This post was updated May 22 at 9:20 p.m.
For over half a decade, Tacos 1986 has been serving up Tijuana-style tacos to the Westwood community.
Nestled on the corner between Kinross Avenue and Glendon Avenue, about a mile’s walk from Bruin Plaza, Tacos 1986 offers an array of Mexican food, including its signature tacos, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The restaurant is often busy, even until closing, as customers flock to the restaurant to take out or to dine in at one of the tables just outside the restaurant. Isai Alejo, a lead chef at Tacos 1986, said his favorite part of the job is interacting with restaurant patrons.
“I like talking to customers,” Alejo said. “We get to not just serve them but make friends.”
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Indeed, the restaurant’s service and food have formed strong connections with loyal customers, such as Edwin Amaya, who said Tacos 1986 is one of his favorite taco places in Los Angeles. Though he usually orders tacos, Amaya said he just enjoyed his first time eating the burrito bowl, another item offered on the menu.
Tacos 1986 boasts a handful of sides and a modest selection of entrees – mulitas, burritos and quesadillas, among others. But the main draw of the establishment is its soft shell corn tortilla taco, which are $3.75 apiece. The tacos, each served with onion, cilantro, guacamole and salsa, come with one of four proteins, including a vegan mushroom option. Of these choices, Amaya said he specifically enjoys the carne asada tacos.
“It (the price) is a little bit up there, you know?” Amaya said. “But the food speaks for itself. It’s good. It’s delicious.”
When first entering the restaurant, customers are greeted by red text plastered on the wall that reads, “Bienvenidos Tacos 1986.” Music plays while the chefs, visible behind the cashier counter, fashion handmade corn tortillas and slice meat al pastor from a spit, a thin rod that hoists the meat as it roasts. Bottles of Mexican Coca-Cola and Topo Chico mineral water are stacked in the corner, while a troop of Funko Pop!-style figurines sit on the highest shelf and overlook the room. On the other end of the wall, two framed pictures depict former President Joe Biden and current LA Mayor Karen Bass visiting the restaurant during Bass’ mayoral campaign in 2022.
Before Tacos 1986 cemented its spot in Westwood – for example, as a stop for political campaigns – its founders operated out of taco carts in a parking lot. After moving these carts around LA for a few months, Tacos 1986 finally opened a brick-and-mortar downtown LA restaurant in 2019. Their second location, in the center of Westwood, opened in February 2020, according to the chain’s website.
Alejo said the restaurant’s menu has remained mostly the same since its taco cart days, aside from adding a breakfast menu about four months ago. He said the chefs make many of their items fresh, such as their corn tortillas and agua frescas. He added that Tacos 1986 sets itself apart from other taco places by serving Tijuana-style tacos.
“That’s (Baja California is) the only state in Mexico that puts avocado on their tacos,” said Alejo. “So that’s 100% TJ style.”
In addition to the menu, other aspects of Taco 1986’s mobile origins remain. For example, the restaurant has no seating – just a slim tile counter in-store and three elevated tables on the sidewalk outside. Amaya said he took issue with this lack of seating and the lack of parking.
On the other hand, first-time customer Justine Lim, a third-year computational and systems biology student, said the lack of seating actually contributes to the restaurant’s ambiance. She added that the price is reasonable, her single taco was filling and she would come back with friends.
Another customer, Jason Kim, a third-year mathematics/economics student, said he agreed that the atmosphere is attractive. Kim and Lim had initially intended to go to another restaurant in Westwood, but Tacos 1986 caught Kim’s eye, Lim said. After eating three tacos and struggling to finish a fourth, Kim said he enjoyed his meal and the time spent with friends.
“A big part of coming here and eating, especially at a restaurant like this, is really less about the food and more about the people you’re with,” Kim said. “So you definitely need to bring some friends here to at least enjoy the experience.”
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Tacos 1986 used to offer a discount to UCLA students, but it discontinued this deal because it hurt profitability, Alejo said. Nevertheless, he said the restaurant maintains a close relationship with UCLA by frequently catering for events.
Alejo said he has worked at the restaurant in Westwood since it opened in 2020 and has witnessed the restaurant’s growth over that time. As he looks to the future, he said he sees bright things ahead for Tacos 1986. Since its opening, Tacos 1986 has added several locations around Southern California, with plans to open a new location across the country in New York City.
“From two stores they’d opened at first, now they have seven stores,” Alejo said. “I feel like it’s going to be here for a while.”
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