Skip to Content
L.A. Taco Guides

The Seven Best Tacos in El Monte

After our taco renaissance of 2020, | dare say El Monte's Five Points intersection rivaled any taco row in East L.A. or South Central. Don't get mad, foo, you weren't there.

10:59 AM PDT on May 16, 2023

L.A. TACO is embarking on its biggest mission yet: to create a reliable taco and food guide for every neighborhood in Los Angeles! Along the way, we will also be releasing brief histories of each neighborhood to understand L.A. a little more and why each and every neighborhood makes our fine city unique. Check out the rest of our history and food guides on our neighborhood page

Surprisingly few people know that El Monte is a big suburb of 115,000 people. Despite being a majority-Latino and a working class town, it hardly gets the respect it deserves when it comes to tacos. 

We had a taco renaissance of sorts in 2020 in El Monte. I dare say the Five Points intersection, between Valley and Garvey, rivaled any taco row in East L.A. or South Central during the height of the pandemic (don’t get mad, foo, you weren’t there). There were vendors who sold churros, regional Mexican snacks, and other miscellaneous trinkets to pandemic-crazed raza. In many ways, it was one of the only forms of socialization in mid-2020. 

But before I could try them all, many disappeared like the girl in 7th grade summer camp I never had the guts to talk to, after the city’s code enforcement began to crack down on street vendors, with at least one encounter turning violent

Not to sound all creido, but I know what I’m talking about when it comes to tacos. Over the years, I’ve eaten tacos or burritos at 35-40 different places in town. I’m that guy. The “Eyy foo, let me know where to find a good taco spot” kind of guy.

As a lifelong Montero, I’m writing this with the knowledge that I’ll likely be crucified for leaving out some random Montero’s favorite mom n’ pop joint. And they might be right.

So with all the preamble out of the way, here are my top seven taco spots in El Monte.

Ixtaco

This 4:20-themed, dog-friendly taqueria has one of the most eclectic menus I’ve seen anywhere. Aside from the traditional taqueria meats, you can get tacos with calamari, lobster, duck, Korean BBQ, and scallops, as well as several veggie options. They even have “Dog Friendly Tacos” for firulais (including fish tacos, and tacos with ground turkey, potatoes, and carrots). Their aguas frescas are just as creative, with a revolving menu that changes from traditional to drinks like purple horchata or mango-and-CBD.  

10021 Valley Blvd. El Monte, CA 91731

Tacos Del Chino

Not to be confused with the other Tacos Del Chino that may pop up on Yelp, Tacos Del Chino on Durfee Ave. has little-to-no social media footprint. But if you ask locals, this place doesn’t need slickly edited videos to prove itself worthy of being called one of El Monte’s best tacos. Although I’ve had good buche and cabeza, the asada and tripas are really the correct call here. 

2600 Durfee Ave. El Monte, CA 91732

Karina’s Tacos

Nestled in the drab South El Monte factory district and lacking the eye-catching, self-promoting wrap that the modern-day taco truck exterior usually must have, Karina’s has a strong batting order from top to bottom. But undoubtedly, Karina's clean-up hitter is the tripas taco. Just make sure to order them bien doraditas

2025 Durfee Ave. South El Monte, CA 91733

Xecora

Xecora has a lot to offer. It's a place to find delightfully creative, Huichol-inspired cuisine. With a tastefully-decorated setting for a casual afternoon date. It's got thoughtfully crafted cocktails and aguas frescas. My go-to dish has always been the red ceviche Sinaloense. But regardless of my order, I must have two marlin tacos gobernador on the side. In my experience–locally and in Baja California Norte–marlin tacos are typically a hit-or-miss order. At Xecora, this perfectly-rationed nugget of joy is the perfect shareable item while you sip on your Tayau cocktail (smoked pineapple, mezcal, habanero) as you wait for a plate of charbroiled octopus or lilikoi ceviche. 

11583 Lower Azusa Rd. El Monte, CA 91732

Los Palomos

In 2021, Los Palomos was at the center of the aforementioned crackdown on street vendors, when two of their employees were arrested following a viral scuffle on the Valley Blvd. sidewalk with police. They relocated their sizzling trompo of al pastor and perfectly-textured, handmade tortillas a few times, despite large barriers being places in different locations across Five Points. It’s unclear whether they've obliged to the city’s code enforcement, but they’re still at Five Points. Lose the battle, win the war. 

11907 Valley Blvd. El Monte, CA 91732

Angel’s Tijuana Tacos

When I was thinking up a list of the best tacos in El Monte, I wanted to avoid places with several LA-area locations and highlight places exclusive to El Monte. But the consistent quality of Angel’s Tijuana Tacos makes this relative newcomer to the El Monte taco scene too good to pass up. There simply isn’t a better al pastor taco in town. 

Side note: After months of relocating from sidewalk to sidewalk, their new truck is now permanently located at the intersection of Peck Rd. 

2800 Peck Rd. El Monte, CA 91732

Birrieria Calvillo Aguascalientes

Any respectable list of tacos must include a good birria taco. This estilo Aguascalientes mom n’ pop shop serves excellent birria de res and chivo. This isn’t the type of place that serves Hot Cheeto-stuffed quesatacos or whatever taco trend you see on your Instagram Reels these days. They offer friendly service, a damn good taco and a flavorful Aguascalientes-style consome spicy enough to scare your hangover away. 

12056 E. Valley Blvd. El Monte, CA 91732

Frank Reyes is a Mexican-American elementary school teacher from El Monte, CA. When not teaching, walking his scruffy mutts or playing futbol, he can be found at any LA Galaxy home game. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

May the Brew Be With You: Craft Beer Meets Science Fiction At Tijuana’s Newest Craft Brewery 

"Spanglish" is Farland's Aleworks double IPA beer and it's as complex as the border city itself.

June 9, 2023

San Fernando Police Officer Charged With Swiping Arrestee’s Cash

San Fernando Police Officer Jeffery King is charged with one felony count each of second-degree robbery and extortion, and one misdemeanor count of petty theft. Earlier this week a warrant was issued for his arrest. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to uphold the law, not to break it," Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.

June 9, 2023

Four Things to Buy at Tijuana’s Largest Mercado For Your Loved Ones Back Home

If you traveled across the border and didn’t lug back a heavier suitcase full of regional goods for loved ones, did you even go at all?

June 9, 2023

Tacos in the Outfield: Meet the East L.A. Taquero Who Got His Start Selling Carne Asada Inside Tijuana’s Baseball Stadium 

Jesus Manuel "Güero" Mendez is the head taquero for Tacos Don Cuco, which has six locations around L.A. and the I.E. But he never forgets his humble beginnings selling tacos outside Tijuana's baseball stadium. A couple times a year, he still makes carne asada for the staff and players as a way to honor that.

June 9, 2023

The Secret Motorcycle Gang History of Tijuana’s Best Fish Tacos

Open since 1991 and operated by one of the daughters of Tijuana's famous fish taco gem, Las 4 Hermanas. The fish tacos at Alicia's are so delicious that they are charged to a running tab since most people always order more than they thought they wanted. But the portraits of old bikers on the restaurant's walls tell a deeper story.

June 8, 2023
See all posts