The 11 best tacos in Los Angeles

Tacos and burritos are a way of life in Los Angeles. They are one of those constants that you can always rely on to be cheap and easy to find, and they always hit the spot.

Every Angeleno has their own list of the best taco places in the city, but there's broad agreement that a breakfast burrito is the best way to wake up on a Sunday morning, street tacos are the go-to on a busy work day, and fancy guacs – as locals call guacamole – pair perfectly with margaritas on a night out. 

Tacos are integral to the Los Angeles food scene. Every time I leave, I find myself homesick for the city's Mexican food. There’s something about the fresh California ingredients that makes it impossible to replicate anywhere else. Whether I'm walking up to a random truck or sitting down at an upscale restaurant, there’s a sense of trust I feel with Mexican food in Los Angeles that I don’t feel anywhere else. 

Are you getting hungry? Me too. Read on to discover my personal list of the best taco and burrito places in Los Angeles. 

Taco trucks 

Stopping by Los Angeles' food trucks is the best way to eat Mexican food like a local. I’d trust most taco trucks in the city to serve delicious tacos for under $5, but here are two of my favorites. 

El Primo Taco , Venice Beach Serving tacos to go on Lincoln Blvd, just 5 minutes from Venice Beach, El Primo Taco is a great spot to grab a quick bite. Get your choice of meaty fillings and then load up your taco with fresh lime, cilantro, pickled onions and serrano peppers. If you’re not great with spicy food, go easy on the salsa!

Brothers Cousins , Mid-City I’ve been going to Brothers Cousins for years, and it’s been amazing to see them grow. Today they have nearly 62k followers on Instagram and cult-like support from Angelenos, but it’s nice to think that I knew them way back when. The house special? Al pastor tacos, made with spit-grilled meat. They have a second truck on Sepulveda Blvd.

Fast casual 

The following taquerias might not be the vibiest restaurants in Los Angeles, but the food is wonderful and quick – perfect for an easy lunch or a speedy pick-me-up after a long beach day or an afternoon cruising the sights .

Sonoratown , DTLA or Mid-City As the name suggests, Sonoratown serves Sonoran-style tacos, which are typically made using thin flour tortillas and served with carne asada and minimal toppings. It's a good spot to discover the flavors of the Mexican northwest, and they also have Sonoran-style chorizo! There are branches downtown and in Mid-City, south of Wilshire Blvd.

Tito’s Tacos , Culver City If you grew up in the Los Angeles area, the odds are that just a mention of the name will get the Tito’s Tacos jingle stuck in your head. This Culver City institution is a casual, outdoor spot with great hard-shell tacos and soft burritos. As they say, the only thing better than a Tito’s taco is two!

Provecho Calimex , Mar Vista At the Mar Vista end of Sawtelle Blvd, in Los Angeles' Westside, this is probably my favorite breakfast burrito in Los Angeles – a bold claim, I know. Alongside your choice of protein (I go for carne every time), the tortillas are filled with eggs, cheese, potatoes, bell peppers, poblanos and grilled onions. And the salsa, oh my gosh, I’m homesick.

Sonoritas Prime Tacos , DTLA and Sawtelle It feels somewhat sacrilegious to recommend Mexican food on Sawtelle, a street that’s famous for its amazing Asian restaurants, but I grudgingly admit that Sonoritas earns its place as one of the best spots to eat in the area. The burritos are the main draw at this foodie stop inland from Santa Monica, and while I typically opt for corn tortillas, you’ll want to get the flour ones here. After, stop in for Taiwanese-style boba at Volcano Tea, I beg you! There's a second Sonoritas branch downtown.

Homestate , Multiple locations A small chain that goes big on flavor, Homestate has the best Tex-Mex in Los Angeles, making it a perfect place for queso and migas. There are branches dotted around the city, including in Santa Monica, Highland Park and Hollywood. Come for the breakfast tacos and you'll quickly understand the appeal.

Playitas Mariscos , Silver Lake One of the only disadvantages of the hip Silver Lake neighborhood in Los Angeles' Eastside is that it’s so far from the ocean, but Playitas Mariscos aims to bring a little slice of the beach to Sunset Boulevard. In addition to sampling the beer-battered fish tacos, definitely split a plate of ceviche (citrus-marinated raw fish) with your table. 

Fancy shmancy 

These are the places you should go if you want your guac and tacos to be works of art that you can post on Instagram, or if you just want to wash down a superior Mexican meal with a spicy margarita. Reservations are recommended for all the following places.

Holbox , South Central While the interior and prices would not suggest that this is the fanciest spot in town, the food is so highly rated that it’s famously difficult to get a reservation at Holbox (named for the Yucatán Peninsula island). Try to get a seat at the counter so you can watch them cook the fish – or for a true feast, try to secure a booking for one of the twice-weekly, eight-course tasting menu dinners. It's just southeast of the University of Southern California.

Mercado , Multiple locations Mercado is a local chain, but the tacos and the drinks menu are above average. The Hollywood branch (on Cahuenga Blvd W) is my personal favorite; you’ll definitely want to get a margarita, and there are plenty of flavor options, from spicy guava and watermelon with basil to smoky yuzu. Pair it with some fish or shrimp tacos to conjure up vibes of the Mexican coast.

¡Jaime! Taqueria , El Segundo The signature guacs alone are certainly something worth writing home about at ¡Jaime! inthe El Segundo neighborhood south of Los Angeles International Airport. Order the guac trio to get a taste of everything and mix and match with some fish, steak or beef cheek tacos. 

Looking for more Mexican flavors in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles' Mexican influences go far beyond its many taco stands. Head to Olvera St in the historic El Pueblo de Los Ángeles quarter downtown for the city's liveliest Mexican market – a great spot to pick up authentic snacks to go. Continue the cultural journey at the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on N Main St, a vibrant community center that explores the important role played by people of Mexican origin in the city's colorful history. Check their website for details of Mexican cooking classes.