Skip to Content
Film

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

10:57 AM PST on March 9, 2023

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 from L.A. TACO

Spot Check! ‘Voodoo Chicken’ in Hollywood, a Weed-Themed Lucha Party In DTLA, and La Cevicherie Opens in Long Beach

There's also a free banda night in West Adams with asada Crunchwraps and cold micheladas, chowder fries and lobster bisque shots from a Westside truck, and black habanero aguachile in Long Beach.

June 1, 2023

Beloved L.A. Puppet Master Recovers His Three Puppets, Which Were Stolen Along With His Car

All three of Cain Carias' puppets, El Triste, La Smiley, and his Little Mr. E puppet, were in the trunk of his 2003 Red Honda Civic Coupe, which was parked at the corner of Santa Monica and North Heliotrope Dr. before being stolen.

May 31, 2023

Headlines: Two Stabbed with Screwdriver and Two-Year-Old Child Attacked Near Children’s Playground in Long Beach

A 31-year-old man attacked five people at about noon yesterday in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, leaving four, including a two-year-old, with minor injuries. The man was stopped by a police officer who shot him, leaving him non-life threatening injuries.

May 31, 2023
See all posts