The 10 best taco trucks in LA, ranked
From Mariscos Jalisco's shrimp tacos to al pastor at Leo's, our ranking of LA's best taco trucks, built from what the city's food critics keep recommending.
By LA This Weekend Team · November 8, 20265 views
Los Angeles has more taco trucks than anyone can count, and most people swear by the one parked closest to home. To build this list, we read what LA's food writers have published over the past two years and ranked the trucks that keep coming up, along with the dish that makes each one worth the drive. Every source is linked at the bottom.
One note before you go: trucks move, hours change and several of these are cash only. Check a truck's Instagram or website the day you go. Eater LA reported in June 2025 that some taqueros cut hours or worked with smaller crews during immigration raids in the city.
1. Mariscos Jalisco
Where: Boyle Heights, with more trucks in Downtown, Pomona and on La Cienega Order: tacos dorados de camarón
Raul Ortega started this seafood truck in Boyle Heights in 2001, and it now has a listing in the Michelin Guide. The fried shrimp tacos, crisp and topped with salsa and avocado, are the reason for the line. Time Out put Mariscos Jalisco first on its food truck list in December 2025, and LA Taco's 2025 ranking of the county's best tacos placed it near the top. The Boyle Heights and Downtown trucks are cash only.
2. Leo's Tacos Truck
Where: 1515 S. La Brea Ave. in Mid-City, plus other trucks around town Order: al pastor
Leo's runs a fleet of 12 trucks, according to Time Out, and the pork is shaved straight off the trompo onto your tortilla. The Infatuation notes the business is run by a family from Oaxaca. The La Brea lot is the classic stop. If you want something beyond pastor, the menu also has buche, cabeza and tripas.
3. Mochomitos Asador
Where: Whittier Boulevard in Whittier Order: arrachera or costilla on a handmade flour tortilla
This Sonoran-style asada truck cooks arrachera, costilla and sirloin over the grill and wraps them in handmade flour tortillas. It is an evening stop. LA Taco has written about it since 2023 and named it among the best tacos in the county in its 2025 ranking.
4. Tacos Y Birria La Unica
Where: 5871 Venice Blvd. in Mid-City and 2840 E. Olympic Blvd. in Boyle Heights Order: birria, beef or goat
Yasmany Mendoza's trucks serve both beef and goat birria, which is rare enough to be worth the trip on its own. Bring cash.
5. Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla
Where: 3600 E. Olympic Blvd. Order: tacos árabes
The Villegas family serves Puebla's tacos árabes, spit-roasted pork wrapped in thick flour tortillas. It is a different taco from the al pastor most Angelenos know, and Time Out ranks it among the city's best trucks.
6. Tamales Elena y Antojitos
Where: Wilmington Avenue and East 110th Street in Watts Order: barbacoa tacos
Maria Elena Lorenzo cooks Afro-Mexican dishes from Guerrero. Come for the barbacoa tacos and leave with tamales.
7. Kogi BBQ
Where: roaming, most reliably in the evening at the Alibi Room in Culver City Order: the short rib taco
Roy Choi's Korean-Mexican truck has rolled since 2008 and is widely credited with starting LA's fusion taco truck wave. There are several trucks now, and the weekly schedule is posted online.
8. Asadero Chikali
Where: 1321 S. Atlantic Blvd. in East LA and 4233 W. Century Blvd. in Inglewood Order: guisados on handmade flour tortillas
Melva Pérez brings Mexicali-style cooking to LA, with stewed guisados folded into flour tortillas made by hand.
9. El Chato
Where: 1013 S. La Brea Ave. in Mid-City Known for: cheap late-night tacos
A Mid-City late-night favorite, open Wednesday through Saturday nights, with tacos that Time Out listed at $2 each.
10. Simón
Where: Sunset Triangle Plaza in Silver Lake Order: fish al pastor
Time Out's December 2025 list praised Simón's fish al pastor. The Infatuation has marked it temporarily closed, so confirm it is open before you head over.
Also worth the drive
- Mariscos El Faro, 6139 N. Figueroa St. in Highland Park and 9070 W. Venice Blvd. in Culver City, for seafood.
- Taqueria Mi Ranchito on Foothill Boulevard in Sylmar, an LA Times pick for carne asada.
- Arturo's Taco Truck in Pasadena, an LA Times pick for lengua.
How we ranked them
We gave the most weight to trucks that LA's critics name again and again across Time Out, The Infatuation, LA Taco, the Los Angeles Times and the Michelin Guide, then to the strength of one standout dish. No truck paid to be on this list. Think we got the order wrong? Tell us below.
Sources
- Time Out Los Angeles: The best food trucks in Los Angeles
- The Infatuation: The best food trucks in LA
- LA Taco: The 69 best tacos you'll eat in L.A. County in 2025, ranked
- LA Taco: Mochomitos Asador's Sonoran tacos in Whittier
- Los Angeles Times: The 101 best tacos in Los Angeles
- Michelin Guide: Mariscos Jalisco
- Eater LA: Street vendors and taqueros during the 2025 immigration raids
Photo: Leo's Taco Truck by steve lyon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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LA This Weekend Team