Tacos El Venado

Friday night switch-up: instead of my usual taco spot, I stopped at Tacos El Venido, the pop-up right off Sepulveda and Vose. The crew there didn’t speak much English, but they were incredibly welcoming.

While I was figuring things out, a couple rolled up with their kid, and the guy helped me understand the pork options. I’m a die-hard carnitas fan (seriously, ride-or-die), but they didn’t have any.

Then I spotted the pork spit. Noticing me, she responds with — al pastor.

Normally I play it safe with food — even been roasted for it at my favorite pizza joint — but this time I went for it. Ordered the al pastor.

Smoky, flavorful, and everything I didn’t know I needed. I really dug the outdoor vibe — the smells, the grill smoke, the simplicity of grabbing tacos right off the street. First time trying al pastor, I kept it safe with toppings, but next round I’m going all-in with that red salsa.

And honestly? Zero regrets. Absolutely amazing. I’ll be back for sure.