Taco Madness turns 16: A celebration of L.A.’s culinary legacy

LOS ANGELES – Not even a spring shower could dampen spirits at the 16th annual Taco Madness festival, held at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on Saturday. Organized by L.A. Taco, the beloved event drew hundreds of taco lovers to celebrate Southern California’s rich taquero culture, with DJs spinning cumbia, reggaetón and backyard party classics to match the festive mood.

Dozens of taco vendors set up shop for the evening, serving both traditional and inventive offerings. Festival-goers lined up for familiar favorites like tacos al pastor and carne asada, while more adventurous eaters gravitated toward wild cards like crocodile trompo tacos. 

This year’s celebration didn’t just showcase the breadth of L.A.’s taco scene, but also the incredible work that L.A. Taco staff has built on over the years as they continue to run an independent newsroom. 

For the first time, L.A. Taco’s signature bracket competition featured 64 taquerías, doubling last year’s count. After weeks of public voting, the online tournament crowned a repeat champion: Tacos Los Cholos. Known for their indulgent Black Angus prime ribeye and filet mignon tacos, the fast-growing favorite now boasts multiple locations across L.A. and Orange County.

Meanwhile, a separate panel of judges awarded top honors to A Tí Los Angeles for their standout entry: a crispy duck mole taco. The dish impressed with layers of texture and flavor, rich, sweet mole enveloping succulent duck, finished with a zesty lime crema and pickled garnish.

Check out CALÓ News staff's top picks from the 16th TACO MADNESS Festival!

Michelle’s favorite: Crocodile trompo taco, Evil Cooks - 3333 N Eastern Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90032.

If you had told me my favorite taco of the day would be a crocodile trompo taco, I would have laughed in your face. But this unexpected standout showed me that an excellent taco is about pushing the boundaries of traditional tastes with bold creativity and culinary vision. Evil Cooks does exactly that! The meat was remarkably tender, with a texture reminiscent of birria and smoky flavors that paired beautifully against the garnish. It’s a must-try for adventurous foodies!

Amairani’s favorite: Ribeye taco, Tacos Los Cholos, 7127 Pacific Blvd., Huntington Park, CA 90025

My go-to taco is a little controversial: it’s the tacos de cabeza, which is the head meat that is often served as a mix of different parts, such as cheeks, tongue, brains and eyes. But this time around, I decided to go with something different. From the first bite of the ribeye taco, I knew it was delicious. The meat was incredibly tender, cooked perfectly and the seasoning was just perfect. I knew right away that their meat would be great for some chilaquiles verdes. I rate it 10/10, and I highly recommend it.

Brenda’s favorite: Al pastor taco, Taqueria Frontera, 700 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065

I have to take it back to an OG’s al pastor taco for my favorite pick. A solid, flavorful, juicy al pastor taco can never go wrong, and that's exactly what Taqueria Frontera offered. Despite this being my last taco of the day at Taco Madness, it was a memorable one. Accompanied by a lime-y cilantro salsa, the pastor was tender with a little kick of spice. The added piña was the perfect addition for a sweet-savory blend. The generous portion, double tortilla taco, and well-seasoned salsa made the taco de pastor a favorite in my books. I accompanied it with a mango-michelada, followed by a little bit of cumbia dancing para bajar la comida :)

Denise’s favorite: Sweet Potato taco, A Tí, 1498 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 

I’ve tried sweet potato tacos before, but I have never tried one as delicious as the one from A Tí. The taco had mint, which gave it a special flavor and complemented the sweet potato perfectly, all placed in a blue corn tortilla. There was also a creamy flavor that added a nice touch.