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Celebrating the Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

Melissa was born in Moreno Valley, raised in Arizona, and recently returned from living in México, the motherland. She lives by the words: “siempre en la calle.” USC and Fulbright alum, but don’t tell her to &#8220;Fight On.&#8221;

Melissa Montalvo

Personal Essay

On Death, Love, and Lobsters: Eating in Puerto Nuevo to Remember My Abuelo

Lexis-Olivier Ray is an award-winning staff investigative reporter for L.A. TACO known for holding powerful people in Los Angeles accountable and his reporting on Los Angeles culture. As well as an artist and filmmaker. In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists&#8217; Los Angeles chapter named Ray one of their &#8220;distinguished journalists.&#8221; In 2023, Ray won a second place Anthem Award in their Health Innovation category for a texting service geared towards the unhoused community and service providers that he launched in 2021 with L.A. TACO and Subtext. Ray was a 2020 USC Center For Health Journalism (CHJ) Data Fellow. As well as a 2022 CHJ Impact Fellow. As a freelancer, Ray has contributed to the L.A. Times, Men&#8217;s Health Magazine, KCET and SFGATE.

Lexis-Olivier Ray

Featured

The LAPD Is Averaging Almost One Shooting Per Day

An award-winning journalist covering ICE and immigration raids. Host of the Daily Memo. ‘Where Memo Torres Eats’ on Apple Maps. Seen on Netflix, occasionally on KCRW. 3rd-gen landscaper. Proud son of an immigrant. Golden Bear.

Memo Torres

Food

The Cuban-Mexican Story of the Best Chilaquiles In the Westside of Los Angeles

Andrea Aliseda is a Tijuana born and San Diego grown writer, cook, and dog-mom living in Brooklyn, NY. Her work is anchored in Mexican food, its history, and plant-based present. You can follow her on Twitter at @alisedaandrea or Instagram at @food_hound for updates, travels and foodie things.

Andrea Aliseda

Step Aside Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog, Here’s Highland Park’s Vegan ‘Carrot Dog’

Gabriel Chabrán is a food writer and journalist from Highland Park. He currently lives in Long Beach with his wife Katie, their new baby, and their Russian Blue cat, Mars.

Gab Chabran

Music

In Español, South Central Rocker Foos Generación Suicida Is Melodic Proof That Punk Is Not Dead

Erick Huerta likes to eat his Hot-Cheetos with chopsticks.

Erick Huerta

Tacos

Behold ‘Poseidon,’ L.A.’s First-Ever Octopus Al Pastor Trompo

One of L.A. TACO&#8217;s co-founders, Hadley Tomicki is a writer and editor on food, travel, and culture whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, UrbanDaddy, High Times, and many other places.

Hadley Tomicki

In Long Beach, a Mujer-Owned Tortilla DIY Non-Profit  Raises Money for L.A.’s Homeless and More

A writer who has lived across the globe and passionate about all things social justice and politics. Curry enthusiast and knower of completely useless facts.

Tavleen Tarrant

L.A. Taco Guides

10 Los Angeles Restaurants Owned by Women Of Color to Support This Weekend

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Janette Villafana

Street Vending

Fed up With Street Vendor Abuse, This Former Bernie Staffer Is Arming Them, Offering Security, and Teaching Self-Defense

News

Update: Retired LAPD Detective Caught On Camera Using The N-Word After Reported Traffic Accident (Video)