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Celebrating the Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

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

A Multi-National Bank Put Money Where Their Mouth Is, Commits $5 Million to Help Latina and Black Street Vendors in L.A.

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

Drink

Eagle Rock’s Queer, Female-Owned Natural Wine Shop Stocks Indigenous and Black-Owned Brands to Offset Gentrification Impact

L.A. TACO STAFF

Events

Weekend Events: L.A. TACO’s Birriamania, DMT, Climate Strike at City Hall, and Gangsta Boo In Los Feliz

News

Headlines: First Latina On California Supreme Court Confirmed; Armed Man Challenges Mike Tyson in Hollywood

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

Featured

For a Taste of Odessa-Style Ukrainian Food, Head to Babushka Grandma’s Deli in Hollywood

Headlines: Jay-Z Criticized For Chateau Marmont Oscar Party; L.A.’s Air Is ‘The Worst’ in U.S.

Professional punk and Editor-In-Chief for James Beard Award-winning L.A. TACO. Associate Producer for JBA-winning Las Crónicas Del Taco. Former restaurant scout for Jonathan Gold. Co-author of &#8220;Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and &#8220;Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling&#8221; (2023, Abrams).

Javier Cabral

T.J. Taco Safari With Ed’s Manifesto: Where to Find Albóndigas de Camarón (Shrimp Meatballs)

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

Investigative Report

Update: At The Peak of The Defund Era, L.A. Received $600 million in COVID Relief, Half Went to LAPD

Headlines: The Food Vendors Serving Corcoran State Prison; Sinkhole Opens in Hollywood Hills

My Favorite Taco

My Favorite Taco: System of a Down’s Shavo on Armenian Eats, Asada, Alvarado Weed, and Life With Synesthesia