Deanna T.
Yelp
Yikes - I'm rather ashamed that I haven't tried Leo's tacos until this past Monday night! How have I missed one of the most well-known loncheras in LA?! Looking them up, I can see why I hadn't had the chance to dine at one of their nine locations. They're situated mostly within Central and South LA which I previously didn't frequent as often.
The good:
+ Al pastor is nicely roasted on a vertical spit aka trompo
+ Mesmerizing just watching the taquero aka taco-maker expertly slicing the sizzling al pastor and pineapple while deftly catching it with hot corn tortillas
+ Parking aplenty as they take up the corner of W Sunset Blvd and Western Ave sharing the parking lot with WSS shoe store
+ Ideal for lunch, dinner or late nights as they're open from 10am to 2am (weekdays) and til 4am (weekends)
+ 8 or 9 picnic tables set up for proper dining (these are stored in their second truck!)
+ So iconic that Bad Bunny shot his music video, "Ojitos Lindos" at one of their locations
The bad:
- Accepts only cash or debit
- Charges a $1 fee if using card
- Mulitas are $7 which is a bit pricier than other taco joints
- There were a few questionable individuals lurking around: one guy came up to ask for money, another guy was on the sidewalk walking back and forth spouting monologues of random things, and another guy literally stood there watching as we devoured our food
The food:
* Al Pastor Tacos ($2.25) - a MUST get as it's what they're known for. Comes with lime, verduras (cilantro and onions), salsa roja and salsa verde all packaged separately. The green salsa was really good!
* California Burrito ($13) - pretty large burrito with fries, avocado, al pastor, blend of Mexican cheeses, and crema. Pour some salsa verde and it's muy chingon. Solid choice if you are ravenous. I personally enjoyed taking a bite of burrito and then munching on the complimentary sliced radishes. It really helps cleanse the palate as well as provides a bit of cooling sensation and otherwise freshness and crunchiness from the hot, melty and greasy burrito (and tacos).
We came a little past 10pm and there was a short line, which moved quickly, but by the the time we left at 10:45pm, the line had lengthened. Regrettably, I was so exhausted that I didn't even think to snap some photos of the food and surroundings, but also everyone knows what a taco looks like. It would be great if they expanded to other parts of LA, considering the success they've garnered. I'm a sucker for good Mexican food, and am so happy my friend recommended Leo's tacos!