No Name Taco Stand

On my  last trip to Los Angeles, my friends took me to a secret, no-name taco stand that has gotten quite popular through word of mouth. They set themselves up in front of a tire shop at night, and make fresh Tijuana-style street tacos for about $1.25 each.

It’s a little hard to find, especially since there is another taco stand set up nearby. I took a few photos of the tire store sign, Llantas Usadas El Jarocho, and building so you can make sure you go to the right one if you decide to try them out. When we arrived there was already a lengthy line, signaling we were in the right place.

As you wait, you can watch the tacos being made. Meat is on the grill, fresh tortilla dough is being kneaded, rolled and then cooked. I was mesmerized by the tortillas and watching them puff up.

I believe there were four meat filling options when we went: chicken, carne asada, chorizo, and cabeza. We opted to try them all. The staff works quickly, chopping up the meat, filling your taco and then seasoning it with various salsas. You can choose which salsa and sauces you want, or you can let them choose what they think works best for each filling. We chose to do the latter. 

When we initially went, it was after a long day of eating, and we thought we’d try a couple of tacos. But as the smells wafted over and we continued to wait, our order got bigger and bigger. In the end, Mr. K and I split ten tacos! In our defense, we did plan to take a few for the road.

Once your tacos are ready, you can grab a seat at one of the communal benches.

Our group overall really enjoyed the cabeza, which is made of a mixture of contents from a cow’s head (like cheeks, tongue, etc). I found it to be too gelatinous and fatty so I actually didn’t enjoy that one, but I did enjoy the other fillings, especially the carne asada and chorizo.

We also got some horchata and hibiscus to wash down the tacos with.

For just $1.25, these tacos really were as good as advertised. The grilled meats were moist, the tortillas hot, soft and fresh. The tacos were generously filled with meat and salsas. If you are in the area and in need of a late night snack, it’s definitely worth checking out. I’m so glad my friend brought me here.

The exact hours are not listed, but they open around 6pm and close around 11pm. You can also check out this Eater article I found covering it.

Address: parking lot of the El Jarocho tire shop, 4069 S. Avalon Blvd. (between E 40th Pl and E 41st ST).