The second I hop off the plane in Los Angeles I want one thing and one thing only: TACOS! I’ve yet to find good tacos in Manhattan (recommendations welcome!) so tacos are the only food I want to eat in LA (well, that and In N Out). You can EASILY eat 15 tacos in a 4 day trip to LA. Trust me, I’ve done it.
1. Komodo
Komodo is one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles not just because of their delicious Asian fusion tacos but because of the variety in their menu.
My usual order is a Komodo 2.0 taco which is seared top sirloin steak, jalapeño aioli & southwest corn salad, and a Blazin’ Shrimp taco which is Spicy Singaporean-style shrimp, sour cream salad & cilantro and incredibly spicy. Beware! I always get a side of truffle fries. Theirs are some of the best I’ve ever had.
Komodo also has tacos with chicken, fish and grapes, pork, stir fry tofu and more. All of their tacos can be made into a burrito or a rice bowl as well. They have a variety of salads and sides including fries, nachos, corn and more. Check out their full menu here.
Komodo has two store fronts, one in Venice on Main Street and one at Pico and Robertson. I came to discover (and love) Komodo from their food truck which would park near my office on Wilshire every Friday. You can find out on Twitter where the truck is parked.
2. Homestate
For breakfast tacos, Homestate, located in Hollywood, is a must visit for me. Their Texas style tacos are $3.50 each. My go to order is a Guadalupe taco which has eggs, chorizo and cheddar and a Pecos taco which has egg and shredded brisket. I usually order a side of the Loaded Queso with chips and drop a little of the queso in my tacos. So good!
Homestate is located on Hollywood Blvd and is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The line can be long during peak times and I always found parking to be difficult as it’s just street parking. You can see the full menu here.
Pro Tip! Being in Hollywood, Homestate is an easy breakfast spot pre or post hike to the Hollywood Sign.
3. Blue Plate Taco
Blue Plate Taco was the first taco spot I fell in love with in Los Angeles so it holds a special place in my heart. Located on Ocean Avenue just off the beach in Santa Monica, it’s a great place to sit outside with friends and enjoy margaritas and guacamole. It’s also a very popular date spot.
My go to order is guacamole and chips to share and the Baja style fish tacos which have black beans, onion escabeche, cabbage and chipotle aioli. They also have a really good side of Corn on the Cob. For margaritas, I usually go Classic but the Passion Smash and Hibiscus Prickly Pear are great as well. If you’re a Sangria drinker, they have delicious red or white passion fruit by the pitcher.
There are parking garages located nearby or valet and it’s a short walk to the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade and several bars and hotels.
Blue Plate Taco has a good sized menu with a variety of large and small plates. But try the Baja style fish tacos. You won’t regret it! 😉
What are your favorite spots for tacos in Los Angeles? Or in NYC!