Food-wise, I don’t mean to force a comparison here just because both Tijuanazo L.A. and Frontera are run by siblings but it’s hard not to and…
* The **adobada** at Tijuanzo is the closest comparison to the Frontera al pastor and both are very good. Both use a crema with it but the crema at Tijuanazo was either used more sparingly (which means: less messy too) or is thinner because it’s not as conspicuous compared to crema at Frontera. Overall, I’d say the flavors were pretty and just like I enjoyed the al pastro at Frontera, I also enjoyed the adobada at Tijuanazo. 8.5/10 * The **asada** at Tijuanazo was the ideal kind of TJ-style grilled asada where you can definitely taste the char/smoke of the grill (unlike at Frontera). It has the standard, thin avocado sauce that TJ-style stands all do but you can always ask them to leave that off. 9/10 * The **suadero** was also delicious: well-seasoned and I don’t know if suadero is traditionally marinated but I thought I was picking up on the subtle sweetness of tomato paste somewhere. * The tortillas are supposedly handmade but of the various handmade tortillas I’ve had of late, these seemed more like store-bought in texture. Not “bad” but mostly “functional.” 7/10
Pricing for the tacos is identical to Frontera: $3.75 a pop which is sure to have some folks grumbling (the Google reviews already do so!). For whatever reason, their counter menu has most of the prices covered with paper and I have no idea what that’s about.
Altogether, I enjoyed the trip out to check ‘em out. Would I make a special trip to go again? Hard to say…I’d say these were above average in quality and it’s only about five minutes further from me than Angel’s for example. But they are further and there’s that that brick-and-mortar surcharge (with no ambiance to make up for it, unlike at Frontera). If I was in the mood for al pastor, I’d just go to Frontera (they’re closer) and while the asada and suadero were quite good, it’s not like you can’t find equally good versions at other above-average stands around the city (though most of those are in South Central and thus, less convenient for me).
tgcm26
Thank you for the writeup! I’ve been very curious about this place
itsfiji
Thanks for the write up! What do you think of Tacos Don Cuco? That’s my favorite spot when it comes to TJ style tacos in East LA.
I just saw this spot today too, after I got some Tacos Baja lol.
Curious-Manufacturer
Curious about this place. Wonder if it’s legit or those instagrammable place that influencers are paid to rave about
CheeseDanishSoup
So how much are the prices.?
DownvoteSpiral
Better than Tacos 1986 (overrated imo)? Are those flour or corn tortillas?
Not worth the drive or the price. And Don Cucos used to be good with the old crew but since they’ve changed personnel, the tacos don’t hit the spot like they used to. Still on the hunt for some authentic adobada that has that tart taste? Maybe from tamarindo or something.
elgo_rila
Has anybody that’s been to the Tijuana locations tried this new LA one yet? If so, how do they compare? They have my favorite adobada in Tijuana and am hoping these are just as good.
JahMusicMan
I’ve been to one of the TJ locations twice and it was the best taco place that I tried (better than El Jockey, Tacos El Franc, and a few others I don’t remember the names). I’m definitely going to try the LA location.
And I’m ready to go run and hide…. on it’s best day (lots of bad days lately) Tacos 1986 is better than the popular taco joints in TJ. It does TJ style tacos better than TJ. Yeah I said it. What you got?
KeepItCln
Tried this place not too long ago. I thought it was great but possibly a step below Don Cuco; however, having a brick and mortar is convenient. What I found odd was my asada taco came with a tortilla hecha a mano but my adobada/al pastor taco came with 2 small “store bought” tortillas. This is the main reason I would choose Don Cuco over these.
10 Comments
Tijuanazo Los Angeles is the [first L.A. outpost](https://la.eater.com/2024/9/10/24241080/tijuanazo-tijuana-style-carne-asada-tacos-adobada-opening-photos) of the small chain from (guess where?) Tijuana. They just opened one in San Diego too so it sounds like the family has decided to franchise north of the border.
The one is L.A. is being run by the founder’s daughter while one fo the sons is behind [Taqueria Frontera in Cypress Park](https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodLosAngeles/comments/1f3rksl/taqueria_frontera_is_a_new_masaal_pastor_gem_in/) (which is not officially affiliated with Tijuanazo; their menu signage is similar but their tacos are not).
[LA Taco just covered Tijuanazo L.A](https://lataco.com/tijuana-tacos-tijuanazo-east-la). and I was working from DTLA today anyway and I just went back to Frontera yesterday so…
The new restaurant sits on the [corner of Atlantic and Repetto](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tijuanazo+Los+Angeles/@34.0307247-118.156668317.2z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x80c2cfc8a5176f37:0x72f0669bcb857520!8m2!3d34.0307225!4d-118.1544149!16s%2Fg%2F11lngxlbs6?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D); it’s a big, round building there, hard to miss. They have a small parking lot in the back and I think the street parking is non-metered. It’s a big space inside; maybe too big? Feels a bit empty. They have at least 12+ 4-top tables to sit at. The ordering counter feels unusually large considering there’s only one register now but maybe they’re anticipating add a second one if/when business picks up.
Food-wise, I don’t mean to force a comparison here just because both Tijuanazo L.A. and Frontera are run by siblings but it’s hard not to and…
* The **adobada** at Tijuanzo is the closest comparison to the Frontera al pastor and both are very good. Both use a crema with it but the crema at Tijuanazo was either used more sparingly (which means: less messy too) or is thinner because it’s not as conspicuous compared to crema at Frontera. Overall, I’d say the flavors were pretty and just like I enjoyed the al pastro at Frontera, I also enjoyed the adobada at Tijuanazo. 8.5/10
* The **asada** at Tijuanazo was the ideal kind of TJ-style grilled asada where you can definitely taste the char/smoke of the grill (unlike at Frontera). It has the standard, thin avocado sauce that TJ-style stands all do but you can always ask them to leave that off. 9/10
* The **suadero** was also delicious: well-seasoned and I don’t know if suadero is traditionally marinated but I thought I was picking up on the subtle sweetness of tomato paste somewhere.
* The tortillas are supposedly handmade but of the various handmade tortillas I’ve had of late, these seemed more like store-bought in texture. Not “bad” but mostly “functional.” 7/10
Pricing for the tacos is identical to Frontera: $3.75 a pop which is sure to have some folks grumbling (the Google reviews already do so!). For whatever reason, their counter menu has most of the prices covered with paper and I have no idea what that’s about.
Altogether, I enjoyed the trip out to check ‘em out. Would I make a special trip to go again? Hard to say…I’d say these were above average in quality and it’s only about five minutes further from me than Angel’s for example. But they are further and there’s that that brick-and-mortar surcharge (with no ambiance to make up for it, unlike at Frontera). If I was in the mood for al pastor, I’d just go to Frontera (they’re closer) and while the asada and suadero were quite good, it’s not like you can’t find equally good versions at other above-average stands around the city (though most of those are in South Central and thus, less convenient for me).
Thank you for the writeup! I’ve been very curious about this place
Thanks for the write up! What do you think of Tacos Don Cuco? That’s my favorite spot when it comes to TJ style tacos in East LA.
I just saw this spot today too, after I got some Tacos Baja lol.
Curious about this place. Wonder if it’s legit or those instagrammable place that influencers are paid to rave about
So how much are the prices.?
Better than Tacos 1986 (overrated imo)? Are those flour or corn tortillas?
The taqueria Frontera tacos were pretty mid.
https://preview.redd.it/sssln50ylood1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73ae1f5f6a8d0b08998a7e063986b5f453001e42
Not worth the drive or the price. And Don Cucos used to be good with the old crew but since they’ve changed personnel, the tacos don’t hit the spot like they used to. Still on the hunt for some authentic adobada that has that tart taste? Maybe from tamarindo or something.
Has anybody that’s been to the Tijuana locations tried this new LA one yet? If so, how do they compare? They have my favorite adobada in Tijuana and am hoping these are just as good.
I’ve been to one of the TJ locations twice and it was the best taco place that I tried (better than El Jockey, Tacos El Franc, and a few others I don’t remember the names). I’m definitely going to try the LA location.
And I’m ready to go run and hide…. on it’s best day (lots of bad days lately) Tacos 1986 is better than the popular taco joints in TJ. It does TJ style tacos better than TJ. Yeah I said it. What you got?
Tried this place not too long ago. I thought it was great but possibly a step below Don Cuco; however, having a brick and mortar is convenient.
What I found odd was my asada taco came with a tortilla hecha a mano but my adobada/al pastor taco came with 2 small “store bought” tortillas. This is the main reason I would choose Don Cuco over these.