Skip to Content
Tacos

The Evil Cooks Open Their First Brick-And-Mortar In ‘Hell Sereno’

After being a pop-up taquería since 2018, Evil Cooks' now has a brick and mortar business a few blocks away from their original front yard location, featuring their infamous taco creations like their 'McSatan' and 'Rock Lobster.'

Friends, family, fellow food pop-up owners, restaurateurs, and members of the El Sereno community packed it into the soft opening of Evil Cook's first brick-and-mortar restaurant location on Tuesday evening.

Two minutes after the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the local business chamber, chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia went straight to the counter and started dishing out their devilish tacos for a loyal legion of customers who showed up. 

Evil Cooks Black Brick-and-Mortar. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Chef Elvia and Alex Garcia cut the ribbon with their daughter. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
A full line behind the taco counter. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.

It's a cozy location in the heart of El Sereno that will offer various experiences. As you walk in, you'll see a long taco bar reserved for the underground Kamikaze experience the chefs used to host at their home once a month. Now, guests can come to sit at the bar, and for sixty dollars (tentatively), the chefs will serve you five unique dishes of their choice, omakase-style, anytime they are open. 

The regular menu of infamous taco creations will also be available all day. You can order at the register past the counter and enjoy a seat on the dark patio in the back. For dinner, they've curated a special menu where they'll be bringing back some of the most unique items from their Kamikaze dinners for you to choose from. We got a sneak peek and are excited about dishes like the tom yum agua chile, carne en su jugo noodles, and a baklava Wellington. 

Chef Elvia and Alex Garcia posing for a picture halfway through making a chilakilla burrito. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
The black back patio packed with attendees. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.

The restaurant's first weeks will be a slow rollout, expanding the menu and hours. It will initially be open from five to ten p.m., but plans are to open as early as 11 a.m. soon while implementing the dinner menu just mentioned. 

One curious note is that the taqueros, who are the masters of trompos, won't have a trompo in the kitchen just yet. They have to expand their hood and make room for the troops, but they will be back eventually, and you will still find them at Smorgasburg every Sunday when they close the restaurant. A trompo will also appear for Evil Cooks' planned "dollar taco Tuesdays." 

It's great to see such a talented couple working their way up from a pop-up and having the patience to wait for the right location to open in their community.

"We've been just waiting for the right spot close to home," owner Alex Garcia said. "We didn't rush it. Others opened nearby, but they didn't feel right. When this place became available, it felt perfect."

Chef Elvia Garcia reading ticket order while making fresh tortillas. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Chef Alex Garcia preparing a burrito. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Plates of tacos ready to be served. Photo by Erwin Recinos for L.A. TACO.
The McSatan cheeseburger tacos. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
A plate of tacos including The Simmons, a taco de lengua. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
The hallway wall decorated with metal album covers and Evil Cooks previous dinner menu artworks. Photo by Erwin Recinos for L.A. TACO.
"Hell Sereno" picture. Photo by Erwin Recinos for L.A. TACO.
The menu at Evil Cooks. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Customers eating at the sidewalk table. Photo by Erwin Recinos for L.A. TACO.
Black Roses. Photo by Erwin Recinos for L.A. TACO.
Friends bring a bouquet of black roses for Evil Cooks. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Chef Elvia Garcia says some words before cutting the ribbon. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.
Chef Alex Garcia says some words before cutting the ribbon. Photo by Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.

3333 N. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Nine L.A. Restaurants That Will Do Thanksgiving For You, From Pupusas to ‘Chinese Turkey’

From 12-hour-roasted brisket in East L.A. to a Thai feast in Atwater and Chinatown’s famous Chinese Turkey, have a stress-free Thanksgiving and buy your dinner this season at these L.A. restaurants.

November 12, 2024

This Weekend: Thai-Salvadoran Sandwiches, Asado Negro Tacos, and New Westside Korean

Plus wild caught Maine lobster rolls, Guatemalan garnachas on a lake, and a favorite for tacos al vapor.

November 8, 2024

L.A.’s First Cochinita Pibil is Legendary and Still Amazing, 52 Years Later

“Cochinita is my fountain of youth,” jokes Marc Burgos, the second-generation owner of this pioneering panaderia. At 50 years old, he is younger than his father’s pioneering Yucatán bakery, the first in L.A. to offer cochinita pibil tacos. 

November 7, 2024

The 24 Best Tacos Al Pastor, Adobada, and Árabes In Los Angeles

Is al pastor L.A.'s official taco? Judging by the sheer amount of crispy-edged trompos dotted around every single corner of this beautiful city, we can certainly make that argument. Here is our vetted list that took us nearly two decades to compile. ¡Provecho!

November 7, 2024
See all posts