Tacos El Chino

The quality and consistency at the now-ubiquitous Tacos 1986 isn’t what it used to be—and while Angel’s has our back across much of the city, this newer evening-only sidewalk stand in Koreatown’s Little Bangladesh is filling the high-quality Tijuana-style taco void in Central L.A. with excellent handmade tortillas, molcajete salsas and juicy, well-made adobada (a.k.a. al pastor). For those farther east or south, Tacos El Chino also has other locations in Arleta, Wilmington, Florence-Graham and Boyle Heights. Eduardo Arizpe, the Puebla-born taquero behind the operation, has built up a strong following on Spanish-speaking social media. The tender asada is a surefire winner, but you can also opt for chicken or chorizo stuffed into quesadillas, mulitas, burritos and even papas locas-style, where a buttery baked potato is topped with meat, salsa and of course, a dollop of creamy guacamole. If you ask us, however, our favorite delivery method at Tacos El Chino is the vampiro. The toasted tortillas offer an almost earthen crunch, and the flattened surface area lets you savor the taste of meat in every bite.