Showerthought: The obsession with 'authentic' LA street tacos is missing the point. I saw a new spot in Echo Park charge $8 for a single carnitas taco because it had 'heritage pork' and a handmade tortilla. That's not the point of street food.

3 comments

3 Comments

Totally agree, it's gotten out of hand! Saw a place in Silver Lake last week selling a single al pastor taco for nine bucks because they "dry-aged the pineapple" or something. The whole magic of a street taco is that it's cheap, fast, and delicious. You're supposed to eat three of them without thinking about your bank account.

barnes.brian2mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, I just started hitting up the trucks on the east side again... found a spot off Whittier that does three for seven bucks and they still have the onions and cilantro piled high. Sometimes you gotta go back to the basics.

the_fiona1mo ago

There's room for both kinds of places, right? The cheap trucks Brian mentioned are a lifesaver, but sometimes I want that one special taco made with care, even if it costs more. Paying for better ingredients and someone's time doesn't ruin the food, it just makes it a different experience. Not every taco needs to be a three-for-seven deal to be good. What's wrong with having options for a nice treat?