Street Tacos

Tacos Guelaguetza

Street tacos

Most weeknights and all day during the weekend, a lively night market takes place in the vicinity of the 110, just north of Long Beach. In my opinion, the highlight of the market is Tacos Guelaguetza, where a fast-moving line snakes from PCH up to Fig as we wait for that savory combination of caramelized cheese and crispy meat. The salsa bar offers a variety of pickled peppers and onions that truly enhance the flavors. However, I must caution you about the yellow sauce - I'm unsure of its ingredients, but it may have adverse effects, especially on elderly white women.

Taco stand menu at night with pricing and options displayed under a blue canopy.

There are plenty of savory meat options available at this place (unfortunately, no carnitas). However, if you're craving pork, the pastor with pineapple is a winner, and the asada doesn't disappoint either. But my personal favorite is the Suadero, which is thinly sliced beef from the breastbone. It tastes amazing after a few seconds on the grill. I'm not a fan of burritos, but the ones served here are massive, with a side covered in fast-melting cheese. Not for the faint of heart.

Close-up of two tacos topped with onions, cilantro, and green salsa on a paper plate.

Tacoqueso $3 Burrito $10
Pacific Coast Highway and Figueroa Street
5848 Melrose Ave 

323-984-6383

Tacos El Asadero

Two tacos with onions, cilantro, and green sauce on a paper plate with a lemon wedge.

Between an entrance and an exit to the 110 (damn, all these reviews are going to start with a 110 reference) in a parking lot, sits a truck with a pastor spit under a tent nearby. I learned about this truck from a guest in my car during a ride-share. When a custodian at an old folks home heads here after a twelve-hour shift, I usually sign off work and enjoy a few tacos myself.

Menu board with Mexican food items and drinks options in yellow text, accompanied by images of beverages.

They were out of chorizo and carnitas last night. I ordered a QuesaTaco with suadero and a taco with Birria De Res. I found it interesting that each taco was made with a different tortilla. These tortillas gave off a rustic homemade feeling that I appreciate. The quesataco was more like a quesadilla than a taco, and I thought something was missing from that delicate breast meat with how crunchy it all got. The Birria taco left me wanting some spice and I wished this tortilla was a little crispier lol you can't win with me.

Plate with a birria taco and quesabirria, on a red checkered paper.

The salsa bar was decent but looked a little picked over for 9 pm. The pickled onions had a good uniform deep purple, with a crushed, unidentifiable orange pepper in the cambro for flavor and contrast. Sauces and salsas were normal, with nothing really hot or spicy standing out.

People gathered around a brightly lit taco truck at night, with food preparation visible in the background.

Qeusataco $4 Taco $3
803 S Figueroa St in parking lot
323-407-5411