DT Appetite: taco quest 2020

DTLA 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. 1. THE GOOD, the BAD & THE UGLY2020 TREJO’s TACOS We don’t always leave Downtown but

when we do it’s to sit and chat with actor These tacos are as badass as the Maturned Taco Maker Danny Trejo at Trejos chete-wielding, bullet taking, Anaconda Tacos in Hollywood California. poaching, short-tempered film characters we’ve grown to love over the past 3 One month Downtown Weekly found a decades. Golden Ticket and were invited to visit Danny Trejo’s Taco Factory for National But wait! Nothing says badass like a Taco Day. One lucky winner was granted Trejo’s Tacos Ugly Christmas Sweater. free tacos for the month. His ultra-comfortable 100% cotton sweater featuring rows of tacos and smiling imThat wasn’t us. However, we did manage ages of Danny Trejo, is sure to become a to escape with the lingering taste of Ba- family classic and a lovable way to laugh dass Beef Barbacoa tacos filled with with your hombres. @trejostacos pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and sprinkled cotija cheese.

2. It’s a family affair at Pez Cantina

Led by Husband a wife team Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy Thompson Ramirez,

their seafood dominate Mexnet hosting a personality

ican-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

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 interdowntown LA.

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

3. THE LEGEND OF THE ORIGINAL TACO PETE

The year is 1989. George H.W. Bush is in the White House and America’s favorite pastimes stem from moments spent together in family rituals. Picnics, graduations, weddings and even gatherings in the living room to watch the latest episodes of Full House, The Simpson’s, In Living Color, and A Different World mark a more innocent time in American history.

Unbeknownst to many, America is about to enter a new era - The era of West Coast hip-hop. Legendary Boomers, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dog and Easy E are barely in their twenties, cranking out hardcore rap lyrics that mimic life in the hood with melodies that glide over funk samples as smooth as the low riders and chop bikes that glide down the streets of South Central.

Who’s the Mack?

It’s on these streets in 1989 that Mack Jones re-opened an iconic yellow and red building with the nostalgic red and white “TACOS” sign on the corner of 120th and Central.

Equipped with a family recipe inspired by a stumbling old street vendor named

Pete, and his two very young sons, Chuck and Aaron, Mack would spend the next 30 years at the location, serving the most iconic tacos on the West Coast known to the world as The Original Taco Pete.

Today, The Original Taco Pete is by far one of the most successful businesses

in Los Angeles. Known mostly for their “Iconic soft shell tacos”, Aaron, the youngest son, told Downtown Weekly how it started for him as an early teen who had just one job; filling soda cups.

“I remember my dad telling my brother to come and get me. I was around 13 and given the job of filling up cups with soda. That’s it. Just the sodas. Later, I would move onto grating cheese. I loved every minute of it as the youngest male child in the family.”

Currently, Aaron is in charge of mar-

keting and logistics, in case anyone is wondering about what promotions came after grating cheese.

VOL 14 NO 8 - DECEMBER3RD - december 9th / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

Aaron says this couldn’t be possible without his brother, Chuck, as he was the oane allowed to learn the ins-andouts of the legendary recipe from his aunts.

And dad, well, dad is still the family’s strong, business minded patriarch - still running a tight ship.

Spending their entire lives serving the community, this commitment to family, quality and consistency has earned The Original Taco Pete its reliable reputation within the community.

“We stand behind our flavoring and seasoning.” Aaron continued. “I’ve had compliments from several people [stating] that the first bite was like the last bite... Whether it was a week ago, two weeks ago, a year ago, or ten years ago.”

The Original Taco Pete’s secret recipe has become more in demand over the years, and with that so have their choice of menu items. Initially, the restaurant only served ground beef tacos but Additionally, in the midst of the pandemic, has since expanded to more The Original Taco Pete opened it’s first varieties of tacos, other dish- virtual kitchen by USC for contact-free es and even packaged their deliveries and mobile orders. own branded seasoning. “We started with just that many restaurants have considered in ground beef when we first the wake of the pandemic.

got the business. Over the years we added chicken, “With the cloud kitchen being a new turkey, carne asada, and concept, we expect to build off of that now, Brisket,” said Mack. and continue to move forward. We see

The Original Taco Pete also because, in the world that we live in now, served a mean fried chick- people are on the move. People want it en, and their famous red now. “ said Mack corn nachos, burritos, carne

#SurvivingDTLA

Just as much has changed over the years for The Original Taco Pete, so has the restaurant business in the wake of COVID-19.

However, The Original Taco Pete is

adapting and helping others. Not only do they offer some of the best tacos in Los Angeles, they also serve as a resource to the community. The business recently took part in community outreach and assisted in the fight to end COVID by sponsoring a catered lunch for front-line health care workers at the LA-USC medical center along with participating in local food drives and giveaways for families struggling to survive during the pandemic. Virtual kitchens are an innovative concept

very, very promising aspects from this

asada fries, and newly added Pandemic or not, the family-owned busishrimp tacos. ness is looking to expand it’s brand and signature taste to create a much larger presence in Los Angeles. At the moment, a food truck, additional brick-and-mortar locations, and even franchising opportuni-

Brother Chuck Jones stands as a protector of the family recipe. It’s what they’re known for. The signature taste hasn’t changed since day one.

ties are being considered. Nevertheless, through all their success, the Jones family admits they are extremely grateful and humbled that people have traveled across America to try their tacos, but ultimately they are always thankful for having the respect and support of the local community.

“We’re blessed in that sense that people do come back. We have a lot of repeat customers and word-a-mouth keeps us afloat,” said Mack.

The Original Taco Pete is located at 12007 S. Central Ave.

The cloud kitchen is within the

Grand Food Depot

Compound on 38th and Hill Streets, where loyal patrons and awed newcomers can now order through GrubHub, UberEats, and a list of food delivery apps.

For more info visit www.originaltacopete.com @tacopete2go