Sobaquera Summer: Boyle Heights’ Carne Asada Star El Ruso Opens Today In Silver Lake

[dropcap size=big]G[/dropcap]iant Sonoran-style, paper-thin, handmade sobaquera flour tortillas have arrived on Sunset Boulevard. Starting at 10 AM today, El Ruso is officially offering his award-winning true, mesquite-charred carne asada tacos on handmade flour tortillas to Silver Lake. 

This second location is years in the making for Walter Soto, who has been putting in work on an industrial corner of Boyle Heights since 2018. In just three years, he has grown from having a small cart to a carreta (food vending trailer) to a bigger carreta that he is having custom-built for this exciting new location; it will be twice the size of the current one he had stationed in on Mirasol Street and Olympic Boulevard and nicknamed “La Mamalona 30.” Last year, the taquero who is from Tijuana but learned the craft of tacos in Sinaloa and Sonora was named Best New Restaurant by Food & Wine.    

Starting today, El Ruso will offer taco service every day from 10 AM to 10 PM. On weekends, as L.A.’s nightlife continues to return, he plans to stay open until 1 AM. As noted by Eater LA, this move is massive news for Silver Lake’s food scene. Located right next to All Day Baby and across the street from La Playita and Spoon + Pork, and a taco’s throw away from Night + Market Song. Not to mention, El Ruso’s new trailer is a justifiable stop close enough to Chavez Ravine for all pregaming and post-Dodger game needs. The menu will remain the same.

Until La Mamalona 30 is completed, El Ruso’s original Boyle Heights location will be closed. This makes Silver Lake the new temporary home of L.A.’s first and only place to nab a handmade sobaquera flour tortilla—for now. 

El Ruso’s new location is at 3140 W. Sunset Blvd and will be open from 10 AM to 10 PM on weekdays, and until 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.