Taco Stand/ La Reyna

I’ve had my fair share of taco in my life and would like to think of myself as somewhat of a taco expert. I’ve been to places that are just mediocre, some that are breathtaking and some that I will never go back to. La Reynas is THE BEST taco that I have ever had in LA, coming in a close, very VERY close, 2^nd place to Tacos El Gordo (in Vegas and San Diego). But, it really doesn’t get much better than that. The tacos are cheap ($ 1.25 per… used to be $ 1 each!) and super delicious.
The Al Pastor taco is a MUST. I don’t care if you dont like or eat pork. You need to get this. It will change your life. I’ve gotten their chorizo and carne asada before as well, which are all great, but you need to get the al pastor! After you get your tacos, you have the option of topping it off with delicious slow cooked onions and peppers, raw onions, cilantro, limes, and their home made salsas. They have 3, and they are all so freakin good. I put a little of each on my tacos and then add some lime juice.
They are usually set up outside on the sidewalk, if not, they will be set up inside in this dark room. Sounds super shady, I know, but is worth it. Everything about the journey to La Reynas is kind of shady, I mean, if you are coming from downtown, you are literally driving through skid row to get there and the indoors of their restaurant seems a bit rundown, but its all about the authentic experience right?
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:
— The pastor obviously
— The abuela (grandma) who you pay. She is the sweetest!
— Sitting down inside with friends, scarfing down our tacos and watching mexican drams. What an authentic experience!
— The hot sauce they have inside the restaurant is to die for. It’s HOT though… but so good.
TIPS:
— Bring cash. They do not accept card.
— If you want a more lively scene to eat your tacos, just take them across to the bar across the street. They let you take the tacos inside, you can eat them and enjoy a nice cold beer along with some darts and ping pong afterwards.
— I’ve seen people do this, I’ve done this, you can totally just park right in front of La Reynas off 7^th if there is no parking elsewhere. It’s marked as a red zone, but literally, everyone does it. I’ve even seen cops do it before. (But if you get a ticket for some reason, don’t come blaming me)
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gone to La Reynas, I must be getting close to triple digits.
GET THERE NOW. I am on my way abuelita!
#juneatsworld

Yes. They have the best tacos here… hesitant to give it 5 stars since I don’t want the place to get packed.
To my surprise, it was not packed at all when I went on a Tuesday night dinner time. There is plenty of street parking, a bit of a sketchy area though.
The set up is a bit confusing. You go in through a small door and immediately find yourself in front of the cook, who will ask you what you want and cook it right in front of you. There’s no menu to go off really… but they pretty much have all the typical meats (carne asada, al pastor, cabeza, lengua, etc), and if I’m not mistaken they also offer the typical options (burritos, tacos of course, quesadillas).
Once you tell the cook what you want, he makes your food within 5 minutes, and then you can top your food with their non-​spicy, mild, or spicy sauce. It’s cash only and you pay a very sweet lady by the sauce bar. She asks you how many of each you ordered, and calculates the amount right in front of you, no calculator, what a boss.
I’ve personally only tried their tacos and mulitas (first time trying it; it seemed like a mini quesadilla? $ 1.75 I believe. and it was pretty good).
Tried al pastor, cabeza, buche, chicken, lengua, and all were amazing. Favorites: chicken and al pastor.
Price very reasonable, staff very friendly, and food very… delicious.
Tips: Bring cash as they don’t accept credit cards, street parking available, know what you want beforehand to not order under pressure.

It is an exquisite place, the burritos are my favorite and tacos. This open 7 days a week … You can eat there or take … lady is friendly and attentive. I like this place.

Seriously, what a surprise. There’s something to be said about having a few beers and then getting some late night eats on a dark street corner somewhere. The cabeza tacos are delicious but the highlight was the al pastor tacos. The street is dark but the stand there is pretty brightly lit and the people behind the grill are friendly and funny. Honestly, some of the best tacos I’ve had, a definite surprise in a relatively barren area.

Talk about a diamond in the rough. A little stand, on a little street, only open at night in a part of town that doesn’t get much foot traffic during the day and hardly any at night. If I lived closer I could see this place being my dinner most nights of the week. The prices are dirt cheap and the portions are quite large so I could eat like a king for pennies.
The al pastor and chorizo is amazing here. I’ve gotten all their meats at this point and some of them, like the asada, are hit or miss at times, but that is more than made up for by the unbelievable quality of the chorizo and al pastor. The pastor is on a giant spit where they’re marinate it from the top down all day. Before they cut it off, they blast it with fire, then they sear it fast and hard on their stove top. The chorizo is held in a long casing on the side of the grill then chopped up and grilled to order. All the tacos are topped with the right amount of raw white onion and cilantro. There are several salsas to choose from and they can wrap it in foil if you want to take it to go.
The people here have always been exceedingly nice to me as well and although they don’t have a tip jar I like to leave a couple bucks with the old lady and she always seems appreciative.

You ARE the queen of al pastor. Que ricos y deliciosos son tus tacos con al pastor. Xoxo, China Latina.

Was in the neighborhood for work and craving tacos. Unilocal suggested this place, and Lord am I glad I went here. I’m a taco geek, and this place is by far at the top of my list in all of LA. Too bad it’s too far from where I live (Valley), or maybe it’s a good thing. I do have to admit I’ll occasionally drive out to this place when I’m somewhat in the area (will still drive an extra half hour). $ 1.25 for a taco as good as it gets. Cute family-​run operation. Weather permitting, they are set up outside, in front of the shop. The Al Pastor is phenomenal. I truly could eat here every day.

YESSS! This is a legit taco stand and I’m so very happy I found this little gem. The people cooking speak broken english, but that’s okay, we all speak food! I had 3 little tacos with pork and filled it up with condiments, guac, etc for only $ 4. My hungry friends and I took the risk and left happy. We were also pleasantly surprised that the lady who took our money offered my 3 friends and I a place to SIT INSIDE and eat! We didn’t think it was for real especially since it was about 45 degrees out, it was a blessing in disguise. I’ll be back when I’m in the area for sure. Remember, Cash only!

Great spot for tacos! $ 1 each and you won’t be disappointed by anything on the menu. If you like hole-​in-​the-​wall places, this is definitely it!

So good and definitely the definition of a hidden gem. This is actually a small stand outside their restaurant but they still make bomb dot com tacos! Super inexpensive and quick! Way better than a lot of taco trucks I’ve had in downtown.
Warning: Their verde salsa is freakin’ spicy!!! I thought it would be mild since the green one is usually the less spicy one at taco trucks but this one is super flaming. If you can’t take spicy go for the avocado milky green colored one as that one is less spicy.

Pretty damn good taco’s. Amazing it is a must go too place to eat in LA.
Nothing fancy but just great food!

best taco in LA & OC combined! at least for me: P it’s obviously impossible to visit every taco shop in both counties unless you do it for a living or have a show like Aaron Sanchez. sign me up!
i’m giving it 5 stars because it is really top notch when it comes to authentic flavor, meat quantity, ingredients, preparation, sauces & condiments. as of this review, tacos were $ 1.25. packed with meat that is usually reserved for the $ 2.50 & up level at other places.
i would give it 1 star for ambiance. you could probably charge to come here on halloween without having to change anything. seriously it’s that creepy! i swear i was eating tacos with la llorona sitting next to me. she could have at least have gotten some more napkins! :(
even with the worst dine-​in experience in LA & OC combined, ironically, i still give this a 5 star rating. why? i’ve yet to find the OG baja style al pastor (adobado) tacos here on this side of the border. just because it’s on a rotisserie & has a pineapple on top does NOT mean that it’s authentic. 99% of the taco shops do al pastor the lazy way. In baja, it’s such an artform, they’re is usually a separate cook who makes al pastor. the main cook does the other 10 meat variation. that’s how you know it’s legit! i also had the chorizo, which was on point as well.
it’s been at least 6 months since my last visit to this stand (the stand was outside — sans the hosting services from la llorona), i was quite surprised about the consistency. after all, how many times has a mexican been let down from their favorite taco spot when it closes or the flavor just goes downhill (usually an economical decision) :(not only was the flavor consistent, i think it was actually better than the past. could be because when i went, biz was a little slow allowing the al pastor to crisp up on the edges & caramelize a bit, cause usually i’m used to waiting for the next batch due to the previous batch being sold out quickly. i almost want to say that it is either just as good as the baja versions. would even begin to consider it might be better judging from my last visit.
disfruta!

Craaaaaaack inside each bite!!! Al pastor was super legit — both the tacos and a quesadilla. So cheap and fast and very fresh. It’s good quality meat too. I can’t wait to go back and scarf chorizo and carne Asada tacos. All the fixins are super legit — salsas, guac, cilantro/​onions, radishes and limes of course. 5 thumbs up!!!

This place was amazing! It’s basically your standard taco truck, with all the different kinds of meats (although I always stick with al pastor: D), but they actually are a stand opened in front of a restaurant, and the restaurant is apparently serving as a dining area for the taco truck, so something kind of unique.
I think the prices are around the same as all the other trucks ~1.50 $ per taco, but the staff and older lady working here are just super cute and nice.
The tacos themselves were delicious, and both the meat and tortillas actually had a bit of a crunch to them, like they were cooked/​toasted just enough to make them crispy on the edges, but not at all burnt.
Will definitely come back here again for the ⁵⁄₅ star food, service, and great location right by the Arts District and a bunch of fun things to do in DTLA.

Chef Ludo Lefebvre considers this place LA’s «best kept secret.»
I read about Chef Ludo’s under-​the-​radar spot for tacos, burritos and quesadillas online recently. I was in Downtown LA and planned to visit this spot after the Soulection Festival since this place was open until midnight.
You’ll have to come around 5 — 6 pm to eat at this cart located inside La Reyna Restaurant. We came by around 11 pm and found street parking across the street near Pizzanista. I noticed that there wasn’t a cart outside, but now moved inside the restaurant. The restaurant isn’t open, but the street cart is the only reason the restaurant is open. You’ll see two men and the older woman. I spoke to the man and he said that their specialty is the al pastor and mulitas.
Truly one of the best mulitas I’ve had. One of my recent discoveries starting at Tacos el Galvian. The carnitas was pretty fantastic as well. The meat was flavorful and cooked to a crisp.
After you pay the Mexican woman, you can take your food over to the other side in the dining room where you can choose to sit at the bar or at one of the tables.
This is the kind of place that would impress me on a date rather than a fine dining restaurant.

I’m impressed with the taste and price of this amazing restaurant. Very original and spacious. This is a MUST if you’re looking for original Mexican food. Come with an appetite because the price and the taste of the food will give you the appetite to eat for two.
Hope this review helps you in your choice. Trust me, it’s GREAT!

When you take a Mexican to a Mexican taco stand and they say «omg this is good» you know it’s good.
I was here in Jan and grabbed a mulita. Hadn’t ever had them before. It was amazing. Went to Vegas next day so I couldn’t get them again. My Mexican friend was coming to Vegas to see me tho and offered to pick up food to bring me, I told her to get me mulitas. She brought some and I was disappointed. Oh well. Went back to FL and now finally in Cali and in the area with her so I brought her here to see what good mulitas are. She agrees. They’re amazing.
U can put all your own toppings. I added lots of onions and avocado sauce. Yummy!!!

Every week, I have a new favorite taco joint. But I think this is the one guys. I’m ready to settle for just one (place! not tacos, never just one taco!).
Al pastor and chorizo were both fantastic and full of flavor. Everything was so red, for a long while, i couldn’t figure out which was chorizo and which was al pastor. Then I realized i was looking at two al pastor tacos. The carne asada was alright.
$ 1.25 a taco as opposed to $ 1 but totally worth every extra penny.
Cash only.
Unilocal categorizes this place as the arts district, but it’s barely that. It’s a little bit sketchy near the LA river, but totally worth it!!! Parking wasn’t that bad. They also have seating. They’re a restaurant. Sort of. It’s like a taco stand connected to a closed restaurant.

$ 1.25 for tacos and $ 2 for mullitas. You can get cabeza, buche, chorizo, carne asado, or al pastor. Unfortunately, they did not have chicken when I was there. The al pastor taco was amazing. Flavorful and juicy. The chorizo mullita was surprisingly good. I haven’t had a mullita that satisfying before! But it was crispy and flavorful with the perfect amount of cheesy gooeyness.
After you order, you get your food, pay and get your toppings and condiments. I liked the red salsa and avocado cream sauce! We fed 3 people while spending around $ 12! We all enjoyed our food. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Get your tacos HERE! I know the location is kind of sketchy, but let’s stop judging a book by its covers and let’s start really appreciating how amazing the tacos are!
I’ve physically been here to eat once, but have eaten food to go a couple more times. Each time, I just want to get more! My 3 favorite orders are: 1) Mulitas 2) Al Pastor and 3) Cabeza. The Al Pastor and the Cabeza tacos are so tender, juicy and flavorful! I could eat those even without any of the added toppings (but I don’t). And the Mulitas… OH MAN! That is my boyfriend’s dream taco. SO much cheese and meat in a little taco!
Boyfriend’s ordered a burrito here before and it was huge! The burrito was pretty good, but I have to admit, when you come here, you come for the tacos and mulitas, period.
Prices are good. It’s about $ 1.25 for tacos and $ 2 for a mulita. That’s still dirt cheap! Burritos are a bit more expensive, but it’s standard prices.
Since it’s not a taco truck, it’s like a taco stand located in an empty restaurant, they have a lot of seating for those who wish to enjoy their fresh off the grill food right then and there! There’s also plenty of toppings for you to customize your order at the end of the line.
This place has got to be one of the best low-​key taco joints around, and I can’t wait until another La Reyna taco gets in my belly!

I went on a Los Angeles taco run a few days ago, and this was probably my least favorite stop of the three (other two being El Chavito and Leo’s Taco Truck). This place is set up in front of a building and operates conveyer-​belt style (order, shuffle down the line, add your condiments, pay at the end). I tried their chorizo and el pastor.
The Good:
1. I like how you can add your own toppings/​condiments, which allows you to really customize your taco.
2. Compared to the other two stops (which had really great el pastor), this place had much better chorizo.
3. You can go into the building and sit down to eat.
The bad:
1. They raised their prices from $ 1.00 to $ 1.25. Fine, still dirt cheap.
2. The meat was relatively flavorless. I mean yes, it still had good flavor. But it paled in comparison to the other two taco stops.
In terms of location, it’s not the best, but I don’t think it’s that sketchy. Probably better to walk around with someone else if you don’t feel comfortable, but I didn’t feel like I was risking my life for a taco or anything. Overall, not bad, but would not go out of my way to return again. Ca$h only!