Haute Top 5: The 2017 Best Tacos in Los Angeles

Los Angeles born chef Ray Garcia is a master of the taco. His casual yet cheerful eatery is the perfect backdrop to eat his perfectly balanced confections from chorizo and papas to carnitas to vegetarian-friendly fare made from mushrooms and garlic. Make sure to try unusual interpretations on the classic taco like the clams and lardo.

Salazar is having a moment. This buzz-worthy Mexican eatery serves up awesome tacos (our favorite is the Al Pastor, made with avocado, salsa vaquera, cilantro, red onion and pineapple) in an open-air environment...that also happens to feature on-tap margaritas. Such a great way to spend a Sunday...or any other day, for that matter.

Walter Manzke's West Hollywood, semi-authentic Mexican eatery is an awesome place for a plethora of tacos. You'll have a hard time choosing between confections made with grilled portobello mushroom, charcoal grilled octopus, Mary's organic chicken, pork belly, grilled ribeye and pork shoulder. That its name is a play on both musical artists Johnny Cash and Tom Petty gives the eatery extra cool bonus points.

When Chef Wes Avila first started Guerrilla Tacos in 2012 he wasn’t setting out to do something different—he was setting out to do something good. He had gone to culinary schools in California and France, had cooked alongside some of the most recognized chefs in the world—(including Walter Manske at L’Auberge, who also tops our list and Alain Ducasse. But now, he sets out to make gourmet food that's unpretentious, and that can be enjoyed by everyone. He's succeeded. His menu fluctuates constantly, though hope the roasted sweet potato with almond chile, fried corn, scallions and feta and the crab legs taco with refried beans are available when you dine. Although Guerilla is currently a food truck, Avila is opening a brick and mortar location in the Arts District soon.

Chef Roy Choi is a street food icon in Los Angeles, and there's no denying that his Korean barbecue tacos have made an indelible mark on the City of Angels. Its short rib taco — two crisply griddled homemade corn tortillas, double-caramelized Korean barbecue, salsa roja, cilantro-onion-lime relish and a Napa Romaine slaw tossed in a chili-soy vinaigrette—is definitely a classic. Choi expanded his Kogi concept in 2016 by opening the Kogi Taqueria, where you'll find "OG" classics like short rib, spicy pork, tofu, cebollita y aguacate and pollo asado. A can't miss.