Third round of TACO MADNESS, and the bracket is officially spicier than that habanero salsa you ate way too much of that one time.
We’ve already seen massive upsets: Guisados ate Evil Cooks alive, Tijuanazo just smacked the #1 seed La Carreta, and Holbox refused to die with an insane last-day comeback to stay in the tournament. Chuy’s had Tacos El Toro against the wall all week… but Toro woke up and fought back like a warrior. This isn’t a bracket anymore—it’s a taco war.
Ready for more blood, sweat, and salsa? Vote now!
Key Dates:
April 13: Round 3 Voting Begins
April 17: Sabroso Voting Begins
April 22: Final Four Voting Begins
April 29: Finals Voting Begins
May 2: Voting ends at 6pm, during Taco Madness Live6 pm
L.A. TACO's 2026 TACO MADNESS Current Bracket Below
That first round was a doozy!
There were upsets, with a first-round exit for past TACO MADNESS favorites, Tacos Estilo Guadalajara, ousted by Guisados, Homestate got beat by Chulita, and Teddy's Red Tacos is out! Their Birriamania-winning quesabirria tacos were beaten by the barrio-favorite carnitas, Los 5 Puntos.
Check out who else advanced in the second round below.
The voting for this second round will end at midnight (PST) on Sunday, April 12th, and the third round will open the following Monday, April 13th, at noon.
Vote for your favorite taquero below.
Taco fanatics, it’s our time to gather again!
Taco Madness 2026, our online tournament to pinpoint L.A.'s favorite taco, is officially on the horizon, and it's shaping up to be our wildest yet.
For years, TACO MADNESS has crowned champions in the brackets, as we've watched taqueros go all-out in epic battles, and thrown the biggest and best taco party in L.A. to cap it off.
Now, we're bringing it all together for one massive live celebration on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 3 - 9 p.m. at Downtown's iconic Gloria Molina Grand Park. This will be our biggest TACO MADNESS festival ever!
Expect the city's most legendary tacos (fresh off the grill, straight from the spots you love), sick DJs keeping the energy high, a full bar with craft beer flowing all afternoon, legendary local artists painting live on the spot, and that unbeatable feeling of pure, unfiltered Los Angeles taco culture.
This isn't just an event—it's a full-on tribute to the taco lifestyle that makes our city legendary.
This year will also welcome guests of all ages! So bring your kids, nieces, neighbors, and nephews. There will be tacos for all!
Whether you're repping your favorite taquería from past Madness tournaments or just here to partake in the taco life, don’t miss this year’s celebration.
Tickets are live! Secure yours now! Each ticket sale also directly supports our independent, street-level journalism. Get your tickets to the live event on May 2, here. Members, you'll get an email with a special code to get your free ticket in your email, or contact us if you can't wait.
Key Dates:
March 28: Kickoff party, online voting begins.
April 6: Round 2 Voting Begins
April 13: Round 3 Voting Begins
April 17: Sabroso Voting Begins
April 22: Final Four Voting Begins
April 29: Finals Voting Begins
May 2: Voting ends at 6pm, during Taco Madness Live
L.A. TACO's 2026 TACO MADNESS Bracket:
