We can’t bear the thought of you being bored this weekend. Or sober this Cinco de Mayo. So we’ve cobbled together an events guide highlighting some of the fun things to do over the next few days in and around Los Angeles. Have fun!
Current Taco Madness finalist Sonoratown is teaming up with pizza-place-that-we-like Pitfire Pizza and offering a collaborative Chivichanga pizza with slow cooked, shredded chicken guisado, chiles, and cheese modeled off the taqueria's famed burrito, and served with chiltepin salsa. You'll find that, along with $5 margaritas, all-day at all Pitfire Pizzas locations for $15, with $5 of that going to No Us Without You. All locations here.
Chef Jonathan Perez, owner of 2020 Taco Madness champion Macheen, will show everyone how to make a pork belly al pastor taco kit and a pineapple-chiletepin mezcal cocktail live on the L.A. Library's YouTube Channel. For all those smart souls who decided to stay away from the bars today. 4p.m. online right here.
Hollywood's new Desert 5 Spotinvites everyone for a complimentary three-hour open bar on its kicked-back rooftop, provided by Avion Cristalino Tequila for Cinco de Mayo. There will also be a mariachi band and three themed cocktails on offer. And we mean everyone. We asked. 8-11pm, 6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
A Cinco de Mayo at a tiki bar? Sounds about right. Long Beach's Bamboo Club is throwing down with two tequilas and a mezcal brand over "mexi-tiki" food specials and an agave-foucsed cocktail menu. Reservations recommended. 11a.m.-closing, 3522 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90802
Guerrilla Tacos always knows how to have a good time and it's "Cinco de Gringo" specials sound like no exception. G.T. will be putting its own twists on fast food items like Mexican pizzas, "Bell Beefy Blasters," cinnamon twisties, and "Baja Blasted" cocktails. Cowabunga, dude! All day, reservations here, 2000 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90021
Luchador-adorned Beverly Grove legend El Carmen is celebrating its 25th anniversary at 5pm on Friday, with Mariachi Amigos de Los Angeles from 6-8pm, and dancing to DJs from Chulita Vinyl Club's L.A. crew until your feet fall off. Or 2am. Whichever comes first. 5pm-2am, 8138 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
We wish someone looked at us the way we're looking at Quemada Tacos right now. The pop-up taqueria will appear in the morning, followed by the one and only Goat Mafia in the afternoon, at a big old community celebration with DJs at Sanfords Vintage and Brewjeria in Pico-Rivera this Saturday. And it definitely looks like Quemada is up to some intriguing things, like a smashed white bean, manchego, chili crisp, and peanut taco, and an avocado toast-inspired taco. But what do we know? 10am-12am, 4937 Durfee Ave. Pico Rivera, CA 90660, more details here
The very first Valley Asian Cultural Festival is happening in Woodland Hills on Saturday, featuring a day's worth of music, arts, dance, shopping, performances, food trucks and vendors, and kids activities in Rocky Young Park at Pierce College. 10am-4pm, free entry, 6201 Winnetka Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91371.
Madre fittingly wants to celebrate your mama with you, offering a drink called "Love You Mom" with watermelon and mezcal for $14, and a mole negro with pork belly and 'shrooms for $28 at all its restaurants. Over at the Torrance location, Dueto Dos Rosas will be perform live during lunch from 12-2p.m., and later from 5-7p.m., with tickets at $35 per person, not including food and drink. But Mom is worth it. Tickets here, 1261 Cabrillo Ave. #101, Torrance, CA 90501
Danny Trejo would like to meet your mother. That came out weird. Anyway, Machete himself will be handing out flowers to moms at Trejo's Tacos in Santa Monica during their brunch service. Trejo's will also offering bottomless mimosas, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and breakfast tacos and burritos from Friday on for the occasion. He's really going all out for moms. 12-2pm, 316 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401
From calamari tacos to Oaxacan-style braised goat on handmade freshly nixtamalized corn tortillas and Mexicali-style "cooler burritos," this may be the best Metro bus line to take for tacos in the county.
Earlier this month, a leaked memo from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) suggested that these 41.18 zones rarely led to unhoused people being moved into interim shelter or permanent housing. After being cleared, most 41.18 zones quickly became repopulated.
What does it take to stand out in Los Angeles's saturated taco climate? Focus on San Fernando Valley-style loaded breakfast tacos, "breakfast quesadillas" with crispy cheese skirts, and the beefiest breakfast burritos Balboa Boulevard has ever seen.
Save the date! Our 15th annual taco tournament is taking place on April 13th at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes near Olvera Street. Pre-sale tickets are now available. Our online tournament starts on Monday. Check out this year's contenders!