DOWNTOWN TACO QUEST by Keri FREEMAN
VOL 14 NO 8 - DECEMBER3RD - december 9th / DTLAWEEKLY.COM 7
A L T D TACO
QUEST
In March of 2020, most of Downtown shutdown completely in order to fight the spread of Covid 19.Facing a global pandemic, the Mayor of Los Angeles ordered all non-essential businesses closed until further notice. During this time DTLA Weekly set out to embark on a perilous adventure to find the one thing that Downtown needed to survive...THIS IS OUR STORY.
0 2 0 2 Y L G U E H T & he BAD t , D O O G E H T 1. JO’s TACOS
We don’t always leave Downtown but when we do it’s to sit and chat with actor turned Taco Maker Danny Trejo at Trejos Tacos in Hollywood California. One month Downtown Weekly found a Golden Ticket and were invited to visit Danny Trejo’s Taco Factory for National Taco Day. One lucky winner was granted free tacos for the month.
That wasn’t us. However, we did manage to escape with the lingering taste of Badass Beef Barbacoa tacos filled with pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and sprinkled cotija cheese.
TRE
These tacos are as badass as the Machete-wielding, bullet taking, Anaconda poaching, short-tempered film characters we’ve grown to love over the past 3 decades. But wait! Nothing says badass like a Trejo’s Tacos Ugly Christmas Sweater. His ultra-comfortable 100% cotton sweater featuring rows of tacos and smiling images of Danny Trejo, is sure to become a family classic and a lovable way to laugh with your hombres. @trejostacos
2.
a n i t n a C z e P t a r i a f f a y l i m a f a s ’ t I
Led by Husband a wife team Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy Thompson Ramirez, their seafood dominate Mexican-style plates have been welcoming diners to their indoor restaurant with outdoor patio under the stars since 2014. Pez Cantina serves their famous Chili Verde Carnitas Tacos, two on a plate, with a side of rice and beans or salad. The juice from the tender shredded pork soaks through the tortilla in no time, but that’s okay. There is no shortage of forks in downtown LA.
Pez also serves Beef, chicken and crispy fish tacos.
Covid closures sparked a new stage for Pez. As the restaurant switched to TakeOut and safe delivery, Chef Bret took to the internet hosting a personality show full of good times, food friends, good causes and good food demonstrations each episode. Maybe if we’re lucky he will show us how he prepares his downtown taco favorites. @pezcantina
