Skip to Content
Film

The Taco Oscars: The 15 Best Appearances By a Taco or Tortilla In a Feature Film

Our favorite scenes from movie history center on food, from Charlie Chaplin, making his dinner rolls boogie and Violet Beauregarde getting her comeuppance to an imprisoned Paul Sorvino slicing garlic to every Capo's paper-thin ideal in Goodfellas and whatever the fuck that dude is thinking with a live octopus in Old Boy.

But where, for the love of Godard, are the tacos?

Today L.A. TACO is finally paying tribute to Hollywood's most unsung stars: The soft, tempting, professionally lit tortillas and tacos gracing the silver screen in some of cinema's most appetizing scenes.

Welcome to the TAC-OSCARS!

Let's meet the nominees.

Most Futile Attempt To Recreate Senator's Alex Padilla's Tortilla-Roll By A Legend of Physical Comedy: Three Amigos, 1986

Best Supporting Appearance By the Alleged Son of God On the Face of a Tortilla: Tortilla Heaven, 2007

Most Mind-Fucking Tortilla in a Supporting Role: The Menu, 2022

And Our Gobernador's Award Honoree Goes To The "Hard, Horny Taco" in Sausage Party, 2016

Best Original Taco Truck In A Leading Role: Machete, 2010

Most Villainous Taco In a Supporting Role: Tacodile Supreme in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, 2021

 

Greatest Movie Starring Vicente Fernandez As a Taquero: Tacos Al Carbon, 1972

Best Denouement Positing Tacos as The Remedy to Murderous Rampage: Birds of Prey and the Emancipation of Harley Quinn, 2020

Best Cameo By Corn Tortillas Supporting A Pescado Zarendeado In A Mouthwatering Overhead Shot: Tortilla Soup, 2002

Most Nefarious "Taco Tuesday" Promotion In Cinema History: Lego Movie, 2014

Most Dystopic Scenario Centered Around the Expansion of Taco Bell: Demolition Man, 1993

Best Fantasy Brawl Between an Anthropomorphized Taco and Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Hot Rod, 2007

Best Endorsement For Letting Meth-Moving Psychopaths Do the Cooking: Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (we know it's a T.V. show, but these Oscars aren't real)

Most Redemptive Tacos Gifted From the Mitts of a Gamma-Radiated-Scientist-Turned-Mean-Green-Superhero-Monster-Thing: Avengers End Game, 2019

Best Dumb Comedy Starring Tension Between a Neighborhood Taqueria and a White Nerd's Gourmet Food Truck: Taco Truck, 2018

Did we miss any other iconic taco moments in film history? Let us know in the comments. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

L.A.’s 17 Best Fries from Santa Clarita to South L.A., Ranked

The best fries have personality. Some are hand-cut and fluffy. Some are duck-fat-fried and decadent. Some are covered in enough seasoning to scald your tongue. These are our the best we found around L.A. to get you started on your own path to find the best French fry in L.A.

July 6, 2026

Sunday Taquitos #29: U-S-A!

Sunday Taquitos! Art by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ivan Ehlers.

July 5, 2026

Why Are Mexicans Chanting ‘¿Y Si Sí?’ Right Now?

From “No Era Penal” to “Imaginémonos Cosas Chingonas” and “Sí Se Puede,” the latest three-word phrase has fans believing in the men’s national team again.

July 2, 2026

Lakers Fan Injured By LAPD During NBA Finals Celebrations Receives Historic Multimillion Dollar Payout

On June 23, a jury unanimously found the LAPD and City of Los Angeles liable for breaking Pablo Vera’s arm during the Lakers NBA Finals celebrations in October of 2020.

Burrito King In Echo Park, 1968-2026

The scratches in the counter, the wobble in the stools, the patina of seasoning accumulated on the flat-top. You can't make all that up out of nothing. 

July 1, 2026

World Cup Heartbreak Hurts. This Artist Turned That Pain Into New Paintings

Legendary artist Jorge R. Gutierrez, aka "Super Macho," known for his folk art-influenced paintings and animations for "The Book of Life," is showing his work this friday at La Luz De Jesus Gallery within Soapplant/Wacko in Los Feliz.

July 1, 2026