Villa's Tacos

Probably the best tacos I've ever had. I was reading up on the Taco Madness Tournament by LA Taco Magazine and Villa's won 3 times! Plus, they have 2 Michelin Bib Gourmands for 2023 and 2024. It was definitely worth a visit! Villa's is located in a strip mall, but you immediately know where they are based on the line forming out the door. Plus, the tent where they grill all the meats at the curb! Victor, Mr. Villa himself, was outside as the bouncer and greeting every person that came through the door. He has such a great energy about him! He also came to check up on us a few times when we were enjoying all the yummy tacos! Victor would also acknowledge 1st timers while they were in line and he let us know of the special for the day and the recommended Villa's Trio.It's a small spot where you order, pick up drinks/food/merch and salsas inside. They have 3 picnic tables for outdoor seating only. Service was minimal where they take your order and call your name when it's ready. All tacos come on handmade blue corn tortillas that are pressed to order. Tacos come with a radish slice and lime. You can grab salsas, hibiscus-pickled onions and drinks at the self serve stations. Villa's Trio came with Ranchero Asada Queso Taco, Papas con Chorizo Queso Taco* and Black Bean con Pollo Queso Taco*. The last two were Trio exclusives. We decided to get 1 order of the trio and add on the others we wanted to try. Ranchero Asada Queso Taco - this was the 1st taco I tried and it was WOW. So much flavor and it was a hearty size! The cheese, the meats, the guac. This didn't even need additional sauce, it was perfection! Make sure get 1 per person as I did not want to share! :PPapas con Chorizo Queso Taco* - I was loving the papas! Small diced potatoes with such great flavor! The chorizo was good but not my favorite. Maybe I was already kinda full lol. This is only available in the Trio. Black Bean con Pollo Queso Taco* - the chicken had a great flavor!! I don't usually like beans, but this taco was pretty good. I may ask for no beans on this next time. This is only available in the Trio. Lamb Barbacoa Taco - this was the specialty of the day - this was pretty good, I only took one bite as lamb is not my favorite meat. Papas a la Plancha Queso Taco - this was my 2nd favorite taco! So simple, but they made it so great! Small cubed potatoes with the works. It was perfect. I loved that they have Vegan options with Nopales (cactus) and soyrizo. Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca - Wow! So fresh, flavorful, and refreshing! It's one of my favorite flavor combinations! Strawberry Lemonade - this was pretty good but a bit watered down. Hibiscus pickled onions - love the color and the sweetness it brings to the tacos! I tried most of the salsas except the scary hot one! Lol. They were all delicious. My faves were the classic avocado salsa and roasted blend. They had such great flavor! But to be honest, the tacos didn't need the extra sauces, they were good on their own. Parking is aplenty in the big shared lot, but you may have to drive around for a spot. Definitely worth the trek if coming from further away. 1000% Recommended!

I really wanted this place to be amazing. The biggest reason why we were dissatisfied was because we ordered 6 different tacos and two aguas for $ 40.00 and our order was missing tacos. Not complaining about price, I am annoyed because it was my first time there and they screwed up my order on 6 tacos. When I went to the counter to let the Villa guys know I was missing tacos, he looked at me like I was not telling the truth, I had to pull out my receipt, and then he said nothing of an apology to me. I am Mexican, I am used to being offended and taking shit way a hundred times more hurtful. I thought, "Not worth being nasty, just get what I ordered-but it had to be the ones my wife ordered and I was just bummed. I went and sat outside with my wife until they called me up to get the missing tacos from my order. I was called, I got up inside to the counter and again the Villa guys did not say a word to me about their mistake. Not a sorry, not an apology, nothing. So, I went back to my wife at our outdoor table and had cold tacos (except for the two that were missing and made to complete my order.). The food, the carne Asada queso taco was the best. It was the only taco that had enough portion of product and surprising blend of flavor and did not break apart. The Asada taco's and Mulitta's tortilla fell apart after our first bites. The Mulitta ingredients broke apart all over my hand and onto my plate. In my opinion, for good tacos the tortilla has to stay together as you bite. Again, all four tacos we had broke apart. I let the young man at the register know I was a bit perturbed " I EXPLAINED" for his guys not apologizing for messing up my order. We are mature enough to know to just calmly step away from places that make us feel diminished. We are not going back.

Really good tacos with homemade blue corn masa tortillas, served in a very small space, with long lines and limited seating. Located in a non-descript strip mall anchored by a Grocery Outlet, Villa's Tacos is a must-stop for taco enthusiasts in the LA area. It opened it's first brick and mortar in the Highland neighborhood of LA in 2022, and just recently opened a second location in the Grand Central Market in DTLA. A friend and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon, arriving about 5 minutes before they opened at noon. We were the 5th group in line, and by the time they opened the doors, there were quite a few people behind us as well. Inside, it's a very, very small storefront, with just enough space for probably 5 people standing customers at one time. You order (super friendly cashier) and pay (through square), then exit and wait outside. Got 4 queso tacos (chicken ($4.5), asada ($4.5), pork chorizo ($4.5), and house special (weekend only) barbacoa ($5.5). Also got a Mulita (same as a taco but like a sandwich with two tortillas) with barbacoa ($7.50). Everything is a la carte.They call out your name (not that loudly) from the inside, so important to be very close to the door to hear (they do seem to fulfill the orders in sequence so useful to remember who was in front of you in line...once they get their food, you are next!).At this point, it was pretty crowded inside which usually makes me hesitate, but it's amazing how hearing your name called, makes you think "I need to be there", and letting you cut through. It's an assembly line operation, with people making the homemade blue tortillas, and then each step adding more ingredients, ending in the wrapping of the product (all are prepared to-go)...at which point they call out your name. They were missing an item that I had paid for (which I had to notice and mention, making them have to make it quickly), appreciated not being told to step aside, even though it was very busy. It's a small detail, but important.All food is put in compostable paper containers, open faced. They really mean for you to eat the tacos immediately, but I had no choice by to bring them home. I ate them soon afterwards (still warm), and I thought they were good. As mentioned by others, the salsa is very spicy (a little goes a long way) and very onion centric (they only give you the tiny plastic ramekins once you pick up your food to encourage people not to pre-get their salsa). The guac added to the tacos were very good. The tacos had about the same amount of meat as the mulita (so stick with the tacos). I also learned that barbacoa can be pork (just assumed it was beef...no signs ever stated what type of meat it was)...it tasted like good carnitas to me, but not worth the upcharge over beef. They are known for their crusty cheese lattice (if you order the queso taco)...mine definitely had it but didn't add much. And finally, I learned (again) that I much prefer a good Sonoran flour tortilla, over any sort of masa tortilla...which explains why the blue tortilla didn't add that much to my food experience.

*** Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants (2024): #76 ***** Michelin Bib Gourmand **Featuring blue corn tortillas and queso tacos, Villa's Tacos was a restaurant I was pretty excited to try. We ended up here this past Friday for dinner around 6:15pm. This is the type of place where you order and pay first, then wait for your name to be called. The line to order was about ~15 minutes long, and our food was ready a little less than 10 minutes after that.To eat, I ordered a ranchera asada taco, a ranchera asada queso taco, and a chorizo de puerco taco. While I did enjoy the queso taco, I think I actually preferred the regular tacos more. Priced at $3.50 for a regular taco and $4.50 for a queso taco, the price point is reasonable considering both the quality of ingredients and portions. I really liked how all of their tacos were served with guacamole.Located in Highland Park, Villa's Tacos gives me a good reason to wander into this neighborhood more often. This isn't an area I'm too familiar with. Note that this spot has no indoor seating, but they do have a couple decent-sized tables outside. Don't forget to try some of their delicious Agua Fresca with your tacos, priced around $5.

The tacos are a bit on the pricier side, but absolutely delicious.With outdoor seating only, the vibe is casual, and there's a self-service sauce bar featuring sweet hibiscus onions. I loved that I could enjoy a flavorful trio of tacos without cilantro, and what really set them apart was the crispy cheese on the tortillas--it added such a satisfying crunch and extra depth of flavor.They were all delicious but this is how I'd rank the three: AsadaPolloChorizo Unfortunately couldn't try the salsa due to cilantro, but that's expected. Really friendly service. Will come back!

Villa's Tacos is hands down my favorite taco spot in LA, and 100% worth the drive! I've been to both of their locations, but I prefer their spot off Figueroa because the salsas are self-serve - nothing beats customizing your tacos with just the right amount of heat and flavor.This time, I opted for two queso asada tacos and one queso chicken taco, and they were all fantastic. The crispy cheese lace perfectly complements the freshly made tortillas, adding the ideal crunch and flavor to every bite. The meat was solid, though I was a little curious to see a worker carrying multiple quarts of cooked meat into the restaurant - I assume they cook their meats off-site? Regardless, the flavor and quality were excellent!The salsas were also amazing and clearly freshly made. If you love spice, I highly recommend the habanero salsa - it's got the perfect kick and balances so well with the tacos.The line was quick, and while there's no indoor seating, there are about three benches outside where you can enjoy your meal. What's great is that everyone here is super aware and considerate of the limited seating, so benches open up quickly.The attention to detail, quality ingredients, and amazing flavors makes this place a must-visit for taco lovers. This is LA taco perfection, and I'll be back again and again!

Hole in the wall place. I tried the 3 special trio tacos $14.50+tax. Very good! Tacos only, no sides, but filling. Not spicy (good for me) but nice selection of salsas for different tastes. Service was fast. Seating is very limited.

Been wanting to try this place forever!!! It's right in the heart of Highland Park, we went around 9pm on a Monday and waited about 30 minutes! Carne asada taco with the queso was an explosion of flavor, this is one of the first places I've had that's marinated their asada this way. I definitely preferred the one with queso rather than the one without, since it felt like the queso neutralized out the flavors, whereas the regular asada taco felt too salty. As for the chicken taco i was genuinely impressed, the meat was juicy, flavorful, and so tender. I feel like a lot of taco places Ive been to don't prioritize their chicken tacos so it comes out a bit dry but this one was amazing. Loved how limited their menu was because I know that meant they put in effort and attention into each and every one. Definitely up there for my LA taco list!

I recently returned to Villa's Tacos after a while, and it was just as amazing as I remembered. We ordered the trio, which is my go-to, and every bite reminded me why I fell in love with this place in the first place.The blue corn tortillas are a standout. They're crispy, flavorful, and hold everything together perfectly. The meat was incredibly juicy, and the generous toppings--like guacamole and fresh ingredients--took the tacos to the next level. One of the best parts of Villa's Tacos is the salsa bar. There are so many options, ranging from mild to extremely hot, so you can customize each bite to your taste.We went on a Sunday around 12:30 p.m., and while the line wasn't too long, the wait time after ordering was about 15 minutes. For food this fresh and delicious, the wait is more than worth it.What makes Villa's Tacos even more special is their story. I recently watched the Los Angeles episode of Taco Chronicles on Netflix, which featured Villa's Tacos. Learning about their history and how they've become a local favorite made visiting again feel even more meaningful.Overall, Villa's Tacos is a must-visit spot. Whether you're a local or someone visiting Los Angeles, I can't recommend it enough. The food, the vibe, and the passion of the team make this place truly unforgettable. I can't wait to go back again!

Food was delicious the service was great Friendly staff please open one in Santa Clarita people will love it music was great i I joined it it was a happy feeling its great.