If there’s one food Los Angeles is known for, it would surely be tacos. The native Mexican dish has a storied history in its homeland, whose territories once included California. With competing narratives placing the beloved dish of corn or flour tortillas folded around fillings as varied as carnitas and ice cream, its origins may be hundreds or even thousands of years old.
What is known for sure is that sometime in the 1930s, taco culture made its way into the United States via native Mexican street vendors in the Oliveros Street neighborhood of L.A. Called “Chili Queens.” Their humble food carts started a tradition that would bloom from street food to fast food chains to a ubiquitous presence in uncounted restaurants across the country. As the indigenous treat evolved, Black entrepreneurs added their own talents into the decidedly Latino culinary genre.
Nowadays, many Black-owned restaurants in the City of Angels area have brought their traditions to taco culture. Making their marks as premier foodie hotspots in Los Angeles, these innovative chefs have incorporated diverse approaches to the Mexican mainstay by honoring home country recipes and introducing their takes on the iconic dish. Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles date back to the 1880s, and everything from Afro-Caribbean to soul food has earned a place in the local culinary scene. Now, Black-owned taco spots are generating a whole new legacy — one that foodies are only too eager to enjoy.
Are you ready to taste your way through some of the very best tacos in Los Angeles? Here are some of the top taco spots for you to try out. And just so you know, some of these Black-owned restaurants have some very unique tacos that will blow your mind!
12007 South Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (323) 348-4441
There’s something to be said for keeping things in the family. The Original Taco Pete traces its origins to two sisters, Gladys and Garthea Jones, who worked in South Central L.A. as short-order cooks back in the 1970s. Approached to improve on basic taco meat recipes, they brought their A-game to the table and leveled up the product. Working with their nephew, the sisters developed the menu of this key local institution, which has endured for decades. The soft shell taco is the classic go-to whether you want just one or feel like ordering a platter of 100. But the fun doesn’t end there. A whole bunch of burritos populate the choices, from Angus steak varieties to turkey meat options. Current owners Aaron and Charles Jones are also proud of their “Juicy Chicken” taco, with a decidedly soul food touch thrown in. For those looking to throw a party, The Original Taco Pete is also big on their catering services, something they are only too happy to promote. So listen up, L.A.: next time you want to throw a down-home taco party, give the Jones Bros a call, and if you’ve still got room for dessert, check out the vanilla buttercream cake.
Must Try Taco: Juicy Chicken Taco
5303 W Pico Blvd Suite #01, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (323) 932-6253
The extroverted impresario of Sky’s Gourmet Tacos isn’t fond of the word “fusion,” even if that might be the easiest way to explain the vision of the restaurant she first conceived of back in 1992. Barbara “Sky” Burrell was a former executive with McDonald’s when she realized she just had to do her own thing, dreaming of a Black-owned restaurant of her own. Starting with just $2,000 and a passion for tacos, she got started. And now, her place has become coveted among top Los Angeles taco recommendations. Items like the filet mignon taco give you an idea of where things get going with Sky. But it’s her strong soul food infusion into her menu that is the real game changer. This friendly cozy spot isn’t fancy despite the name, but the recipes totally are. Crawfish tacos have that nice Cajun twist. Yam and wild rice tacos serve vegan needs. And if you really want to feel like a million bucks, check the lobster burrito, a self-described “opulent delight.” Or you can go straight soul and get a rack of Texas-style ribs. You can even order some salmon nachos. Sky loves to cater in case you want to impress party guests. And be sure to treat your sweet tooth with the pineapple cheesecake.
Must Try Taco: Filet Mignon Taco
2419 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (323) 291-1500
They say that variety is the spice of life, and in a place like World Wide Tacos, that saying is amped up to the max! Proudly touting their menu of over 150 — count them! — different tacos, all made fresh to order, you won’t find a more diverse selection of the Mexican mainstay. Another saying to keep in mind is “good things come to those who wait” since delivering on these orders can mean waiting from 15 minutes to a couple of hours to get these delicious victuals in your hands, but it’s oh so worth it! Famously featured on the HBO show Insecure, the grilled lamb taco has become something of a local legend. Owner Fredrick Sennie’s selections include an unbelievable parade of choices. Check it: lemon-lime steak, pastrami, orange duck, jerk chicken, scallop, crab, shrimp and lobster, and potato and turkey. Vegans also have much to love here: grilled tofu, veggie buffalo chicken, bean-and-corn — you get the idea. It’s a tiny, bare-bones shack, making the output all the more astounding. Plan accordingly and employ patience, you will experience some of the most unique foodie hotspots in Los Angeles.
Must Try Taco: Grilled Lamb Taco
7782 San Fernando Rd., Sun Valley, CA 91352
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (818) 389-3517
Welcome to the San Fernando Valley! This iconic slice of greater L.A. is a key part of the area’s identity, hiding a wealth of ultimate foodie destinations in the city. While AhhhHuevo is based in the Valley, this Black-owned food truck romps all over with a loyal following of hungry patrons constantly chasing behind. But it’s also a favorite for folks seeking to feed a party with a hip truck parked outside their crib. For those who speak Spanish, you may have guessed that this is a breakfast-focused taco enterprise, since “huevo” translates to “egg” in English. Start with some Ahh Pinoy, which is tater tots loaded with pork belly and poached eggs. Chicken and waffles are a morning favorite they serve up as well. Of course, the classic breakfast burrito is here to get your day started right. The Concha DTM seafood sandwich makes for a perfect brunch treat. And the paisa burrito is good any time of day, blending crispy Nashville-fired chicken with cheesy eggs. That might be the best “morning after a party” meal ever! But it’s not all about breakfast themes here. The southwest chicken taco will tickle your ranchero taste buds. Oh, and they got killer burgers too!
Must Try Taco: Southwest Chicken Taco
535 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (661) 405-4110
What happens when you take a Mexican staple and add some serious Afro-Caribbean influence into the mix? When it comes to the best Black-owned taco spots in Los Angeles, eager diners can find their answer in It’s Curry Time L.A. Chef Tina has brought a little island flavor to this downtown spot, which features fun events like Mocktail Mondays and street parties like one they threw down the coast for San Diego Comic-Con. As for the menu, start with the signature curry chicken taco. Curry potato tacos come with authentic Trinidad inspiration, down to some mango salsa. Jerk chicken tacos will make you feel like you just flew into Jamaica, mon! But you can also sink your teeth into Southern-fired catfish nuggets to get that taste of good old home cooking. And yes, they bring the collard greens, too, and the candied yams are to die for. Banana pudding comes loaded with nilla wafers so don’t tell your dentist, y’all! And if you’re looking for an original homemade beverage to wash it all down with, just wait till you quench your thirst with the pineapple ginger splash. Everything here comes with the spicy kick you’d expect from a Creole kitchen so be ready for big flavor profiles.
Must Try Taco: Curry Chicken Taco
6619 S Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90047
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram |Facebook | (323) 834-2693
A relative newcomer to the local foodie scene, Baba’s Vegan Café is fast becoming a favorite among Los Angeles eateries. A labor of love many years in the making, owners Wo’se Afi’shabaka and Lauren “Anu” Wolley Ross created this veggie-friendly establishment with the dream of healing community rifts and bringing people together to a positive space. They see their food as a key component in fostering a collective sense of unity. And it seems to be working, judging by the devoted clientele. Check out their astounding walnut vegan tacos for unexpected flavors and a satisfying meal. The “bachos” put traditional nachos and cheese to shame with this incredibly tasty plant-based take on the perennial comfort food dish. Lentil burgers are impossibly addictive, leaving you wondering how the heck they made it work. And if you like what you’re chowing down, you can even take vegan patties home by the dozen, choosing from “beefy” soy to spinach-kale and curry potato. For the owners, providing a humanitarian approach to healthy meals and contributing to ending the plague of “food deserts” in their South Central neighborhood, the goodness begins with intentions and continues to your belly!
Must Try Taco: Walnut Vegan Taco
1208 Long Beach Blvd., Ste A, Long Beach, CA 90813
Black Restaurant Week Listing | Website | Instagram | Facebook | (526) 269-0107
Owner Toran Gray knows a thing or two about banana pudding. In his family, it was a rare item that you best grab a plate of before it was gone. Passed down from his grandmother to his aunt and mom, Gray decided this incredible dessert recipe was too good not to share with the world. So he went to work, opening Extraordinary Banana Pudding, which not only brought this sweet treat to the masses but also honored his granny who passed away in 2022. Now you may be asking what the heck a pudding place is doing on a Best Tacos of Los Angeles list. Well, guess what? These folks make a legit banana pudding taco! That’s the truth of it, and you’ll have to taste it to believe it. While you’re there, be sure to stock up on some other amazing varieties of banana pudding, from butterscotch to Oreo to pistachio. For those with special dietary concerns, there are plenty of gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan options on hand, meaning there’s something for everyone at this awesome place.
Must Try Taco: Banana Pudding Taco
Now that we’ve taken a trip through this selection of the best Black-owned taco spots in Los Angeles, remember that the story of food is the story of ourselves. The family traditions and regional recipes that these brilliant entrepreneurs bring to the tables are more than just about satisfying our taste buds. It’s a transmission of cultural information, passing down the toils of dedicated chefs through generations coming from regions like the Deep South, Caribbean islands, or Mother Africa.
Sharing in these meals can spark conversation and lead to discovery not only of someone else’s background but even one’s own. Don’t be surprised if some of these flavors bring back memories of your grandmother’s kitchen or perhaps that home-cooked meal you always remember. Food brings people together and honors the past while looking to the future. The fundamental nature of nourishment in these settings goes beyond the body, feeding our very spirits, too. Black chefs infusing their talents into Mexican tacos is just another way our kitchens can help the ethos of global unity.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
Content Team
