Fernando Valenzuela ranks as one of L.A.&#8217;s all time most popular sports icons and did more to get the entire city behind the Dodgers than any other player ever has, or will. Everything about El Toro is awesome and speaks to what Los Angeles is all about, and we&#8217;ve long wanted to know his favorite…

My Favorite Taco ~ Fernando Valenzuela

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<p>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.</p>


Hadley Tomicki

From "Thoughts &amp; Prayers," an image that shows a back view of Belger's unique self-made camera, made from forged aircraft aluminum, copper, titanium, F-16 aircraft parts, bullets, bullet shells, brass from a 105mm Howitzer shell the was fired from an AC-130 aircraft over Afghanistan during the first minutes of the Afghan war, machine gun sight (0n top), American flag from Glen Spencer’s America First militia compound, and dirt from Columbine High School and the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, North Carolina. The cross on the back of the camera, in the middle of the American flag that is surrounded by the bullets, is made of dirt from the Emanuel AME Church. Photo of the back of the camera was shot during a Thoughts &amp; Prayers photo shoot at the world biggest machine gun shoot in Kingman Arizona. The three men holding the tank ammunition in front of the tank are all civilians and own the fully functional tank.

He Built a Camera From Firearms To Photograph U.S. Gun Owners For ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ At La Luz de Jesus Gallery

How Photographer Alanna Airitam Got In With Black Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs For Her Show ‘Black Diamonds’ at La Luz De Jesus Gallery

<p><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">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.”</span></p>


Janette Villafana

Food

13 Dog-Friendly Places in L.A. To Eat, Drink, and Play with Your Loyal Pup

Churros shaped like the LA Dodgers' LA logo at La Cha Cha Cha

Taco Members Only

What To Eat This Weekend in L.A.: Iberico Pork Fajitas, Coca Cola Fries, LA Churros, and Cabeza Strombolis From Sonoratown and Mozza

A French Dip sandwich made with king oyster mushrooms

What to Eat This Weekend In L.A.: Puerto Rican Plantain Sandwiches, King Oyster Mushroom French Dips, Baja Abalone Fritto Misto, and Lamb Mandi In Westwood

What To Eat This Weekend: Villa’s Tacos Opens in DTLA, Kimchi Burritos in Lomita, and A Fruit Beer for Farm Workers in Pico Rivera

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Celebrating the Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Scott Shulman has 50 years of experience as a news cameraman, editor, broadcast engineer, and senior producer. He is the recipient of every major broadcast journalism award, including 7 News &amp; Documentary Emmy Awards, 2 Peabody Awards, the DuPont-Columbia University Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and many other honors. He retired in 2021 and currently works as a part-time park ranger for the City of Beverly Hills.</span></p>


a man in a yellow jacket and glasses in front of a fire

Scott Shulman

Opinion

I Was an Airborne Cameraman for Decades. This Is Why We Need to Retire News Choppers

<p class="p1">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.</p>


Memo Torres

A man being wrestled to the ground by Border Patrol agents.

Data Shows City of L.A. as Extreme Hotspot for ICE Arrests

<p>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).</p>


Javier Cabral

a black and white image that says "SILVER-DOLLARS" with Donald Trump and a man in a fedora and glasses

Music

Trump-Donating Promoter Behind ‘Punk in the Park’ Tries Comeback With New OC Music and Tattoo Fest

Palestinian-and-Syrian Street Food With Handmade Pita and Mana’eesh In Silver Lake

<p>Izzy Ramirez is a Los Angeles-based staff reporter with L.A. TACO, documenting immigration enforcement and state power as it unfolds on the ground. Their work centers real-time alerts and long-term public archiving throughout the Southern California region.</p>


Izzy Ramirez

aerial view of the border between San Diego and Tijuana.

News

The U.S. Government Quietly Just Made It Legal to Go Through Your Phone at the Border

ICE Watch: Driving To Work or For DoorDash? They’re Hunting You

L.A. TACO STAFF

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Los Feliz

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<p dir="ltr">Jake Hook is a local food historian in Los Angeles. They run the Diner Preservation Society, dedicated to highlighting the city&#8217;s traditional food culture. Follow him on Instagram at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinertheory/">DinerTheory</a>.</p>
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Jake Hook

Chicken-fried steak and eggs at Saugus Cafe. Photo by Jake Hook for L.A. TACO.