[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]here’s hefty competition for the “best of” almost anything in the streets east of the Los Angeles River. Best churros, best coffee, best birria, you name it, and people will drive far and wide to get a taste of it and for the Instagram bragging rights.
We all know where to get the best old-school bean and cheese burritos (Al & Bea’s) and the best fish tacos (Tacos Baja). But beyond these classics, you’ll see that East Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods and unincorporated communities are filled with so much new raw talent in the food, drink, and retail space. In current COVID-times, most of these vendors have adapted, slanging out of a canopy in the street, a small truck, or via DM on Instagram.
From folks who have worked their way up from dishwashing to cooking in kitchens, or shops that have grown from posting photos on Instagram to full brick and mortar establishments, they’ve listened to their immigrant mamas, mentors, and abuelitos to work hard for what they want. They’ve started businesses and learned the hard way through trial and error, but they are talented, and their food comes with more than a good bite or sip; it comes with a story.