When it comes to tacos in Los Angeles, there’s an unlimited selection of places to get your fix. You can go to any Mexican restaurant and order a couple, get a few from the guy outside of Union Station, and there’s about a 150% chance that at least one of your friends has the number for a taco lady stored in their phone. How do I know that? Because everyone knows someone who knows a taco lady and if you don’t then you need better friends. This is the way of food in the city of angels: tacos in LA are as common as sand at a beach. With that said, great tacos are hard to find and when you finally get your hands on them you have to devour them like they might be your last.

That was how I felt as TJ and I sat at Tacos Tu Madre for lunch. I’ve been to this restaurant before for a group event, but returned on this occasion to get a better grasp of their food in a calmer atmosphere. Even without as many food bloggers and Instagrammers, the restaurant still had the same vibrant personality the minute you stepped inside. The shades of green, red, pink, and white makes the restaurant feel lively and the drawings on the walls add an immense sense of culture. Though Tacos Tu Madre is small, they’re quaint and it feels comfortable to be there.

It only took a few moments for us to get settled in as we looked over the menu. Taking a glance from top to bottom, we had the option to order tacos, burritos, or bowls with a variety of options. There was the traditional asada, the al pastor which so many people take for granted, duck mole, a vegan bahn mi, and a few others in between. With so much at our disposal, we somehow made a decision.

To start, we ordered the Truffle Chips and Guacamole ($3.50). While I thought the chips would be complimentary (as seen at other restaurants), that wasn’t the case here. In spite of that, the black and red tortilla chips were good way to start off the plates of food we would soon delve into. They weren’t doused in too much truffle oil so it was easy for me to enjoy them. Plus, any time you get a side of guacamole without having to pay an arm and a leg for it is a good thing.

The first taco we ordered was the Lengua taco ($2.00). I wanted to try something that would be more traditional and unique so I decided to skip the well-loved asada taco. This taco was made of cow tongue and was topped with avocado, chili, lime, and sprinkled with sea salt. In comparison to a basic and often safe taco like one made of asada, the lengua is much more tender meat which helps it absorb the rich seasoning. Add to that, the exterior is rather slick which gives it a unique texture to taste. This was a great choice!

In a complete contrast, TJ ordered the Vegan Bahn Mi taco ($3.50). Yep, a veggie taco. This taco had house marinated tofu, shredded cabbage, shaved cucumbers, pickled veggies, and a house avocado cream sauce. I’m not the biggest fan of tofu, but I gave this one an honest shot even though it was vegetarian. After a bite or two, I realized it just wasn’t for me and it’s because of my own preferences. I don’t care much for the taste of tofu regardless of how it’s prepared and since that is the focal point of this dish, no matter how the veggies were pickled I just couldn’t appreciate it. TJ on the other hand did. Maybe it was all the cucumbers or the sauce on top of the tofu, but he happily finished it.

The final taco that we ordered was the Lamb Birria taco ($3.00). This braised lamb taco came with a few add-ons that were common on the menu. Those being: pico de gallo, red pepper aioli, chili lime queso fresco, and an avocado coconut cream sauce. I liked this taco because the lamb was relatively light, easy going, and didn’t feel like it would weigh us down later. The meat was seasoned nicely so that the lamb was the prominent part to the taco and the sauces were just supporting the flavor.

The last of our entrées was the Asada Bowl with Rice ($9.00). This bowl was huge and was packed with so many ingredients! It came with carne asada, pico de gallo, chili lime queso fresco, a red pepper aioli, their house avocado coconut cream sauce, and brown rice. This bowl was more than enough to feed one person, so to have it alongside tacos was insane. We had no idea it would be as full as it was. After we let our initial intimidation subside, we attacked it with our forks. I loved the slightly spicy taste of the meat and how it picked up all the flavor from the avocado sauce and the chili lime queso. The tomatoes gave it pleasant burst of freshness, but it was the rice that held it all together. It was also the rice that made it filling pretty quickly, but it was great as a whole.

The final plate to close off the lunch was the Red Velvet Churros ($4). A slate colored bowl arrived with four bright red churros rolled in sugar and topped with a cream cheese frosting. From the look of them, the churros were thicker than most and from the touch they weren’t as fried. Diving into them, they were soft enough that they didn’t feel overdone and sweet. The red velvet taste (what you would find in most cupcakes) was a nice spin for a dessert that tends to be served one way. On top of that, the cream cheese frosting enhanced the rich taste of the churros making it delightful!

While Los Angeles has its share of taco eateries, the good places aren’t as prevalent as one would hope. It may take a bit of searching and along the way you may run into a few bad options, but the moment you find a great spot is almost magical. When you stumble upon Tacos Tu Madre, it will feel like you’ve found your new go-to destination. You’ll find yourself going back because their tacos taste like they’re gourmet, they have a bit of a street-scene feel to them, and best of all they’re open late. This spot will come in handy especially during the days when you find the taco lady is booked with parties for the next few months and the taco cart is no longer outside of Union Station.

Follow Them.
Address: 1945 1/2 Westwood Blvd., LA 90025
Phone: (424) 832-7092
Hours: Monday to Thursday – 9:00am to 12:00am, Friday and Saturday – 9:00am to 3:00am, and Sunday – 9:00am to 10:00pm
Social: Facebook and Instagram.