Leo’s Taco Truck – Tacos al Pastor

The smell of roasting meat fills the air. Juice bubbles up from its crevices, falling down and sizzles on the catch tray. A towering spit twirls lazily as the fire licks at its sides, pausing only for the taquero to deftly shave off slices of meat to land on a petite pair of tortillas. This is al pastor. 

Hailing from Mexico City, tacos al pastor actually have their origins from Lebanon in shawarma. What used to be lamb has been swapped for pork in Mexico and marinated in an adobo made from spices, chilies, vinegar and achiote. The meat is then stacked vertically on a spit called a trompo and roasted until crispy. A taquero, or taco guy, then shaves off slices of the meat along with a little slice of the pineapple that adorns the top of the trompo. Served on warm corn tortillas and topped with additional cilantro and onion, the taco is best enjoyed right then and there with a spicy salsa.  

Los Angeles is blessed with choice when it comes to Mexican food, and especially when it comes to tacos al pastor. The secret to a great al pastor is all in the marinade. Striking that perfect balance of sweetness, heat, vinegar, and warm spices is hard to achieve, with a lot of taquerias leaning a bit too heavily on the sweet side. Leo’s Taco Truck manages to strike a good balance in their marinade. The meat is roasted well enough to develop a good crust on the exterior while still remaining juicy. But what really sets them apart from other places are their extras. Perfectly picked onions and habanero peppers add a sharp kick to the rich taco and is all tied together with an excellent salsa verde is packed with green flavor.  

Leo’s Tacos are well worth a long detour to enjoy tacos al pastor, especially at night with other hard partying individuals.

⭐⭐

Leo’s Taco Truck
1515 South La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90019