Legendary tough guy Danny Trejo is well know for his unique success story, storied career with director Robert Rodriguez, and (most importantly) that distinctive mug that we've all grown to love. What can't this man do?
Well kids, in a wacky story that only Hollywood could cook up (pun intended), lies Trejo's newest notch on the career belt: gourmet taco creator at the newly minted Trejo's Tacos in Los Angeles.
Just look at that sign; badass, beautiful and perfectly mustachioed, just like the man himself. Haven't even smelled the tacos here and I'm already fully sold on the concept.
Finally opening its doors in mid March of 2016— after a much maligned delay of well over a year— the crowds were buzzing on the early afternoon that I stopped by. Lines of people— eager and excited for their taco fix— ran out the door, with one in every three of them asking the immortal question on everybody's mind: "Is HE here?"
Knowing damned well that Mr. Trejo hasn't asked "Would you like fries with that?" for a few decades, I was already emotionally prepared for a Trejo-less dining experience (though i did hear that he'd stopped by the day before). And while physical Danny wasn't actually around on that fateful day, his presence was certainly alive and well, but in taco form.
But what the restaurant lacks in a real life Trejo appearance, it makes up for in its unique design and aesthetic. The exterior is slick and modern, standing out amongst the dingy clutter of shops, hardware stores and bodegas on South La Brea Rd. The inside is small, but clean, and has a little bit of a chipotle vibe, sans the E. coli. Overall, the decor doesn't scream "Machete lives here!," but you have some wins in the form of a glorious Trejo mural and this machete beer tap.
As for the food: apparently Danny has been hiding his secret hobby from us for years because he makes a damned good taco. With a limited grand opening menu only available, there wasn't much to choose from, but what they had was quite gourmet. The chips glistened in the sun, the pork shoulder tacos brought smiles, the fried tofu squished perfectly and the plates were perfectly garnished with lime and a midget radish. Plus, once your done scarfing your taco, you have this to stare at and enjoy.
Wholly satisfying after a delicious taco meal, I consider staring at Trejo's cartoon face on glossy paper the equivalent of a cigarette after sex.
And I'd be doing this place a disservice to not talk about the merchandise, which seems to be one of the main reasons this place actually exists. There's quite bit of it in the form of hats, shirts, and coffee (?), all featuring Danny Trejo's signature scowl in caricature form.
Look at all of that glorious Trejo's Tacos merchandise, it's guaranteed fun for the whole family. Need an early Xmas gift? They've got you covered. 90th Birthday present for grandma? Check. How about a "I've mistakenly ran over your dog and am very sorry" token of sorrow? All good, just flip them a Trejo's Tacos baseball cap and the world will revert back to awesomeness. Even the fucking hot sauce has his name and face slapped on it, as it should.
If you ask me, this Danny Trejo/taco combination makes perfect sense and I welcome this kind of trend across Los Angeles. Hopefully we'll get Ben Affleck Burritos or Sissy Spacek spaghetti in the coming years. Imagine if Tarantino's Tamale's opened next door.
Danny, I salute you and your random business ventures. I'd put these tacos on par with that other wacky themed taco shop Tio's Tacos in Riverside. You've come a long way since dying in every Hollywood movie that was ever made.
