inding a good street taco in West L.A. is like finding a good weed dealer (yes, this saying still applies post-legalization). Everyone knows a guy in their neighborhood, and every neighborhood guy has the same basic taco goods. So when someone pops up with some bomb stuff in this stretch of land that is known for its beaches and the 405 rather than for its taco scene, word about it gets around fast.
If you commute in or out of the Westside via National Boulevard, you’ve probably noticed Brothers Cousins Tacos during your frenzied drive back home. Or you’ve probably seen the huddle of their hungry, loyal customers around the delicious fumes of their meats being braised to buttery goodness. If the meats don’t bring you to the yard, then their classic taquero chanting will.
“Que hubole, primo!! Pasale a los tacos, cuantos quiere? Tenemos de pastor, asada, pollo, chorizo, lengua, cabeza, buche, suadero, y tripitas.”
That’s nine different meats he just recited to choose from. They are all served on the classic two-bite small tortilla for a buck and a quarter each. For all you taco snobs, yes, they have their pastor on the trompo, the chicken on the plancha, and cabeza and lengua sweating it out and the chorizera pan filled with all the other meats cooking in their own juice. There are potatoes, onion, and nopales in the mix, to make you feel a little bit better about eating a plate full of tacos.
To answer everyone’s burning question regarding the name: Yes, the taqueros are brothers. However, it arrived at “Brothers Cousins Taqueria” from their philosophy that humans “are all brothers, sisters, or cousins.” “No primo, aquí todos somos primos y hermanos.” They didn’t really have a name until a Yelper named “Shaker D” created an account for them on Yelp and named them after they shared this mindset with him too.
While some rave about their flavorful al pastor or their delicious almost King Taco-ish tasting salsas, it is how they prepare, cook, and serve their meats is what makes the difference.
A short time after that, Instagram food blogger @how.kev.eats.it happened upon the street taqueria and was so impressed that he set them up with the instagram account @brotherscousinstacos just so he could also post a review and recommend them.
So why are these being called the best street tacos on the Westside?
While some rave about their flavorful al pastor or their delicious almost King Taco-ish tasting salsas, it is how they prepare, cook, and serve their meats is what makes the difference. For their suadero—think the beef brisket version of carnitas—and tripitas (intenstines), they chop it up thoroughly and throw it on the plancha for a bit to give it a crisp edge. Their buche (pork stomach) is nice and fatty and goes straight to the tortilla after the chopping block. Same with the clean tasting lengua (tongue) and their tender cabeza (beef head), filled with lots of little textural surprises.
So there you have it, next time you are stuck in traffic and see Brothers Cousins tacos, make that pit stop and celebrate the fact that a bonafide taquero can now be found west of the 405.
Brothers Cousins Tacos can be found at 2914 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA starting at 6 PM. Check their Instagram account for approximate hours. They are closed on Mondays.
