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Tacos 1986

3.7 (806 reviews)
InexpensiveTacos
Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

Order Tacos 1986 Takeout or Delivery

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Business Info

TACOS 1986 ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Tacos 1986

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Reviews With Photos

Micaela M.

Hearing so much of this place had me intrigued to try it and see if it lived up to the comments. I chose the beef burrito, and I thought, unfortunately, it was just ok, seemed a bit overhyped as it was super small and overall basic. I did enjoy them putting guac in it, though, as that is unusual and a nice surprise.

$35 worth of food. Not a single salsa comes with Mexican food ? Not even one napkin ?
Ryan V.

I guess this place must be really going through it ! $35 worth of Mexican food and they can't be bothered to throw a single salsa for the customer ! Not even a single napkin. Food is disgusting too. What a horrible, horrible decision. Shout out to the person that packed this order with such hatred for the customer. I'm sure the owner will love you for this !

survivors
Danny M.

Just ok for me. Vibe felt a bit "chain-ish," and I guess that's because it kinda is. Anyway, how's the food? Al Pastor and Carne tacos were ok, but honestly, I think I can get better tacos, cheaper at some of the stands and trucks all around town. Ironically, I the beans and rice were better than the tacos. I also like the quac and the way they use whole fried tortillas as the chips. A niche novelty, but not enough to rate more than 3 stars.

Exterior
Mike L.

Consistently good tacos each visit! Quick service, no frills interior, but helpful staff. Pollo asado is a fav, Al pastor also very tasty. Pro Tip: guac included on every taco along with a nice self serve salsa bar!

$3.50 Taco
Erik G.

I had an appointment nearby and I had some time to kill and grabbed a late lunch. I've heard the name before, but didn't know much about this place. I love Tacos! I knew I had to check it out! The staff are very friendly and helpful. They gave me some suggestions on what to order. I ordered the Carne Asada and Al Pastor Tacos. I liked the Carne Asada Taco the best, but they were both good. The tacos were $3.50 each which is pretty pricy, but given the location of DTLA - I can understand. I would come back again!

Menu 5/3/25
Selene S.

We were in the area for a concert so stopped here for a quick dinner. It was a quiet ambiance inside with sufficient tabletop seating. Staff was helpful with the ordering process. We got the pollo tacos a la carte ($3.75 ea). They come with guac, onions, cilantro, and salsa. There was a short 10 min wait which wasn't too bad at all. The tacos were pretty good. Chicken was tender but could have been more seasoned. Combined with the salsa and guac though? It was delicious. This is the first time I've seen a taco place include free guac for tacos. I would come back if I'm ever in the area again.

Adobada Taco
Austin B.

tl;dr these standard, (relatively) inexpensive Tijuana-style tacos aren't worth the wait or your appetite While tacos have always been a cornerstone of the Los Angeles dining scene, Tijuana-style street food has only recently been the vogue in LA. One of the breakout stars was Tacos 1986, operated by Victor Delgado and Jorge Alvarez. Despite its name, Tacos 1986 is a relative newcomer to the LA taco scene (1986 refers to the year of Delgado's birth). The brand debuted as a Hollywood taco cart in 2019 and was met with social media and critical acclaim. Now, Tacos 1986 boasts plenty of brick-and-mortar locations around SoCal, as well as a weekly appearance at Smorgasburg. In brief, Smorgasburg is a Sunday-only, open-air food market at the Alameda Produce Market in Downtown LA. Parking in the ROW's dedicated garage is quick and easy, with 2 hours complimentary. Bathrooms are located out of the market, a short walk down the graffiti art side street. Lukewarm San Pellegrinos are distributed at the entrance, just beside the questionably clean water bottle filling station. Smorgasburg is pay-as-you-go, and the tenured vendors serve upscale street food with a Pan-Asian or Pan-Latin American bent. Underneath Tacos 1986's bright red canopy, the staff press fresh tortillas and tend to the trompa. The cart itself is painted with a brick-like pattern and flanked on either side by additional prep counters. My partner and I arrived at the weekly Smorgasburg festivities just after opening, and we were rewarded with cool weather and short lines. After a quick lap, we approached the moderately long queue for Tacos 1986. When it finally was our turn, we asked for the signature, off-menu El Perron, to which the cashier responded with a blank stare and a shrug. We settled for an Adobada Taco and presented our coupon, which the cashier quickly waved off. A bad taste already left in my mouth, I waited another 5 minutes for our food to be completed. The taco, served on a paper plate with stylized parchement paper, was good-not-great: the standard al pastor meat was rich and overwhelming loaded with sauces and guacamole. The relaively small taco set me back $3.86, expensive for Tijuana tacos but a relative bargain compared to the rest of the Smorgasburg field. And while the taco was ultimately enjoyable, Tacos 1986 didn't particularly stand out as a must-try taqueria -- rather, the questionable service was the most memorable part of the meal. Save your Smorgasburg appetite for one of the many other standout vendors.

Carne Asada & Eggs Taco
Justin A.

This is my go to spot in downtown for my favorite breakfast tacos. I always get the carne asada and eggs taco and they hit EVERY TIME. The flour tortillas here are some of the best. Especially at this location. The workers are friendly to me all the time and give me great service. Ive tried some of their other tacos as well as their breakfast burritos and I haven't had any misses. It's right in the middle of downtown so parking is tough but it's definitely worth checking out.

Menu + Counter
Abigail I.

Claudia was so nice and gave us recommendations for the breakfast tacos. 10/10 service and food

Lonely counter
Lucho V.

Super expensive tacos that took forever to receive.I was the only customer and I had to wait 20 minutes for 12 tacos. $50 for 12 tacos is not exactly a deal.Rude service didn't help the situation. The meat and tortillas were decent but not for $50. Only 3 meat options and the pastor wasn't ready so we settled for asada and chicken. The place could use some cleaning. Not welcoming and dirty. Their only plus is their salsa bar. Other than that there's no reason for me to return.

Dan A.

I'm very much a fan. It's been five years since my last visit, and the food is still fantastic. The carne asada tacos are a favorite, and the service has always been reliably friendly. Tacos 1986 is consistently a great choice. Five stars.

Carne asada
Michelle T.

I saw a whole bunch of people walking around with tacos 1986 bags so I had to go try it. We tried the classic tacos Al Pastor store one and a Carne Asada . I love the variety of selection of different hot sauces. They were all very good. my favorite is for sure the Al Pastor! The taco is also so unique it was like a fluffy egg almost . So unique and different definitely worth stopping by for a late night grub.

Naomii H.

I just left this place. Horrible customer service on behalf of the girl w/ green hair. Me & my friend had a hard time opening the door we tried to get the 2 workers attention and they both completely ignored us but the there store hrs say open til 3AM. We saw the next people try and open the door same thing as us couldn't open the door. I called the business and it ranged not once did they pick up she lied and said that she did. Saw the next party of pple open the door so i went in and told the girl w/ green hair we tried coming in you ignored us i called and you guys also didnt answer and was completely stand off ish. Horrible customer service this is who you guys have representing your store? Embarrassing and shitty service definitely wont bother ever trying the food here.

Quesdaillas

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2 months ago

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Kevin S.

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6 days ago

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3 months ago

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8 days ago

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4 months ago

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8 months ago

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Victor D.

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5 days ago

Tacos not like before, pretty bad...cold. Not sure what happened, only one guy working there.

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16 days ago

I love this place! Taco Tuesday is the best, buy one item get one free. Fast friendly service.

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Jorge A.

Thank You Eric M. Very happy you enjoyed

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7 months ago

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3 months ago

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9 months ago

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11 months ago

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1 month ago

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2 months ago

Food took 20 minutes for just two tacos and it was not busy at all. Tortilla just broke apart. I wouldn't come back to be honest.

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 months ago

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25 days ago

mushroom/ egg burrito doesn't have guac listed and it was Added without asking. I'm allergic. Please don't add anything without asking

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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5 months ago

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2 years ago

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3 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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Page 1 of 21

Tacos 1986 Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Tacos 1986

Anyone purchase the 1lb of meat? If so, which one? Was it worth it? I live far and thought I'd bring some home. Thanks.

What do all the Mommies get here, besides Feathering it?

Carne asada!

What are the business hours during the quarantine?

11am-12pm Downtown and 11am-9pm Westwood. TACOS1986.COM for pickup or delivery orders

What is adobada?

Marinated pork, similar to al pastor.

Does anyone know if the meat is gluten-free? Besides mushroom tacos are there other gluten-free options?

Everything on our menu es gluten free, except for our flower tortillas.

Is the salsa spicy?

They have different kinds and levels of spicy. All are good and even the spicy ones have more flavor than kick. I'd recommend trying them all!

Are the hours on this listing correct, only open Sunday from 10am - 4pm?

No, they are open until midnight. The hours for 12-4 is only for Smorgasburg.

Do you make anything vegan?

Hi Jen, Yes, there is a Mushroom taco on a corn tortilla which is also Gluten Free.

View All 14 Questions

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Avenue 26 Tacos

4.4(675 reviews)
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Avenue 26 has a cult following, and I'm happy to announce I am part of the cult now. I really…read moreappreciate that they're open 24/7 every day, so I can visit any hour I'm craving tacos in LA. The first time I went on a weekday in the middle of the day, so it was super empty and not the best because nothing was being made fresh- the meats and potatoes were kind of just sitting in bins so although the flavor was there, the cooled down temperatures really affected the taste. HOWEVER, I visited a few more times after that, these times all late at night, which really turned my experience around. I think at those times there were a lot more people and long lines, so everything was being made fresh and it being hot just made the food taste so so much better. I love how the toppings are all self-serve, and the hot potato is my favorite side. Carne asada, lengua, and al pastor are my go-tos. You'll want to add hellaaa green sauce to everything- I could literally drink that stuff straight. Love the big easy parking lot here, I'll mention that I saw a few security people checking all the cars and plates so I wouldn't recommend trying to park here and walk somewhere else!

First time for parking lot tacos for me!…read more I was feeling a bit peckish but didn't want to eat too much, so Yelpers, thank you for leading me here! I was able to snag two tacos for $4.50 that tided me over until dinner time. Now: bring your car because there's no place to sit! I arrived on foot, so dined standing up. Quite a variety of means - I'm a "safe" eater and enjoyed pollo and asada. I loved the self-serve salsas; the green salsa was delish and had a good little kick to it. Happy to have found this spot, and want to come back! 2026: 32/100

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Avenue 26 Tacos - Carne asada

Carne asada

Avenue 26 Tacos - Hot sides

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Villa's Tacos - Vegan Trio. Grilled soyrizo, beans and nopales, soyrizo with potatoes

Villa's Tacos

4.4(1k reviews)
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My first time trying Villas Tacos and I loved it! Felicia, the cashier, was so sweet and helpful…read more Great service and great food!

This taqueria featured in Bad Bunny's halftime performance has some of the best tacos I've tried…read morethus far in LA. The quesotacos from here are so delicious. For for first timers, I'd recommend ordering the Villa's Trio which is what I got. Those come with the Ranchera Asada quesotaco as well as the Papas con Chorizo and Black Bean con Pollo quesotacos which are a trio exclusive. All the tacos were meaty, flavorful, and crispy. You honestly don't even need the side sauces since the tacos are already flavorful on their own. Great quality. I also got the Watermelon Agua Fresca which was refreshing, tasty, and sweet. Goes well with the tacos. I also got the Jamaica Agua Fresca, but that one was a bit too tart for my liking. The line can get long, so I would prepare to wait for up to an hour on weekends. There's ample free parking at the grocery store lot nearby. For seating and tables, it's limited and competitive. You just have to get lucky if a spot clears up as soon as you get your food. I also like how the restaurant handles crowd control. They allow a couple of people at a time to go inside, order, and get their condiments. You wait outside until they call you for your food. I like that it didn't feel crowded while I was getting my condiments. I highly recommend this spot and I will definitely be coming back.

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Villa's Tacos
Villa's Tacos - Villa's trio

Villa's trio

Villa's Tacos - Villa's Trio

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Tire Shop Taqueria

Tire Shop Taqueria

4.7(754 reviews)
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I delayed writing this review to really think through, and now I will confidently say--these are…read moreeasily the best tacos I've ever had. Having been to so many taco stands, I think what makes Tire Shop Taqueria really stand out are the right-off-the-grill charcoal-grilled meats, the freshly made tortillas literally in front of you as you are waiting on line, and the free guacamole that comes with each taco. The ordering process is like any other taco stand, though one difference is here the salsas/guacamole are all handled by the staff. If you'd like more of something, just ask them instead of reaching for the ladle yourself. There is a separate area though for grilled onions/peppers and radishes you can serve yourself. I got the asada, chorizo, cabeza, and al pastor, and they were all so good. The asada and chorizo are specifically grilled over charcoal, and that flavor really shines through. I loved how meaty and tender the cabeza was too, and the classic al pastor hit the spot. They have large communal tables setup, so it is a great friendly vibe to enjoy your meal I will say, the surrounding area is not the best in LA, especially given how the taco stand is only open at night. The parking lot is quite small, so I parked on a side street that had some abandoned cars, but of course, if you are in/from LA, this is not that new for us. I would hesitate if I am a tourist though to make it out here. Anyhow, the food really is worth it here, and I can't wait to be back!

My husband said these are the best tacos he had in the states. Period. The flame grilled meats make…read moresuch a big difference in the flavor and the hand made corn tortillas are a must and take a great spot to an amazing spot. We only got the carne asada and the al pastor but it was so good we went back in line for seconds. The meat was very flavorful - the carne asada was thin but still very tender. The al pastor, I think uses a fattier cut than some other places but keeps it from drying out. The tacos were leaking meat juices still. The surrounding streets are quite dark at night but the parking lot the stand is in, is well lit and there is a covered seating area. We went on Thanksgiving weekend and there were maybe always 15-20 ppl in line at any given time. I imagine there are longer lines in the summer.

Photos
Tire Shop Taqueria
Tire Shop Taqueria - Carne Asada & Chorizo Tacos

Carne Asada & Chorizo Tacos

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Sonoratown

4.3(447 reviews)
6.0 miMid-Wilshire
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Came here late one night driving back from an event since I've only heard good things…read more I got 2 tacos (asada and cabeza, 1 pollo quesadilla, a bean and cheese burrito and small bag of chips and guac. Everything came out to about $26 which is super reasonable! Service on a later end of the night was great! Super friendly and quick service. No indoor dining was available since they were closing in 15 mins. Food was ready in less than 10 mins. Salsa is free which both were delicious and had great flavor. Overall the food was delicious! It hit the spot. Filled with meat and the tortillas were a hit on their own. I would definitely go back again and try the other items that they had to offer.

I feel like I must be missing something? I've seen Sonoratown on so many lists and guides for best…read moreMexican so we finally decided to check it out. We ordered just a couple tacos - one asada and one tripa, based on reading numerous recommendations that those are what to get here. $3.50 a taco which is not bad for a restaurant taco. It's a cool casual vibe here. Seating inside as well as the patio. They have tasty looking horchata and other agua frescas. Colorful walls. They bring your food out to you by calling your name. The tacos were loaded with a pretty decent amount of meat and toppings. But sadly we were far from impressed by the flavor. The asada was okay and better than the tripa, but it paled in comparison to our go-to taco trucks in the area which only costs $1. And the tripa was strange to eat in taco form. The tripa is crunchy small pieces so it just feels odd to eat in a taco. Maybe if it was just served as an appetizer to eat by itself, but even then, it kinda just feels like you're eating pellets. Don't see the hype unfortunately.

Photos
Sonoratown - Cute little back bar area you can order more drinks and there's other seating around

Cute little back bar area you can order more drinks and there's other seating around

Sonoratown - Asada taco, chile poblano taco, beef chivichangas

Asada taco, chile poblano taco, beef chivichangas

Sonoratown - Outside the front of the restaurant

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Outside the front of the restaurant

Tacos 1986 - tacos - Updated May 2026

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