LA Taco Festival 2011
1st Street & Boyle Ave
Metro Gold Line: Mariachi Plaza
12-8pm; Free

Come join thousands of people at the first annual LA Taco Festival and enjoy the best flavors of Carne Asada, Carnitas, Pastor, Birria, Fish, Shrimp, Potato, etc.

Live Music, Fun for the Whole Family!

Les invitamos a celebrar el primer Festival del Taco de Los Angeles con miles de aficionados y disfrutar los ricos sabores de Carne Asada, Carnitas, Pastor, Birria, Pescado, Camarones, Papas, etc.

n/b: The press release listed the hours for this fest as 1-7pm, slightly shorter than those posted on the website. All proceeds from the First Annual L.A. Taco Festival will benefit Jovenes, Inc. (Youth, Inc.), whose mission is to bring opportunities to at-risk populations in Boyle Heights and East LA.

The good people behind LA Taco, one of my favorite local blogs, are currently busy seeding their annual “Best Taco, Los Angeles” poll. I was asked to help seed their poll for the readers and voters, and I did do that. However: This task gave me pause.

Since moving to Long Beach last year I’ve been content to explore the new area, secure with the belief that my day job on the west side meant that at the drop of a pin, I could still tell a complete stranger where to get a decent taco within any 12-block radius of Los Angeles proper, having lived there for a decade and arguably working there, still. Looking over my list, however, I’m feeling less and less like that is the case. Please: Help. What am I missing? Much love, Ryan

1. Tacos Sinaloa: The Vampiro (Highland Park)
Ave 54 / Gold line general vicinity
Note that this is an entirely different “Vampiro” than the vegetable drinks that are called the same thing at Cactus #1 on Beverly. Of the two, when hungry, this easily would be the Vampiro you’d prefer. Wash it down with 80 beers from Mister T’s Bowl or the Little Cave. Though I no longer date a girl in HP I REALLY MISS THIS TINY TACO WAGON!

2. El Atacor 11: Potato Taco (Cypress Park)
2622 N Figueroa St
Buy in bulk. Great party food.

»continue reading Completely Random, Probably Outdated List of 10 Decent Tacos in Greater Los Angeles

For the eighth time this season, the Lakers won at home while holding their opponent under 100 points–barely so–110-99 over the Hornets–a feat which, as everyone knows, means a coupon good for 2 free tacos from Jack in the Box to all fans in attendance. (Hey, when you’re pounding on weak teams and games turn to garbage time, you’ve got to keep yourself interested somehow, be it focusing on intriguing individual match-ups, such as Jordan Farmar going head-to-head with former Bruin teammate Darren Collison, or watching for Shannon Brown to take flight and posterize someone, or holding out for two lousy, free 99-cent tacos.)

Graphic photo of said 99-cent tacos and an ingredient list below, if you dare.

»continue reading Laker Taco Tracker–Last Night’s Result: 110-99 Over Hornets,Tacos Secured

Tacos de camaron! That’s deep-fried, right?

“Yah.”

OK, add one of those as well.

Here I am rolling the dice at an incredibly goofy-looking truck just off Sixth street. Let’s do this and get it over with…

TRUCK NAME
The Surfer Taco

LOCATION
Sixth @ Witmer (a few electrifying blocks west of the 110) (Pacific Dining Car-adjacent)

DID THEY TWEET YOU THE LOCATION? LIKE THE KOGI?
…

TODAY’S ORDER
1 de chorizo
1 de asada
1 de camaron
1 Jarritos Refresco de Mandarina

QUANDARIES AND HUNGER-WROUGHT POSTULATIONS WHILE MARVELLING AT TRUCK
»continue reading Under $10: The Surfer Taco

In Los Angeles, taco trucks have become so commonplace, like graffiti on overpasses and the occasional hooker j-walking the street at 9 am.  It’s hard to give it anymore attention than it already gets.  But driving down on Adams Blvd, I noticed this one particular truck out the corner of my eye by the “R” Ranch Bodega market on Adams, just west of La Brea.  Besides the usual tacos, burritos and quesadillas offered by most trucks, I was attracted by the words painted on this truck: tortas ahogadas.  I asked my coworker RM, who’s also my human, Spanish-dictionary, what that meant… “drowned torta”.   Drowned in what though?  I had to find out.

»continue reading Under $10: Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara Truck

Above: Prince Taco, scoundrel; eligible bachelor and heir apparent to the throne of Taco

TORTA, LOSANJEALOUS (Losanjealous):: Trouble brews in the east — in the form of the King’s teenage daughter. As torchlight flickered the walls of the [Valley Boulevard] kingdom’s great tapestry-laden stone hall evening last, the reknown patriarch was overheard spluttering “You Shall Do What Is Best For Your Kingdom First And Foremost — I Will Have No More Of This Talk Of That….Commoner, Cactus!” The King then stormed out of the room, escabeche robes fluttering in his wake.

“It is Cactus, No Scoundrel Son of Taco, That Be the Food of Love!,” returned the princess.

“I shall grant thee then excess; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die,” grinned His Majesty conspiratorially and wickedly to no-one, rounding the corner of the stone hall, jalapeño sceptre clattering.

Repeated comment calls to Burrito King, father of three and supreme ruler of the kingdom of Burrito, were not returned as of press time.

Fig. 1.

1. Upon lifting off the lid off your Tito’s Box™, do not become alarmed should you see only fried tortilla triangles (“chips”) and not your taco(es), salsa, burrito(es) and guac. (Guac optional.) [Fig. 1]

2. Invert the top lid of your Tito’s Box™ and place adjacent to box bottom half.

3. Slowly remove “chips” and place within inverted lid to uncover your ordered food items. [Fig. 2]

4. Enjoy, alternating bites from chips/salsa/guac to food item(s) and back.

5. Repeat.

Fig. 2.

NOTE: Your oil-dappled Tito’s Box™ lid bearing your purchase total scribbled in pencil is an acceptable receipt for business tax purposes.

From Oregon’s Mid-Williamette Valley’s StatesmanJournal:

Customers at Luis’s Taqueria on Front Street in Woodburn were caught by surprise Friday when Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama walked into the Mexican restaurant during the noon hour and ordered a plate of carne al pastor — a pork dish seasoned with pineapple, onions, cilantro and lime.

From Official Obama HQ blog:

On the campaign trail in Oregon today, Barack stopped at Luis’s Taqueria in Woodburn. He was joined by his brother-in-law Craig Robinson (who was recently hired as the head basketball coach for the Oregon State Beavers). The two sat down for a quick meal of chicken tacos…

So which was it? Al pastor or chicken tacos? The photos seem to depict some dark meat, possibly al pastor , on the plate nearest him. Was there an attempt on the part of Obama’s official blog to cover up an al pastor selection with a more pedestrian, less potentially-controversial chicken selection in order to increase his appeal to undecided swing state voters? Or, perhaps they feared a public al pastor allegiance might subconsciously conjure up all that Pastor Reverend Wright nonsense.

PREVIOUSLY

Photo Op: Hilary Votes King Taco

Crushing a taco at the Boyle Heights King Taco, Hillary erases any and all doubt that she’s one of the people. No word on whether the red salsa made her tear up.

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

KING TACO

Photos: Reuters

Live, in person, fresh out of the oven, here are the official tallies of our 2007 end-of-year reader polls. Discover within our readership a rampant love for Muse, Daft Punk, Daft Punk, Muse, Muse, Muse, Daft, Punk, Muse, Daft Punk, Hot Hot Heat and not a goddam thing else a few other inconsequential items (coffee, tacos, massages…whatevs).

Once more for the new folks: All of our polls contained reader-submitted choices, and multiple votes were encouraged for the sake of good competition. Official 2007 results, all topics, below. Have fun, don’t be sore losers but do feel free to discuss your votes, and keep your eyes peeled for the compiled Unofficial Results wherein you can actually see how many people voted, and for what, broken down by individual polls (hopefully in one gigantic, gag-inducing, utterly unmanageable post as compared to so much staggered bullshit).

Without further ado…
»continue reading Reader Picks 2007: The Official Results

We’ve a wealth of material to get through before year’s end, to be sure. Thus far we’ve asked for your take on the best individual concert, festival, breakfast and parking spot, and you have responded accordingly. While those polls remain open and incredibly active, at this time we’d like to find out what you consider your favorite taco in Los Angeles. Feel free to go granular and categorize by type as well as purveyor, i.e. “asada @ estrella – HP location #3 – but not that damn pastor” … Multiple votes are allowed so vote now, twice more this afternoon, and two dozen times after this evening’s tacos.

UPDATE, 1/02/08: Polls closed; results now online.
»continue reading Reader Picks ’07: Your Favorite Taco

Less Jack More Jill presents event #3: Miss Your Face featuring Voxhaul Broadcast, Carolina Liar and assorted miscellany @ Airliner (Broadway, Lincoln Heights, dangerously near porno burrito and chapalita) this evening. Go check out Voxhaul Broadcast prior to their upcoming Spaceland and Silverlake Lounge gigs – on the cheap, no less.

From the mouth of Jill:

“We like to throw in extras…art shows, comedians, facepainting. We’re not in it for profit. We just want people to come hang out, have a good time, and see or hear great art for little to no cover.”

The bands sound great but the event gets the nod this evening for the lucrative $1 PBR policy. Cheapskates take heed: No cover before 9pm, $1 PBR until 11pm. My advice: Go to chapalita. Chapalita also has no cover. Get some tacos. I recommend al pastor; it is super fucking delicious. Go to Airliner at 859pm. Get in free. Eat the tacos and guzzle a few $1 PBRs as fast as humanly possible; if the bands and comedians aren’t to your liking, hooray! you still win.

With a masthead stylistically reminiscent of veteran neighblog Franklin Avenue, the Higland Park-based York Boulevard made a modest entrance into the neighborhood blog realm earlier this month. I was introduced to the site after being forwarded an article entitled Top 10 Street Food Vendors. The site offers a brief mission statement, uncredited to any author:

YORK BLVD. is a blog dedicated to Highland Park and it’s residents. The North East is the best part of L.A. and we’re here to spread the love.

It is always refreshing to find a dedicated, hyper-localized blog in Los Angeles. Here’s hoping the efforts eventually grow into something authoritative regarding Highland Park.

Regarding that aforementioned street vendor list, however: Though it is comforting to see façade favorite Rambo’s Tacos and sporadically available vampiros vendor Tacos Sinaloa get respective nods, I am personally puzzled as to the placement of Estrella in the top slot. Why does everybody like this place so much? »continue reading Northeast Welcomes New Taco-Infused Blog

As promised, my take on Chicago tacos at this time. I had the good fortune to be hosted by a foodie during my stay. One day we wound up at Carniceria Leon, a deli/meat market/taqueria in Wicker Park. The joint had Al Pastor skewered on a giant spit; as such, I knew I was in the right place.

Five second review: Generous portions, hybrid salsa, delicious tacos. I was expecting the requisite “con todo?” query, so it was bit of a surprise to hear the guy behind the counter ask if we wanted them served “with onions y cilantro?” but, being the only white people in the joint at the time, nice of him to change it up for us.

The last time I had pastor served from a spit, I was in Boyle Heights. Tacos were served on a makeshift table. The prep station was a minivan’s passenger door area. The whole operation was situated in an automotive repair lot. »continue reading The Al Pastor Invitational: Wicker Park v Boyle Heights

This is a wide shot intended to convey the general atmosphere of the festival. Festivals frequently feature large numbers of people (“festival goers”), mechanical contraptions that move bodies through space, against our normal physics in an enjoyable fashion (“rides”) and temporary food and consumer product vendor stations (“booths”). Festivals frequently take place in the open air, as can be seen here.

Here is another one of these festival atmosphere photographs, but taken from a different vantage point. Note booths on the left, festival goers, and ride, in this case, some sort of centrifuge contraption.
»continue reading 2007 Sunset Junction Street Fair