Experiences · Worth Fighting Traffic For

Tacos Worth the Drive

Los Angeles does not owe you a taco—but certain counters do earn a freeway hop. This is the short list of trompos, blue-corn houses, and Sonoran flour builds that still feel like a destination once you park. Skip the tourist al pastor selfie circuit; fight traffic for the ones that taste like lineage.

8 picks · Ranked list: best tacos in LA, ranked · places checked 2026-09-22 · See this guide on the map · Have us plan your night out

Want a ranked list?

See Best tacos in LA for our ranked picks.

Questions

Which Mexican restaurants in LA are worth the drive for tacos?

Our eight picks include Taquería Frontera’s trompo in Cypress Park, Villa’s Tacos’ blue-corn house in Highland Park, Perro Exquisite Taco’s Sonoran flour builds in Cerritos and Mírate’s modern Mexican in Los Feliz. For a ranked list, see Best tacos in LA.

The eight taco spots, in order

Double Tap’d placeholder (photo to come) for Taquería Frontera

#1 Taquería Frontera

Cypress Park · Mexican / Tijuana-style tacos · $

700 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065

Cypress Park taquería from a Tijuana taco-chain family—chile-forward trompo, sidewalk stools, adobada al pastor with cilantro crema.

#2 Villa's Tacos

Highland Park · Mexican / blue-corn tacos · $$

5455 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Highland Park handmade blue-corn house with Baja seafood and mesquite-grilled builds—Figueroa flagship.

Photo · Official site

Double Tap’d placeholder (photo to come) for Angel's Tijuana Tacos

#3 Angel's Tijuana Tacos

Echo Park · Mexican / Tijuana-style tacos · $

1185 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tijuana-style stand energy on Sunset in Echo Park (plus Eagle Rock)—adobada and classic street builds for late runs.

“Tijuana-style stand energy on Sunset in Echo Park (plus Eagle Rock)—adobada and classic street builds for late runs.”
On Angel's Tijuana Tacos

#4 Perro Exquisite Taco

Cerritos · Sonoran / Tijuana-style tacos · $$

12731 Towne Center Dr #H, Cerritos, CA 90703

Cerritos oversized Sonoran/Tijuana-style tacos on handmade flour tortillas—Southeast County drive that pays.

Photo · Official site

#5 Mírate

Los Feliz · Modern Mexican · $$$$

1712 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Los Feliz modern Mexican where tacos arabes (beef tongue, octopus, or oyster mushroom) sit inside a cocktail-forward multi-level room.

Reserve →

Photo · Mírate official website

#6 Tacos Villa Corona

Eagle Rock · Mexican / breakfast burritos · $

4400 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Eagle Rock breakfast-shift classic—potato tacos and papas burritos on hand-pressed tortillas.

Photo · Official site

#7 Made in Havana

Hollywood / Melrose · Cuban sandwiches · $$

7168 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Melrose/Hollywood Cuban sandwich counter—pressed sandwiches as a Latin lunch pivot on taco day.

Photo · Official website

“Melrose/Hollywood Cuban sandwich counter—pressed sandwiches as a Latin lunch pivot on taco day.”
On Made in Havana

Pampas Grill — Beverly Grove (Original Farmers Market)

#8 Pampas Grill

Beverly Grove (Original Farmers Market) · Brazilian churrascaria · $$

6333 W 3rd St #618, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Farmers Market Brazilian churrascaria by the weight—picanha, linguiça, and feijoada when the run wants a grilled-meat turn.

Photo · Official site