I once cut a quote out of an old Glamour magazine and stuck it to my fridge. It read, "No matter where you are, you're never that far from a taco." I found this sublimely comforting.
I assumed I'd be in taco heaven when I moved to L.A. But there was a lot of trial and error. There's an old adage that declared shabbier taco joints as being more authentic and tasty. But trust me, some are cheaper for a reason. Low quality meat, laziness in seasoning and not-so-fresh salsa bring a lot of these places down.
For all you Angelenos who take comfort in Mexican food like Elvis did with peanut butter, bacon and banana sandwiches, here are the best of the best:
Best Bean and Cheese Burritos:
Los Tacos in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Boulevard
Best Everything:
La Fogata on Van Nuys Blvd
Best Carne Asada Tacos:
Benito's (multiple locations and...free guacamole!)
Best Carnitas:
Tortas Mexico on Ventura Blvd
Best Trendy But Still Delicious Tacos:
Pink Taco in Westwood & Velvet Margarita Cantina in Hollywood
This took years and years of research people, so throw on your bibs and get to town. I must also pay respect to a fellow taco lover, L.A. Taco
God bless you, L.A. Taco. Saving me hundreds of dollars in dry tamales and tacos shamefully stuffed with shredded yellow cheese, my calories will be spent on quality, not science projects.
