Skip to Content
Tacos

Rising Stars of TJ-Style Tacos 1986 Are Opening a Store in Downtown

9:06 AM PDT on May 14, 2019

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he rapid ascent of Tacos 1986 continues with the announcement this week that the Tijuana-style taco cart is opening a storefront in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

Tacos 1986 began last November in a Hollywood parking lot, dreamt up by Victor M. Delgado and his business partner, chef Jorge “El Joy” Alvarez-Tostado. They got so popular so fast that the owner of the property wanted to charge more than they could afford, Delgado told L.A. Taco at the time. The taqueria was forced to relocate several times including stops in Koreatown and Smorgasburg.

Delgado previously told L.A. Taco that he had plans to translate the magic of the street vendor to a storefront. "Just imagine a store on top of this," he explained. "You order, you get your ticket, and that's where you get that synergy between the tauquero and the customer. You look your taquero in the eye and, 'Dos de asada con todo, jefe.' We can't have that tarnished in anyway."

The new store is scheduled to  open June 24 at the corner of 6th and Spring, according to Eater LA. They will also continue to operate at Smorgasburg on Sundays and keep the new shop open seven days a week.

RELATED: L.A. Taco Podcast: The Making of Tacos 1986 ~ Voices from the Teachers Strike

More Stories

L.A.’s 12 Best Panaderías For Pan De Muerto During Dia De Los Muertos

Los Angeles has the best pan de muerto scene in the country, from sourdough and vegan variations, to recipes that have been passed down through generations. Here are 12 panaderías around L.A. where you can find the fluffy, gently spiced, sugar-dusted pan dulce that is as delicious as it is crucial to the Dia de Muertos Mexican tradition.

October 21, 2026

Why Would Anyone Spend $200 on This Single Cup of Coffee?

Each ticket to the tasting cost $250 and included coffee and water—no food. Plus, a guided tasting by leading coffee expert, creator, and SEY staffer Lance Hendrick.

October 20, 2026

A Woody Guthrie Guitar, a 1776 Print of the Declaration of Independence, and Much More Are Now On View at The Huntington

You'll breathe in the scent of 15 oak tree species, manzanita, native Toyon, and more than 5,000 plants as you walk the grounds to arrive, too.

October 20, 2026

L.A. TACO’s 2026 Voter Guide

If you’re one of the million Californians who depend on federal funding for healthcare and not one of the roughly 250 billionaires living here, you’ve got a hell of a lot more to gain from reading all the way through. You’ll find someone or something that you agree with, or at the very least, someone to vote against. (Today, Monday, October 19, is the last day to register to vote.)

October 19, 2026

Sunday Taquitos #35: The A.I. Bubble Bursts

Sunday Taquitos! Art by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ivan Ehlers.

October 18, 2026

Why Are So Many Restaurants Using A.I. for Menus Now?

I already miss the era of gloriously sticky menus, coated with years of grease and who knows what else, and a menu behind the counter with pixelated photos, overexposed plates, low-quality clipart, and typos galore.

October 16, 2026