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Celebrating the Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

Laura is a desmadrosa, a product of East Los, an educator, and a hood establishment connoisseur.

Laura Tejeda

Food

How Do You Stand Out In L.A.’s Competitive Smash Burger Scene? Make Crispy, Velvety Duck Fat Fries

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

Sports

From T.J. to L.A., Meet the Border-Raised Mujer Who Became an International Sports Broadcasting Star

Vladimir De Jesus Santos is a Salvadoran-American “rocker foo” from Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA. He’s worked as a Cinematographer/Editor for the past decade, focusing on documentaries, short horror films, low budget music videos, and in 2019, he started his own podcast, “Ey, Foo You A Rocker?” which discusses the intersection between race and identity around extreme music in the hood. He’s interested in writing about culture, transnational politics, and his local taco spot.

Vladimir De Jesus Santos

The Barrio Theory Behind Dino’s Famous Chicken’s Mysterious ‘DUI Fries’

Jared Cowan is a photographer who also writes and podcasts extensively about L.A. filming locations. He is the co-founder of My Valley Pass, through which he leads film tours of the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena. Jared is also the co-editor of the recent book &#8220;World Film Locations: Los Angeles Volume 2&#8221; and the editor of the upcoming &#8220;World Film Locations: Philadelphia.&#8221;

Jared Cowan

Film

How Boyle Heights Became a Dance Battleground for Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo

Mariah Castañeda is a feisty multimedia journalist and social media editor.

Mariah Castañeda

Featured

The L.A. TACO Guide to Eating In the Inland Empire ~ Volume One

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

Tacos

L.A.’s First Taquero to Serve Tijuana-Style ‘Birria de Lengua’ Is Now Slanging Tacos in East Los Angeles

Melissa Mora Hidalgo was born in Montebello and grew up in the L.A./O.C. borderlands of East Whittier and La Habra. She holds a Ph. D. in Literature from UC San Diego and is the author of Mozlandia: Morrissey Fans in the Borderlands (Headpress UK, 2016).

Melissa Mora Hidalgo

A Chef Is Reviving His Abuelo’s Bracero-Era Carnitas Recipe for a New Taquería in Whittier, ‘EST. 1968’

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

These Cajeta Drizzles Represent Scars: ‘Sad Girl Creamery’ Serves Ice Cream With a Side of Mental Health Awareness

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

Interview

‘He Did This to Himself,’ We Spoke to the Black Driver Behind Viral Retired LAPD Detective’s Racist Tirade

Seafood

Mr. Ceviche Mann Is Introducing Ceviche To A Black L.A.