Skip to Content

[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]ur friends at First We Feast are celebrating "LA WEEK", which you know is going to include lots of tacos. One article which stands out is L.A. Taco contributor Tony Chen's Rise of the Compton Taco. Chen takes you on a tour of the various taco stands, restaurants, and catering options in Compton that feature what he calls "organic cross-cultural pollination" between the city's Black business owners and the city's majority Latino population.

@yg off the #tacocaine

A photo posted by TacoMell (@tacomell_catering) on

Using his own visits along with photos from social media, Tony shows you

a rising crew of millenial entrepreneurs and savvy Instagram users has ushered in a new wave of “Black tacos,” with places popping up in Compton, Watts, and adjacent areas of South L.A. in the form of make-shift stands or catering companies. Along with asada and pollo, you’ll see additional proteins like deep-fried turkey, smoked chicken, and brisket. Barbecue sauce and remoulade might replace salsa roja. Cheese is a must.

Check out the full post here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Baekjeong KBBQ Brings Its Star Galbi Back to Koreatown

While a pop-up in East Hollywood offers Nigerian and Kenyan influences in dishes like rosemary lamb suya and short rib biriyani, and Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer bring brisket to an L.A. mall.

May 9, 2025

City of L.A. Quietly Abandons Plans To Expand Electric Car Share Program To South L.A.

BlueLA shut down last month after the city received a multi-million dollar grant to expand the car share service into South Los Angeles.

The Original Pantry Cafe Lives Again at This East Los Taquería

If you ever dreamed of having Original Pantry's breakfast with a full salsa bar on the side, your dreams have just come true. This East L.A. taquería is giving a new home to Original Pantry Cafe workers after the century-old diner’s lamented closure.

The Seven Best Tacos in Azusa

In Azusa, you'll mostly find CalMex and the simple joy of traditional taquería fare. But there are a few glorious outliers involving mole negro, fried quesadillas, and stewed spicy pork leg. Here's where to go.

Little Tokyo’s Japanese American National Museum Stood Up For DEI, Then Lost Funding

Like many museums across the country, JANM has recently been targeted by the Trump administration. After receiving a letter saying that their programs do not align with the current administration’s goals, their funding was cut by $1.7 million (with an additional $5 million still in limbo). 

See all posts