The taco is the quintessential LA dish. It defines this city’s culture and drives its entire food industry.

I think about them all the time, I eat them every day. But despite what you may think, I’ve only been regularly eating tacos in LA like I eat them now for about five years. Before that, I always loved Mexican food but didn’t really focus on the taco. I didn’t appreciate the taco in the way I appreciate it now, for sure.

It’s kind of sick, actually, but I try to eat tacos whenever and however I can. I used to be a burrito guy, sometimes I’d get a fajita plate, or even nachos. And don’t get me wrong, I’d get tacos, too, but they were a side dish to me. Now, they’re everything. I wouldn’t seek out a small taco stand before. Now, I practically live at taco stands.

If you’re wondering what taco changed it all for me, it was the fresh corn tortilla carne asada taco at La Taquiza on Figueroa by USC. That was me getting my taco bearings. When The Hundreds moved to Vernon, I started eating tacos more because our office is in the middle of Taco Heaven in LA. All the best spots are easily accessible at lunchtime for us.

Then, about two years ago, I went on a taco crawl with my friends Burt (from Trudy’s and Slab) and Vinny (from Jon & Vinny’s, Animal, and Son of a Gun) and it changed the game for me. We hit up four or five spots and it changed my life. I only wanted tacos from that moment on. This is foreshadowing, but that’s the first time I had Tire Shop.

My team clowns me for always saying a different spot is “the best taco in LA.” But I can’t help it, I love all the different flavors across the city and there’s one for every mood or situation. My list is my list. This is what I think are the ten best tacos in LA. You should absolutely still do your own outside research, as well as read other respected lists like Eater’s and LA Taco’s.

Tito’s is the best, I love Tito’s Tacos. It’s an American taco, and I’ve been eating this taco for over 20 years. I LOVE it. I love the cheese, I get mine with extra cheese. Their bean and cheese burritos are one of my favorite burritos in the city. I love the shell. I love the lettuce. I just love the way their taco is built. It’s amazing.

Tito’s is the kind of place people either absolutely love or can’t stand it — there is no in-between. You either think it’s trash or it’s one of the best tacos, and I think it’s one of the best. There’s a place in the valley called Henry’s Tacos and sometimes people compare the two. I think Tito’s blows Henry’s out of the water.

Ben’s Order: Two Tacos, one Bean and Cheese Burrito, and a medium Guac.

PRO TIP: Go during off-hours because you will wait forever. And the line moves pretty slow, so be prepared to wait a little bit. Make sure to ask for a side of the spicy salsa, they’ll give it to you for free.

I love Teddy’s and their $10 deluxe plate is the best value in LA. It comes with a taco, tostada, mulita, quesadilla and a small side of consume. It’s my second favorite birria de res in Los Angeles and a lot of people think it’s even better than La Unica. It’s a great place for lunch but get there early because they can get very busy.

Ben’s Order: Teddy’s $10 Deluxe Plate

PRO TIP: Order a Vampiro. It doesn’t come with the $10 plate and I wish it did!

What these guys did is incredible. They took the taco stand to the next level, really brought it to the people in a huge way. They made it seem normal to walk in the shop, get two or three tacos, stand up and eat it with your friends. The food is great, the adobada is the best in the city and maybe anywhere. They’ll eventually be the biggest taqueria in the city.

Ben’s Order: Carne Asada Quesadilla and a Mushroom Taco

PRO TIP: Add a Carne Asada Perron to your order, it’s a flour tortilla, pinto beans, melted cheese, and guac. It’s off the menu, you have to ask for that one. Top secret.

Sonoratown is flat-out amazing. You’re coming here for the carne asada and flour tortillas. They are the stars of the show.

Some of the menu at Sonoratown can’t be found anywhere else. Their burrito is one of the best in the city and their beef chivichanga is a must-try if you’re in LA. MUST TRY. But their carne asada taco is why you’re here. The grilled meat has a lot of flavor and that perfect tortilla makes this one of the best tacos in the city. I love that it comes with the grilled green onion on the side as well.

Ben’s Order: Carne Asada Taco, Beef Chivichanga, and a Carne Asada Burrito 2.0

PRO TIP: Go when it’s off-hours because ever since Netflix, their line is insane.

Lee Spielman put me on to this place last year. We went once and loved it. We went again and loved it a little more. And the third time we went sealed the deal. This place is very special. We go there all the time now. It’s basically a little market and butcher shop that also makes tacos, so you can get all different kinds of meat. Their tortillas are what puts asses in the seats, though. They’re unlike any other tortilla I’ve ever had. They’re freshly made corn tortillas but they’re thick and just a little bit fluffy — so nice. This place is remarkable.

Ben’s Order: One Carne Asada Taco and one Beef Shoulder Taco

PRO TIP: Order a small side of Beef Chile Colorado to eat with your Tacos.

One of the best tacos in the city, maybe the most unique. A lot of people think this is the best taco, period. It’s absolutely delicious, I love their Shrimp Taco. I’ve never had anything like it, you even have to eat it a different way than any other taco. Jonathan Gold found this place and put them on the map years ago. They’re still going strong.

Ben’s Order: Two Shrimp Tacos. No, three Shrimp Tacos.

PRO TIP: Order the food and go find a table inside, don’t take the food home with you. The whole experience is part of it. They even have merch, it’s great.

Leo’s is the ultimate late night taco and they make the best Al Pastor Taco in LA. They’re the original. Slicing the pineapple off the top and shooting it into the taco perfectly every time. They’re the one.

Ben’s Order: Four Al Pastor Tacos

PRO TIP: Go early enough that you can still get churros across the street from Churros La Paloma.

La Unica is a very special place to me. I’ll never forget the first time I had it. I took the sales team to lunch at Mariscos Jalisco. We finished eating and all of us looked up and said let’s get another taco. I told them I have a place down the street, so we took a walk. We didn’t know what to expect but as soon as we all took our first bites, we were blown away. After lunch, I messaged every single person in my phone book that they needed to go. It was my favorite taco in LA for a while. It was my first birria taco, and it’s still the best birria taco in the city. Now, there are like 100 birria spots all over LA but they’re the best.

Ben’s Order: Two Birrias de Res Queso Tacos Dorados and one Birria de Res Vampiro

PRO TIP: Go in the morning and get La Unica for breakfast because Birria is breakfast food.

I remember eating El Ruso for the first time after randomly finding it just over a year ago. I always look for new spots around our office and this one stood out to me. Pat and I went after seeing it on Yelp and I raced back to the office to tell everyone. Half the office went and got tacos. Bobby tried to go later and was like, “What the fuck they were sold out!”

A lot has changed since then, they’ve blown up and there’s a line every time. The food is still better than it’s ever been. Julia makes incredible flour tortillas that have the perfect amount of stretch. And Walter’s carne asada is absolutely delicious. Plus, the way he fries his cheese on the tortilla is really special. I love El Ruso.

Ben’s Order: My order there is three Carne Asada Tacos with cheese and beans

PRO TIP: Go on the weekend, that’s the only time they make Sobaqueras.

Also known as Taqueria San Miguel, they’re number one. That’s the best taco in the fucking city, no question about it. The way their meat is grilled and the corn tortillas are made right in front of you is poetic. It’s only available at night in a parking lot in South Central, not far from USC. It’s as LA as it gets. Their salsa is just a little too spicy, which I love. The guac is perfect. They have the best horchata in the city. It’s amazing, everything about it.

Ben’s Order: Two Carne Asada Tacos and a Carne Asada Vampiro

PRO TIP: If you don’t like spicy, ask for no salsa.