Evil Cooks
Mexican restaurant · El Sereno ·
Creative tacos like octopus al pastor & flan dessert tacos
Creative tacos like octopus al pastor & flan dessert tacos
"Devils on the door, gargoyles on the roof, a cloaked skeleton on the patio, and black octopus spinning on a grisly trompo set the tone for chefs Alex and Elvia García’s metal-forward taqueria, where an earnest, deeply personal vision meets food that absolutely shreds. From a diminutive pop-up turned El Sereno restaurant, the Garcías kick out face-melting riffs on taqueria standards: start with the McSatan, a definitively nonstandard cheeseburger taco where every element—from the patty to the thick, fragrant tortilla—sings and neatly encapsulates the house philosophy. Don’t miss the Corazón Abierto specials, which reinterpret global flavors, like bean and cheese dumplings or a tom yum aguachile that zaps raw shrimp with lemongrass and tons of chiles for a fun, riotously spicy jolt. Save room for dessert tacos: one piles citrus flan with coconut flakes, the other layers a churro, cheesecake, and jicama-strawberry marmalade on a crepe-like tortilla. Take note that the Hell Menu is for omnivores while the Heaven Menu caters to vegetarians, and many dishes can be made vegan on request. Provided they can rock with the metal soundtrack, it’s even a good spot for kids thanks to the playful patio decor, and dishes like the McSatan or the straightforward mulita can be easily tweaked for younger palates." - Ben Mesirow
"I tried the McSatan at Evil Cooks, a heavy metal–themed taqueria’s answer to ‘what if a Big Mac were a taco, but also really good?’ — a freshly made corn tortilla topped with an American cheese–draped burger patty, bacon, caramelized onions, and avocado crema." - Lucy Simon, Amelia Schwartz, Raphael Brion
"Eating at Evil Cooks is like riding a coaster at Six Flags three times in a row: a head rush and maybe not something you’d share with your sweet grandparents. This heavy metal-themed taquería in El Sereno blasts Megadeath as you eat tender lengua tacos next to a fountain of fake blood, or blackened octopus smothered in a smoky salsa near a locked door that leads to Satan’s Lair. It’s all a bit on the nose in a fun, campy way, which is why we love it. Plus, Evil Cook’s sit-down dinner menu is unlike anything else in LA, with dishes such as pork rib wellington topped with candy floss and lemongrass-y tom yum shrimp aguachile that burns like the ninth circle of hell." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"This heavy-metal-themed taquería based out of El Sereno might convert a few purists. Octopus trompo marinated in recado negro served with salsa tatemada, pickled onions, cilantro, grilled pineapple, and avocado cream Cheesy octopus barbacoa taco with onions, cilantro, and salsa roja" - team infatuation
"A meal at Evil Cooks is like riding a coaster at Six Flags three times in a row: a head rush and maybe not something you’d share with your sweet grandparents. This heavy metal-themed taquería in El Sereno blasts Megadeath as you eat tender lengua tacos next to a fountain of fake blood and blackened octopus smothered in a smoky salsa near a locked door that leads to Satan’s Lair. It’s all a bit on the nose in a fun, campy way, but the food pushes the envelope in a way that makes you rethink how Mexican ingredients can be warped into delicious, one-of-a-kind dishes." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder