In Southern California, all roads lead to tacos—or the ones worth taking do, anyway. Beach cities dot their sandy boulevards with fish-taco hangouts, while busy downtown streets offer sidewalk stands and freeway interchanges beckon hungry travelers with parking-lot food trucks. The scenery changes, the community changes, but there are always tacos to see us through.
With that in mind, I set out to explore just a few of the countless must-visit taco spots along one busy California corridor, tracing the asphalt from Orange County all the way up past Bakersfield. This busy stretch, a key route between Los Angeles and O.C., is driven by thousands of people every day—and each of them has an opinion about what makes a taco perfect.
From tiny L.A. taquerias pushing the envelope to delicious, inexpensive stops in the suburbs, here is one killer Southern California road trip for the taco-obsessed.
Stop 1: Tacos Los Cholos, Fullerton
Not far from Disneyland Resort, Tacos Los Cholos in Fullerton is a strip-mall restaurant that helped to spawn a carne asada empire. Forget the TV images of mansions along the coast; everyday tacos are the backbone of Orange County, and Los Cholos is the top-tier spot that everyone loves.
The star of the show is the grill, loaded with fragrant mesquite charcoal that seeps deeply into thick cuts of prime beef. The meat is separated into tiers, from everyday asada to costilla de res (beef rib meat) to arrachera (skirt steak) and on to ribeye, the most luxurious cut. The tacos are loaded rim to rim, and a robust salsa bar offers endless personalization—a perfect start to a road trip of this magnitude.
Stop 2: Arturo’s Puffy Taco, Whittier
It’s a quick jaunt through time and culture to Arturo’s, a staple SoCal taco spot with roots in San Antonio. The drive passes through gated golf course communities and multi-lingual enclaves en route to a delectable destination: the puffy taco. Here, tortillas are folded into a V shape and deep fried until crisp and airy, barely able to hold their overloaded ingredients.
The fan favorite is picadillo, a saucy and well-seasoned ground beef served with a chunky salsa fresca, roughly chopped lettuce, and yellow-orange cheese. This is Tex-Mex moved west, and there is no other taco in Southern California quite like it.
Stop 3: Evil Cooks, Los Angeles
The so-called Orange Curtain between OC and L.A. is real; some people never cross the county line. Thankfully you’re on a mission to make it to Evil Cooks, the heavy metal restaurant in L.A.’s working-class El Sereno neighborhood that is a favorite amongst in-the-know taco lovers.
The place is awash in goth imagery, and amid it all is a vertical spit of al pastor (marinated pork slices) rubbed down to a black gloss with recado negro, an inky seasoning paste. Heat and flame further infuse the meat before pieces are sliced off onto handmade blue corn tortillas. Pickled onions, cilantro, and cheffy avocado dollops tell you that this is far from the usual taco stop—it’s addictive to a sinister degree.
Stop 4: A Tí, Los Angeles
Head into the heart of L.A. to find chef Andrew Ponce, one of the brightest young cooking minds in the city today. He spent years at big-name restaurants while workshopping A Tí as a side project, and now he’s gone legit in Echo Park, a rapidly changing neighborhood at the edge of Dodger Stadium.
At A Tí, Ponce turns his tools back towards the local Mexican-American food he grew up eating, including a rethinking of the classic hard-shelled taco with shredded cheddar cheese. Locally milled Kernel of Truth Organics corn makes for impossibly thin and crispy tortillas that cradle braised beef shank. This is L.A.’s answer to Midwestern taco night, and it’s incredible.
Stop 5: MidEast Tacos, Los Angeles
Pressed into a small corner of nearby Silver Lake, just up Sunset Boulevard past all the cool kids, Armen Martirosyan’s MidEast Tacos is a love letter to his dual upbringing. The place is airy and comforting, echoing the flavors of his family’s Armenian restaurant Mini Kabob in Glendale while also appealing to L.A.’s taco-fusion sensibilities.
The falafel taco is a perfect encapsulation of the vision. His grandparents’ Egyptian-style falafel is tweaked with new spices; the crispy golf balls are laid over with árbol-spiced garlic sauce. Avocado salsa gives creaminess, red onion packs its punch, and a dash of sumac on top bridges the two worlds together.
Stop 6: Barbacoa Ramirez, Arleta
Barbacoa Ramirez, a humble corner street stand at the fringes of L.A. proper, only appears on weekends, and mid-morning sellouts are common. The Ramirez family hails from Pixley, a tiny town two hours north, where they literally raise and pit-cook the very lamb they sell, set lightly on small but impressive handmade corn tortillas.
Each bite is soft and warming against the morning chill and made all the better with tall cups of consommé broth for sipping. Everything here is delicious, but the chile-rubbed pancita (stuffed stomach) may be the best single bite anywhere on this list.
Stop 7: The Red Dot Vegetarian Kitchen, Frazier Park
It’s a slow cruise from the north of L.A. up to Frazier Park, a mountain town at the border of Kern County, one of California’s agricultural hubs. The place is small but inviting, given its location right off the freeway—which makes Red Dot, a funky and cluttered little vegetarian spot, all the more unique.
The earnestly hippie perspective permeates everything, from the Indian-leaning menu to the holistic language on the walls. Red Dot feels like dining in a delicious spa, where the tofu-based “fish” taco is a standout—it’s big and crispy and bright, a delightful zag from truck stop snacks nearby.
Stop 8: Taco Bros, Bakersfield
The vibe is decidedly different in Bakersfield, a growing city (population 400,000 now) with farming roots and plenty of open land. A key stop-off for all kinds of California traffic, this no-frills city loves big, bold flavors—and a drive-thru. They can find both at Taco Bros on Ming Ave., a famous local spot known for its quesabirria tacos.
The bright orange tacos are crunchy, meaty, cheesy, and delicious, perfect for dipping with a side of heavily spiced consommé. Combo platters come with refried cheesy beans and a side of rice, a filling meal for a great price. In Bakersfield, that makes all the difference.
Stop 9: Taqueria El Poblano, Bakersfield
As it has been for more than a hundred years, Bakersfield is home to a thriving Mexican-American community. For hungry road-trippers, that means the chance to try all kinds of tacos, including the Tijuana style popularized at nearby Taqueria El Poblano.
The show at this outdoor stand is the taquero himself, who simultaneously works a white-hot grill of carne asada and chorizo while also chopping meat with photo-worthy flair. The rhythmic thump-thump-thump is constant as families and locals pour in for handmade tortilla tacos wrapped in paper and served with your meat of choice. The final flourish is a heavy smear of guacamole, and then it’s off to the salsa bar.
Stop 10: El Dollar Taqueria, Lost Hills
Behind the Pilot Travel Center, amidst the rattle of rolling big rigs, sits El Dollar Taqueria, a worthy end point to this rambling road trip. Carne asada and al pastor are the usual players here, served via handmade tortillas as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or mulitas.
El Dollar serves stable, friendly food without fuss, preferring instead to do the everyday basics really, really well. There are winks of mischief, like a quesadilla that comes with Cheetos, but El Dollar is at its best when it sets out to prove a simple truth: Every taco truck is focused on feeding its customers a heartwarming meal, regardless of the car they pulled up in.
Ready to hit the road?
Discover even more hidden gems, epic eats, and can't-miss stops with our complete guide to California Road Trips.