Los Cinco Puntos is a beloved Boyle Heights deli where you can indulge in thick, hand-made tortillas wrapped around flavorful tacos filled with juicy carnitas and crispy chicharrón.
"You’ll find everything to make your own tamales at one of the city’s most established “Mexicatessens,” but upon seeing the impressive large-scale production amidst fragrant fumes of steaming masa, it’s better to leave it to the pros. Perfect for large orders, the beef in red sauce and the chicken in green sauce, are perfect sides to Mexican-American holiday meals, where turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and tamales belong together." - Bill Esparza
"Quite possibly my favorite taco spot in all of LA, this deli and market in Boyle Heights is known for their carnitas (for good reason), but my favorite things here are the crispy, crackly chicharron tacos. Though, to be honest, their thick, chewy tortillas are the perfect vessel for just about anything." - brant cox, kat hong, brett keating, james montgomery
"This decades-old market and deli in Boyle Heights is a neighborhood institution that sells everything from cheeseburgers to breakfast burritos to spices and dried chiles. You’re here for the tacos, though—and so is everyone else. Make sure to hit the excellent salsa bar, which is an attraction by itself: the tart, pickled nopales offer a counterpunch to fatty meats, and the guacamole is thick, chunky, and the color of Shrek so you know it's fresh. While their carnitas are excellent, the crispy chicharron is even better. Frankly, when corn tortillas are as thick and griddled as they are at Cinco Puntos, we’ll drive across the city to eat anything they’re wrapped around." - sylvio martins, garrett snyder, brant cox, nikko duren
"Great tacos are to LA what samples are to Costco. Without them, we wouldn’t feel at home. And few places make us feel more at home than Los Cinco Puntos in Boyle Heights. Step inside and you'll see rainbow-colored piñatas hanging from the ceiling as lunch crowds stroll around this multi-generational deli meets corner market. Unless you're here ordering dried chiles or Powerball tickets, head to the counter and load up. Their famed carnitas are impressive, but it’s the crackling chicharrón taco on a housemade corn tortilla with nopales salad and guac that always steals our heart. " - brant cox, garrett snyder, jess basser sanders, nikko duren, sylvio martins
"When people inevitably ask, “So, where are the best tacos in town?”, Los Cinco Puntos might not immediately come to mind, in the same way that a perfect piece of furniture covertly brings a whole room together. Los Cinco Puntos is an unflashy, Boyle Heights institution that we return to again and again. The family-run carnicería has been around for decades. You'll find fresh meats, spices, piñatas, tamales, chili sold in bulk, tacos, and cheeseburgers. Carnitas are technically the specialty here—the braised and simmered pork comes just slightly thicker than your average cut. But you’re here for the heavenly chicharron tacos served on fresh, super thick corn tortillas that squish like memory foam under your fingers. Each is topped off with a dollop of house-made guacamole, pickled nopales, and salsa that provides just the right amount of heat. Order at the counter, then devour either inside, outside, or in your car, like everyone else. " - brant cox, nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins
