Why Join L.A. TACO?
What You Get When You Become a Member
Here’s the short version of what your membership unlocks:
1. Members-Only Lists and Guides
You get access to member-only content like:
- The 43 Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, Ranked
- The 69 Best Tacos in Los Angeles, Ranked
- Deep-dive food, store, and neighborhood guides all over the city.
These guides are built from reporters with years of experience covering L.A., not ripped from some generic “Top 10” list scraped together in minutes by AI.
2. Two Members-Only E-Newsletters
- L.A. TACO Weekly UpdateKeeps you informed about what’s happening in L.A.—local politics, policing, housing, culture, food, and the stories that fall through the cracks at bigger outlets. We also do contests and giveaways just about every week.
- What to Eat This WeekendA members-only newsletter that tells you where to eat each weekend, what new or unique pop-ups and spots are worth checking out, and which classics are still hitting.
Members often tell us the newsletters are their favorite surprise after joining.
3. Access To Our App & Members-Only Taco-Finder Map
Members get full access to the L.A. TACO app:
- All our stories in one place, no paywalls.
- A member-only Taco Map and app that helps you find the best tacos, trucks, and mariscos across L.A.
- The ability to save recommended spots and guides, so you can actually use them when you’re out and hungry.
4. Free Entrance to L.A. TACO Events
Members get free entrance to L.A. TACO events, such as:
- Our annual "TACO Madness" festival, along with additional meet-ups at breweries, museums, events, and more.
- Opportunities to meet the chefs, vendors, and people you read about on the site.
- A chance to meet other members who care about the city like you do.
5. Access To L.A. TACO Merch & Drops
We make T-shirts, hats, and other gear that rep L.A. and L.A. TACO:
- All members get 20% off our entire merch collection.
- You’re repping a local, independent outlet, printed in L.A. and designed by local artists.
What L.A. TACO Is (And Why We Ask for Support)
L.A. TACO is:
- Independent, local media based in and centered on Los Angeles.
- A small team of reporters, editors, photographers, and contributors.
- Focused on food, culture, neighborhoods, public records, and accountability reporting.
We Cover:
- Street vendors and taco trucks, from eating recommendations to stories about the businesses and lives of these vital entrepreneurs.
- The ICE siege of Los Angeles and other breaking local news.
- Neighborhood histories and the people who actually live here.
Your Membership:
- Helps pay for real reporting and photojournalism.
- Keeps our news articles free to read for everyone, not just those who can afford bypassing a paywall.
- Let's us say "NO!" to sketchy sponsors or publishing clickbait.
If you’ve ever used an L.A. TACO guide to find a spot to eat, or learned something about the city from our reporting, becoming a member is the simplest way to keep that going.
Is Membership for You?
You’ll get instant value from a membership if:
- You go out to eat in L.A., even a couple times a month.
- You care about what’s happening in your neighborhood beyond headlines.
- You’ve shared an L.A. TACO story, guide, or meme with a friend.
- You want local reporting that isn’t owned by a hedge fund or billionaire.
If that’s you, membership is a low-cost way to support something you already use.
Quick FAQ:
Do I have to live in L.A. to become a member?
No. Plenty of members live in other cities or states and use L.A. TACO to stay connected to what’s going on here.
How much does it cost?
We have multiple membership levels so you can pick what works best for your budget. All tiers help fund our work and unlock member benefits.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. You’re not locked in. You can adjust or cancel your membership whenever you want.
Ready to Join?
If you’ve made it this far and want to support independent local journalism—and also find better tacos for your life—here’s the next step: