Tag Archives: taco stand

Food, L.A. Life, USC

The Best Burrito in LA

By Matthew Kim

As an LA native, I’ve been blessed with an array of diverse, delicious food my whole life. I consider this to be one of the best things about Los Angeles–you can always count on countless fast food or mom-and-pop restaurants to be nearby. Quick-bite food options are rapidly growing to accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. Today, I want to share my favorite burrito spot in all of Los Angeles: Tacos El Venado. To be specific, the Al Pastor Burrito is my favorite burrito in Los Angeles. This Mexican food stand is on the corner of Vermont Ave and 6th Street, only about three miles away from USC!

It’s important to mention that the location and hours for this food stand on Google Maps is incorrect. The stand is usually only open at night and is in front of the Walgreens on Vermont Ave and 6th Street. They also have an instagram: @tacoselvenado. One possible way to reach the burrito stand from campus is to walk to Vermont Ave and take the 204 Metro bus northward. There should be a stop on 6th street, across the burrito stand. The same bus can be taken to come back to USC. 

The Al Pastor burrito ready to be eaten!

The other weekend I went to Tacos El Venado with some of my friends. All of us get the same thing every time: an Al Pastor Burrito for eight dollars (one more for cheese). As of October 2022, Tacos El Venado only accepts cash, so make sure you have some with you before going. The Al Pastor burrito is special in my opinion because they give a very generous portion of Al Pastor, straight off the shawarma machine. It’s always hot and delicious so be cautious and don’t burn yourself. Also, the burrito comes with your choice of rice and beans (which I always get). Then, you get your personal choice of onions, cilantro, lime, and sauces before the grillers wrap your burrito. I put so much of everything in my burrito that it ended up exploding upon my first couple bites! It was so good that I grabbed a fork and finished all of it. The Al Pastor Burrito is the only menu option that I’ve tried besides their nachos (which in my opinion weren’t anything special). 

Another thing to note: since this is a street food stand, there aren’t any tables to sit at. My friends and I ate the food on the hood of my car but a majority of people take the food to-go. If you have leftovers you can always ask them to rewrap it for you and take it home. Unfortunately, they don’t have any vegan options, but otherwise they offer a variety of options. The Al Pastor Burrito at Tacos El Venado is the perfect late night, mid-study session snack that’ll satisfy your cravings and is very affordable.

Featured Image by Frank Zhang on Unsplash

Matthew is a current freshman studying Business Administration at the Marshall School of Business. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California so he is very familiar with the area. In his free time, he works as a Community Facilitator, goes swimming, and watches Netflix or sports. Matthew has teaching experience tutoring middle school students privately and as a teacher assistant in a summer enrichment program for elementary students. He loves to eat good food and try new activities throughout the city.  

L.A. Life, USC

Chano’s: How a Taco Stand Unites a Private University

By Vanessa Le

If you were to walk up and down Figueroa St., you would find a variety of foods from different cultures. Now I can’t vouch for every single restaurant down that street, but I can say that, by first impression, none of them look very appealing. After all, how can they? They’re located in South Central, an area in which USC’s beauty and affluence stands out like a sore thumb. However, there is at least one eatery that cannot be missed: Chano’s.

Well, actually the giant lighted sign in front of Chano’s heralds the names El Huero (due to a restaurant revamp that included a name change). However, names don’t fade from memory.  People continued to refer to their beloved taco stand by its former name, and the new generations of students continued the tradition, perhaps to show their upperclassman that they too know their taco history.

For years, this gem has been disguised as a rundown taco stand. Located at the corner of 32nd and Figueroa (across from Carl’s Jr. and the plaza with Spudnuts and Yoshinoya), you’ve probably seen it in passing while heading towards DTLA in your bus or Uber, and you probably dismissed it as just another rundown restaurant  with nothing to offer. Don’t let its appearance fool you; anything you order at Chano’s will be a thousand times better, fresher, and more authentic than the Taco Bell just two blocks away. Anyone who has driven by at midnight or in the aftermath of a football game will tell you that the building itself look like it’s falling apart, but the business is booming.

As one of the very few restaurants open 24/7 around campus, Chano’s is known as THE place to solve your midnight munchies. In fact, the earliest I’ve ever been to Chano’s is 11:00 PM. Expect to spend a mere $5 for a filling snack. My personal favorite is the soft carne asada taco, which boasts warm soft tortilla shells filled with bite-size pieces of steak, pico de gallo, and guacamole.  I always order two for just $2.50 each! Beyond tacos, they also offer other latin favorites such as burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, enchiladas, and more, all personalized to your liking.

Chano’s is adored by all students and even faculty alike. It has become a fixture of the USC culture, and there is really something for everyone. I can’t even say that I’m particularly fond of Mexican cuisine but I was introduced to Chano’s while visiting USC as a senior in high school, and now I’ve returned the favor to countless other newbies, all who will surely carry on the tradition as I have, For more information and even coupons (because let’s be real, what college student doesn’t love coupons?) you can visit their website at elhuero.com. If you’re ever there on a weekend midnight, there’s a good chance you’ll see me there too.

Featured image from Wikipedia

Vanni Le is a freshman studying Public Relations. She was born in Southern California but raised in Tampa, Florida, so she is glad to be back home as a Trojan. She is fluent in English and Vietnamese and is enthusiastic about learning about new cultures. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to all kinds of music or singing and playing her ukulele, piano, or guitar.