Jesuchristo! Cactus #1

By Ryan - Saturday September 16th 2006

cactus #1 taqueria My good god. Nothing says Banksy to me like a $5 plate full of tacos. Clockwise from top: Al Pastor, Asada, Birria, Chorizo, Chicharron.

There are many things to love about Cactus #1: The tinseltown locale…the tacos, of course…the tortas…the prices…the paean to ‘unholy gore 06‘ …the close proximity to the willoughby-vine locksmith shack…the inordinate amount of tinseltown crazies that are magnetically drawn to the green-and-orange…

I just started eating there a year ago, but my personal favorite thing about Cactus #1 is the crumbling wall of historic Jeffersons [photo].

That said, every time I visit I can’t stop thinking about comment #1 in this thread from the great taco hunt….

The blood-covered guy was threatening to make the long-haired guy bleed some more. The longhair got on his knees and begged to not be beaten. He acted rather out-of-it and crazy (duh). Mr. Blood realized that he was dealing with someone missing all of his faculties and spared him. I’m guessing that he put his fist through a window on his way down from the clinic. He didn’t look homeless at all. The two guys complained about how they wouldn’t be able to return to work covered in blood. I ordered, had a seat, and enjoyed two wonderful carne asada tacos.

cactus #1 taqueria

Cactus #1 Taqueria
950 N Vine

What now?

12 Responses to “Jesuchristo! Cactus #1”

oliver : 9/16/06 at 4:33 pm

Hear, hear!
(MV) Pete : 9/17/06 at 2:35 am

I seem to recall this being the taqueria from the finale of the second season of House–or is there another Cactus in Hollywood?
oliver : 9/17/06 at 9:51 am

There’s another Cactus on Beverly between Western and Normandie, but that’s not Hollywood.
Melissa : 9/17/06 at 10:16 pm

What is up with the “crumbling wall of historic Jeffersons”?
victor : 9/17/06 at 11:00 pm

Crumbling Wall of Historic Jeffersons is my new band name.
jewlie : 9/18/06 at 11:05 am

catcus #1 is the best taco place in Los Angeles, I take everyone there (and ignore the fact my friends and I almost got shot there once).
Jeannette : 9/18/06 at 2:21 pm

If you find that band name taken, you might try “cascading levels of disrepair” which is how my car’s mechanical problems were recently poetically described.
Bill DeM. : 9/18/06 at 3:48 pm

I saw the Jeffs and the Disreps at the Mint last night. Good show.
lida : 9/18/06 at 11:40 pm

Yup, that’s the stand from House. I don’t think it’s very good. I like Tere’s on Cahuenga and Melrose much better, but it’s not a stand, just in a minimall.
the Dude : 9/20/06 at 9:54 am

Oh me loves the Cactus… hmmm, veggie burrito could love you more? Haven’t had many wacky moments there, but the first time I saw the black space vampire guy was there (everyone acted like he was totally normal until he drove away in is station wagon?!?) and the time the drunk (still drinking a beer) in his truck started telling me his order once he realized I was ignoring him & calling the cops and then swerved up Vine.

Hmmmm, cactus…
sammy : 9/21/06 at 10:04 am

The Cactus on Bev was the one featured on “House.” Coincidentally, I had eaten a deelish al pastor burrito bomb at #2 that very day (#1 is my usual late night overindulgence), putting a nice capstone experience on a Cactus-centric day.

The other night at #1, I listened with delight as an LAPD sergeant (who had brought along his very green partner) mimicked the reedy yet piercing voice of the always bloodshot-eyed order taker, yelling “2 tacos de carne asada!” right back at him every time he leaned out the window to track down the missing customer.

I love the way the order line and the pickup line merge and undulate, forcing patrons to interact and adding to the neighborly feel of this gem. And the meat? Amazing.
Photo Op: Hillary Votes King Taco : 1/11/08 at 8:12 pm

[...] the gauntlet’s been thrown down. When you swing through town, you better drop in on Cactus #1 or other Top 5 taco [...]

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Jesuchristo! Cactus #1

What now?

12 Responses to “Jesuchristo! Cactus #1”

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