Skip to Content
Cheap Eats

Pili’s Tacos ~ West Los Angeles, CA

Pili's1

Santa Monica Blvd. & Armacost Ave. & Brockton Ave. ~ West Los Angeles

This neighborhood, heavy on Oaxacan residents and eateries stocks a lotta good tacos, and I think Pili's can be some of the choicest when at their best, perhaps second to the Juquila truck nearby. At their peak, they are small, juicy, and tender, but not served with a smile. I've generally found the reception here lackluster.

On the night of our review, Pili's was not as strong as it had been in the past until we deviated from the tacos. The carne asada came in chunks only slightly bigger than baco-bits, with the conisistency of soft beef jerky, yet juicy with a peppery taste that really stood out in the small bits of meat. Carnitas, in long, stringy shreds of wet, stewy pork, had a very strong flavor that was almost fishy, and combined with the hot salsa, almost worked. The large chunks of pastor seemed charred, not very juicy or particularly flavorful, but with a great consistency and a kick of spice that follow. The tortillas could have been slightly fresher too (granted it was after 11PM) and perhaps less doughy, though that is often typical of the Oaxacan style.
A venture towards Caldo de Res, a beef soup, swam with huge chunks of marrow-filled bone chips and the cow flesh that once clung to it. An opaque broth welcomed potato, carrot, cilantro, onion and chilis and carried those chilis through the brothy essence of the dish. The meat was fatty, but picked up the flavors of its companions, in a taste that would be familiar to anyone from the countryside, it is natural, almost earthy in flavors and served with hot tortillast o make your own brewy tacos.
Pili's also have good breakfasts and a mellow vibe, sparse with cool, traditional details. A yellow crown-topped music store next door sells cds and cassettes of all your favorite ranchera, banda, and norteno artists.
Asada Pastor Carnitas
Carnitas with CheeseCaldo de ResPilis3Casita MusicalPili'sPilis2

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Unmatched Hustle: Immigrant from Michoacán’s Tierra Caliente Creates Innovative Tortillería on Wheels…In Bakersfield

Many come and buy pounds and pounds to share with their family members as soon as they taste a warm “taco de sal,” a tortilla sprinkled simply with salt and rolled up like a thin flauta. It’s common to eat tacos de sal while waiting in line at a tortillería in Mexico, but not so much in the U.S. 

February 12, 2025

No AI. No Algorithms. No Billionaires: JOIN OUR MISSION AT L.A. TACO TODAY!!

Just L.A. people supporting real street-level journalism. Become an L.A. TACO Member today.

February 12, 2025

Halal Beef Chorizo, Pastor-Spiced Chicken Shawarma, and Tahini Salsa at Lincoln Heights’ Brand New Mediterranean-Mexican Spot

The restaurant is barely a month old. The owner is the daughter of an Egyptian father and mother from Mexico City, so having guacamole and salsa with her kebabs was a natural thing for her. “I grew up with the privilege of having both of them in the same household,” she says.

February 11, 2025

L.A.’s New Legal Taco Cart Is The First Of Its Kind

While the look may be different from what most are used to seeing, this retro cart still allows a vendor to cook some of your favorite street food, from pupusas to tacos and smash burgers. “I'm very proud of what we came up with, and I’m looking forward to seeing it in the streets and hopefully changing people's lives,” said Richard Gómez, the engineer behind it.

February 10, 2025

A Brief Timeline of L.A. Times Owner Patrick Soon-Shiong’s Transformation Into An Apparent MAGA Influencer

Exhibit A: Soon-Shiong retweets RFK Jr., thanking Donald Trump for “his leadership and courage” while reaffirming his commitment to “Make America Healthy Again.” We look at a year of tweets and controversy that have us scratching our heads.

February 10, 2025
See all posts