Skip to Content
Tacos

Ultra Popular Tacos y Birria La Unica to Open Second Taco Truck: Exclusive

9:25 AM PDT on April 24, 2019

Birria y Tacos La Unica

Birria y Tacos La Unica. Photo from the L.A. TACO archives.

[dropcap size=big]Y[/dropcap]asmany and Jaime Mendoza spent years working in other people's taco trucks. "We learned everything we could about this business," Jaime told L.A. Taco. Two years ago, they opened Tacos y Birria La Unica in Boyle Heights, and quickly rose to become one of the hottest taco trucks in Los Angeles. Now the brothers who specialize in Michoacan-style birria are expanding to a second taco truck.

"It's being built right now and should be out within a month or two," Jaime said. "We are still considering our options, but it's either going to be up in the Valley, or over in Whittier."

The news comes on the heels of an incredibly successful 12-month run by La Unica that started with a nod from an international celebrity and put them on track to an appearance in the prestigious Taco Madness Final Four. The live Taco Madness event is May 4 at La Plaza.

Last spring, their Instagram game caught the attention of famed celebrity cookbook author Chrissy Teigen and her husband, singer John Legend. La Unica's goat birria quesataco became her favorite taco, a fondness that she shared with her 23 million Instagram and 11 million Twitter followers.

"We've catered for Chrissy and John several times now," Yasmany said. "She really likes the birria de chivo, and they are just so nice every time we go."

All photos by Memo Torres.

The birria comes from an old family recipe. In fact, Yasmani's and Jaime's mom is the head chef at La Unica. Their father also helps out with truck maintenance. La Unica also makes a good beef birria, but the goat birria is really the star. It's thin and fall-off-the-bone tender, served on handmade tortillas using masa from La Jolla. And mama Mendoza has perfected a technique to essentially flash fry the tortilla on the griddle so that it's crunchy on the outside but soft and almost flaky in the middle.

Throw in a splash of consome and some melted cheese, and you have Chrissy Teigen's favorite taco.

La Unica had already developed a solid following and reputation on the streets, but Chrissy made them a national brand. "People come from all over the country now to try our tacos," Yasmany explained. "And the lines on the weekends are crazy."

RELATED: L.A. Taco Member Perks and Discounts

La Unica currently has 124 thousand followers on Instagram. It was featured on the Taco Trek, a joint project from L.A. Taco and the L.A. Tourism Board of the most essential tacos in the city. And most recently, La Unica made its first ever appearance in the 10th annual Taco Madness where it decisively beat former champions Guisados and Mariscos Jalisco on the way to the semifinals.

"It's been incredible," Yasmany said. "We just kind of started this whole thing two years ago and you never how things are going to go, but we are so honored and humbled by it all."

RELATED: This Is What It's Like to Serve Tacos at Chrissy Teigen's and John Legend's Party

Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Become a Member

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Spot Check! Caviar Cakes, Champurrado Pot de Creme, Tamal Ice Cream, and Free Elote From Becky G

You can also party with L.A.'s first Black women-owned dispensary, enjoy a Lebanese legend past midnight, and pair quesabirrias with funnel cakes.

September 29, 2023

The Seven Best Tacos Along Metro’s K Line, From Crenshaw to Inglewood

The K Line is Metro's newest light rail line that cruises through the heart of Black Los Angeles, from Nipsey Square to Leimert Park. The taco scene along this route is all about hustle, featuring some of the cities must under-the-radar community gems like a historic L.A. taquería with a killer red salsa, lightly crunchy "enchilada tacos," and so much more. Next stop: flavor.

September 29, 2023

Is Hollywood’s Walk of Fame The World’s Worst Tourist Attraction?

A local news station scanned Google, TikTok, and other online reviews to cherry-pick a handful that calls the Boulevard "grubby, slightly scary... dirty, unsafe" and "one of the worst tourist attractions on the planet." We weighed in on the subject.

September 28, 2023

The Eight Best Punk Bars and Venues in Los Angeles

This may be the last generation of beautifully grimy punk bars and venues in a city that is overdeveloping all of these counterculture community spaces into the post-gentrification abyss. Go and support by buying drinks at all these places to make sure they stick around for the next generation.

September 27, 2023

L.A.’s Best Secret Ecuadorian Restaurant Opens Weekends Only at This Wilshire Blvd. Cafe

On weekends,Cafe Fresco transforms into one of the rare places in the city to find seco de chivo, llapingachao, guatita, and other regional Ecuadorian eats.

September 26, 2023
See all posts