For the last few years, the food media narrative behind L.A.’s bedraggled restaurant scene has been all doom and gloom. And for good reason, since so many chefs and restaurateurs are recovering the income and trajectory lost during the pandemic and sky-high inflation affecting everything from flour to meat to take-out containers. On average, food costs rose 28% in the last five years.
Despite these overwhelming odds against restaurants, L.A. is experiencing a taquería explosion. In the last three months, a new taquería has opened for you to try somewhere new on every day of the week. This includes two expansions of celebrated northern Mexican-style taquerias, a modern Mexican bar, a first-of-its-kind masa shop, and the proliferation of Tijuana-style tacos that continue to dominate L.A.’s Taco Life.
It’s never been a better time to live in L.A. and love tacos. Here is a guide for soaking in the glory of mesquite-grilled asada, handmade flour tortillas, and so much more at these seven new L.A. taquerías.