90201
Calo Provisions (Whittier) – Pozole Verde
Chef Ted Montoya is bringing an elevated version of pozole to the people of L.A. with a vast array of toppings made available for optimal customization which include: a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg, roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), queso fresco, pickled red onion, black garlic oil, radishes and homemade hot sauces. Montoya, who has previously worked at Eggslut (back in the truck days) and Corazon y Miel, offers both red and green pozoles with your choice of shredded chicken, pork, or both. If you aren’t trying to settle for a mediocre breakfast, order this next-level pozole. It’s exactly what your body needs after a night of partying. - Gabriel Carbajal
10413 Orr and Day Rd, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Coni’Seafood (Inglewood) – Aguachile de Camarón
What can be said about Coni’Seafood that hasn’t been said already? This Inglewood joint is so consistently good that it makes you want to hit the town, drink way more mezcal than you should, and wake up hungover just to experience the healing powers of their shrimp aguachile. That addicting, mouth-watering spicy jalapeño salsa, sliced red onion and ridiculously fresh shrimp from Mazatlán, paired with an ice cold michelada, will quickly make you forget about, or simply not care about, your questionable behavior the night before. - Gabriel Carbajal
3544 W Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303
Guerrilla Tacos (Arts District) Mushroom Bacon Quesadilla w/ fried egg
At least one item from Chef Wes Avila’s eclectic menu on any given day will serve you right when attempting to get rid of or forget about how shitty a hangover feels. Whether it’s a power-boosting bacon and mushroom quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese, market greens, fried egg, and chili-peanuts, or a buttery croissant slice nestling some perfectly soft-scrambled eggs topped with fresh sea urchin. You won’t regret making the trip to the Arts District. Be sure to also hook your depleted, wrist-stamped-from-last-night-having-ass up with an ice-cold vitamin-loaded agua fresca. - Gabriel Carbajal
2000 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Mariscos Jalisco (Boyle Heights) – Poseidon
While the signature fried shrimp tacos at Mariscos Jalisco will aid in providing some much-needed sustenance, it’s their spicy ‘Poseidon’ tostada that will activate all your senses and quickly help get rid of that annoying hangover. The fiery shrimp aguachile, with chile de árbol, sits atop cooling, strategically-placed layers of octopus, avocado and shrimp ceviche. Get one. Then reward yourself with celebratory tacos dorados...because you can’t go to Mariscos Jalisco and not order the tacos. - Gabriel Carbajal
3040 E Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90023
Birrieria Gonzalez (South L.A.) - Birria w/ consomé
For those nights where you go from Happy Hour to last call faster than you can say "Birrieria Gonzalez Birria de Res Estilo Tijuana," you owe it to yourself to visit this South L.A. truck slinging Tijuana-style birria tacos and chile-stained foam cups of consomé loaded with tender slow-cooked beef. Their simple menu which only includes birria-loaded: tacos dorados (fried tacos) on the griddle, quesadillas, mulitas (birria and cheese sandwiched between two corn tortillas), tostadas, and soft, consomé dipped tacos makes it easy to find something that suits your needs. While you’re at it, you might as well get a haircut at owner Oscar Gonzalez’ barbershop, Casa de cortes Gonzalez, which is conveniently located 10-feet from the birria truck. - Gabriel Carbajal
2524 Maple Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90011
B.S. Taqueria (DTLA) - Lemon-pepper Chicken Chicharrones
If your hungover self isn’t craving a heavy-loaded power breakfast, or a seafood dish doused in lime juice and fiery salsa, try the savory deep-fried chicken chicharrones with shishito peppers at this DTLA taquería. These perfectly seasoned, surprisingly meaty chicken skins go perfectly with an ice-cold B.S. Handshake (Tecate with huichol salsa, lime and salt). This one-two punch of crispy chicken skins and beer tend to kickstart your appetite and may lead you to revisit the menu. If that does happen, and it will (quit playing), do yourself a solid and order their Chorizo &Papas tacos. When the house-made chorizo juices slowly start to drip onto a thin, crispy layer of melted cheese nestling masterfully cooked potatoes piled high on freshly pressed blue corn tortillas, you’ll be happy knowing that those pesky impurities lounging in your belly will soon be engulfed in an orange-colored porcine coating like prehistoric insects in amber resin. Also, get the churros. Always. - Gabriel Carbajal
514 W 7th St Los Angeles, CA 90014
El Huarachito (Lincoln Heights) - Chilaquiles Divorciados
You don’t get any more old-school than this loaded plate of crispy chilaquiles smothered in both red and green salsas, a thin piece of carne asada, over-medium eggs, beans and potatoes. The classic Mexican comfort food at this Lincoln Heights landmark will surely help eliminate any signs of a headache or any other hangover symptoms for that matter. Be sure to ask for a side of their house-made habanero salsa to boost your breakfast up to another level. - Gabriel Carbajal
3010 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031
El Café by Primera Taza - (Boyle Heights) - Café de Olla
Getting your cold, shaky, hangover-ridden mitts on a well-balanced aromatic café de olla that’s not loaded with sugar is rather difficult to find in L.A. these days. Fortunately, there’s Primera Taza, an art-filled (by local artists) Boyle Heights coffee house, whose co-owner, Chuy Tovar, prepares a small batch of the classic Mexican coffee beverage daily. His uncompromising approach to consistently using nothing but high-quality, Mexican-imported ingredients such as: piloncillo (unrefined whole cane sugar), cloves, raw cinnamon, along with Mexican micro-lot coffee, is what sets the should-be standard for serving a proper Café de olla--even if it’s for the bootleg version of your former self.
If you happen to be in the mood for a cold beverage that will immediately help combat that seemingly unshakeable fatigue, be sure to try ‘The Ren’, named after awesomely talented artist/barista Ren, who prepares an astonishingly revitalizing coffee elixir with iced espresso that’s topped with Topo Chico (a sparkling mineral water from Monterrey, Mexico). It’ll likely have you wanting to perform those morning exercise drills you were forced to do in elementary school. - Gabriel Carbajal
622 S Anderson St #107, Los Angeles, CA 90023
L.A. Taco writers Mariah Castañeda, Erick Galindo, Cesar Hernandez, and Philip Iglauer contributed to this story.
RELATED: These Are the 12 Best Birria de Res Tacos in Los Angeles Right Now
Choriman Taco
Guerrilla Tacos Mushroom Bacon Quesadilla
Coni'Seafood Aguachile
Rocio's Mexican Kitchen Chilate de Pollo
Balam Mexican Kitchen Menudo
Balam Mexican Kitchen Menudo
El Huarachito Chilaquiles Divorciados
Aqui Es Texcoco Taco
Aqui Es Texcoco
B.S. Taqueria Chorizo y Papas
Guerrilla Tacos Uni Scramble Toast
El Café's cafe de Olla
Mariscos Jalisco Poseidon
Rocio's Mexican Kitchen Chilate de Pollo
Guerrilla Tacos Crab Chile Relleno Burrito
Caló Provisions Pozole
ChoriMan Taco
El Huarachito - Chilaquiles Divorciados
ChoriMan Burrito
A version of this article originally appeared on L.A. Taco June 3, 2016.
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