Tacos Por Favor

Uno mass pour fah-vore. That’s how gringos ask for another taco. The mystery with this place on E 1st, straddling the border of yuppie, hypocrisy-fueled arts district DTLA and the we aren’t authentic, you’re just fake Boyle Heights, is if they are in fact related to the gringo street cred taco joint on the West side. Does it matter though? I was driving back after stopping by Antojitos Carmen, Guisados, Los Cinco Puntos, and Al & Bea’s when I saw this neon green monster dominating a rather bleak corner of downtown. Well, the kids at work couldn’t stop raving about it, and I was just wrapping up a historic taco tour day, so with lowered expectations, I pulled into a driveway unsafe for all the low riders without the switches.

Their dining room is all situated on the patio. Did you know that patio is a Spanish word? I was going to say al fresco but that would be culturally insensitive. This picture was snapped at one in the afternoon. Kind of scary, don’t you think? Fortunately, my taco was made to order.

Crispy, chorizo and cheese taco. Topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, pre-packaged shredded American cheese, sour cream, and topped with some fresh pico de gallo. A perfect gringo taco. The shell was a soft corn tortilla that was fried to order, not that nasty Chinese newspaper paste the Taco Bell uses now. The chorizo, I don’t remember. That’s not any different than your Taco Bell, Del Taco, or even Tito’s tacos. They’re gringo tacos. The best part was the combination of crisp iceberg lettuce covered in sour cream, cut with the acidic processed cheese and livened up with the pico de gallo in that perfectly crisp shell.

If you’re getting your car washed on 1st or you wanted to go to Boyle Heights but are too scared, this is a great little taqueria to stop by and get your gringo taco fix. Hell, this is better than any taco you’re going to get on Olvera Street. Yeah, so that’s my final recommendation. If you’re tour book says to go to Olvera Street, either head over to Grand Central Market, or make your way to Boyle Heights. If you work up the courage but you start wetting your pants as you cross the LA river, stop at Tacos Por Favor.

Tacos Por Favor
1220 E 1st Street
Downtown, LA
(323) 604-0255