Riding high on that edible wave and feeling those munchies grip you as you saunter through the sun-kissed avenues of LA? Ditch those standard fast food choices; today’s hunger isn’t just about quenching—it’s about elevating. Allow us to introduce you to Birria. Not the latest dance craze, but a centuries-old Mexican marvel: think deep, spicy broths enveloping melt-in-your-mouth meat. But let’s take it a step further: envision that tantalizing meat tucked into a taco, seasoned to perfection with an array of spices and chilies, giving your taste buds the journey they’ve been yearning for.
Lucky for you, I’ve curated an essential list of the best Birria tacos LA has to offer. And because we know our audience, I’ve paired each spot with standout Cannabis-based products to harmonize with the ambiance and overall experience of each eatery. So, ready your palate, don your shades, and maybe wear that forgiving black tee — because things are about to get delightfully saucy.
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How We Made Our List for the Best Birria Tacos in Los Angeles
Tacos are one of the best things Mexico has given us in the United States. And, if you’re struggling with munchies after the best smoking sesh, there’s no better snack than a good taco.
Birria is one of the favorite dishes for hangovers and big munchies, whether you like it on tacos or want some Quesadillas along the ride, they are known for providing a hearty protein, carb, and fat meal that will help your cravings.
While we have some authentic choices that have blended into the LA food scene for decades, I also recommended some innovative takes on the classic Mexican dish. From Birria Quesadillas and Birria Ramen to other new takes on this meat dish, you’ll find all types of restaurants and food trucks below.
A Brief History of the Birria Taco
You didn’t search this article looking for a history lesson, but it’s important to tell you about the fine people of Jalisco who came up with Birria. Jalisco is a state that’s rich in history, culture, and tradition. Birria was considered a celebratory meal during weddings and even religious holidays.
Traditionally, this dish was originally made from goat or sheep meat, slowly cooked in a stew with a rich blend of spices and chile. This stew results in a tender meat dish that’s hearty and rich, with a tasty broth that’s known to cure hangovers by abuelitas for a while.
Over time, Birria migrated due to its popularity in Mexico’s northern states, where street vendors started to transform the stew into street food, basically a taco filling. And that is how the tradition of Birria tacos was invented.
As of today, Birria tacos are an emblematic part of the LA food scene. Innovations and viral videos on social media of this dish have created lots of new pop-ups, food trucks, and restaurants to try from. Now, which ones truly deserve to cure your munchies? Let’s find out.
Best Birria Tacos in North Los Angeles
Ready to get some tender beef tacos with a rich stew? Birria is the perfect munchie meal if you want something a little heartier than a snack, so let’s take a look at our favorite Birria taco places and our cannabis product pairings to get your munchies vibe going. Let’s start with North LA.
Birrieria San Marcos
If you want an old-style food truck with some of the best Birria tacos you can get, you’ll want to try Birrieria San Marcos. This food truck has some of the best street food classics you’d expect from this style of cuisine, like Birria Quesadillas, Birria Tortas, Birria Ramen, and more.
While the menu is less diverse than in other restaurants, the flavor of San Marcos is incomparable. The richness of their broth and tender meat is simply a delight to get both sober or with some tokes on you. And they even have a Keto Taco option where they make a cheese crust that’s to die for while also getting your daily carbs (and some delicious munchies while you are at it).
They have three locations in LA. Lankershim Boulevard, Hazeltine Avenue, and Woodley Avenue host the three locations. They currently have over 1000 reviews from the three places combined, with an average of a 4.5-star rating.
Why Birrieria San Marcos Tops Our List
The Birrieria San Marcos is an iconic food truck that’s worth the travel and wait. They have some of the tastier broths to treat your munchies’ cravings but also double as the perfect casual weekend brunch place. I love their portion sizes, and the prices are pretty decent as well. Plus, their Yelp reviews tell you everything you need to know. The cool folks at Birrieria San Marcos have managed to snag a 4-star rating across 200+ reviews. 4-star might not seem like much, but Yelp is full of Karens, and the fact that they have this rating is pretty good.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
While their classic beef Birria tacos are delicious, we’d actually go for the Birria Quesadillas or the keto option with a cheese crust. Not only are they savory and filling, but they are perfect for that low-carb munchie snack that is quite filling as well.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
Since I started with hearty meals, this type of food might be best paired with sativa-like experiences (so you don’t fall asleep right after eating). Try Gelato’s 1g Island Punch Live Resin Vape Cartridge, a sativa-hybrid cart with 91.3% of Delta-9 THC levels and delicious tropical and citrus notes to prevent falling asleep after having a filling meal. Thanks to its sativa-like head buzz, it’s perfect for enjoying and relaxing your food without worrying about getting drowsy.
Birrieria Apatzingan
There’s just something very heart-warming about family-owned businesses making traditional food in a hustling and bustling city like Los Angeles. If that’s your vibe, then Birrieria Apatzingan is the perfect place for this. From the classic Chilaquiles (corn tortilla chips with salsa and cheese) to actual goat meat Birria, this place has a unique spot thanks to its unique and heartwarming vibe.
Located at Laurel Canyon Boulevard, this place is great for breakfast and lunch. Just make sure to take cash. That’s a bummer, but it’s a small price to pay. It will all make sense once you get a taste of their homemade goat Birria or other brunch specials like another Mexican specialty stew, Menudo.
Reasons Why Birrieria Apatzingan Makes Our List
Birrieria Apatzingan is one of the few places I added that truly had a home touch to both the place and food. You just feel like you barged into your best friend’s kitchen while his mom is making delicious authentic food and high-quality spices and broth. The restaurant has 4.3 stars across 100+ reviews on Yelp.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
I’ll definitely truly recommend their Birria and Birria Tacos since they are some of the few goat-based dishes on our list. Their Caldo de Res (Mexican beef stew) is pretty good as well, in case you want a small break from Birria or don’t necessarily like goat meat. They also have some Mexican breakfast and brunch alternatives, so if you feel like getting some Chilaquiles with your Birria, this is the place to go.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
Birrieria Apatzingan has some high-quality products you’ll want to taste, so here are some high-quality gummy edibles that are up for the task. The Hot Lixz + The Chauffer Hash Rosin Gummies by 710 Labs are simply a delight, with a strong body and mind effect that’s just perfect to unwind with some munchies. Each pouch comes with 10 gummies of 10mg of high-quality Delta-9 THC rosin. So for a premium edible that’s up to this restaurant’s level, we’ve got you covered.
Best Birria Tacos In South Los Angeles
Birrieria Tepechi
Looking for a fun twist on the typical Birria? Birrieria Tepechi has some of the most innovative Birria-inspired dishes that still feel like authentic food. With three different types of Birria available, comfortably situated in the Long Beach area of LA, they have some of the best of modern Mexican cuisine available.
As a full-on restaurant in Long Beach, this place has a massive menu with tons of options to choose from. From Tacos and Burritos to house specialties like Pork Chile Verde or Carne Adobada, their options are diverse enough to fill your cravings and even get some extra food to go.
Reasons Why Birrieria Tepechi Makes Our List
I added this place because of its high-quality meat, service, and general take on Mexican food. They are also a family-owned restaurant that has gained its reputation in Long Beach for a while, so feel reassured that its reputation is backed up by its tasty meals. They have a 4.2-star rating on Yelp, so that’s pretty good too.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
Their Birria stew has goat meat, so I recommend trying their original version or one of their new takes on this dish, like their Adobo sauce-covered Birria tacos or some lamb shank special with Adobo sauce. You should definitely visit on an empty stomach.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
You’ll want to try some of Birrieria Tepechi’s delicacies with a pretty potent flower, like Cresco’s Tropicanna. This strain is one of the new classics for cannabis enthusiasts. With a unique blend of delicious citrus and tropical fruit notes, its 25.56% Delta-9 THC levels are best suited for veteran users who want a taste of California’s finest buds (and Birria tacos).
Birrieria Jalisco
Now let’s go with an iconic place with both goat and beef Birria available, Birrieria Jalisco. This place is beloved by the community due to its homemade taste with a touch of innovation, like its Ramen Birria combination.
The staff here is always friendly, and their tacos are to die for, with big portions and handmade soft corn tortillas. People also love their Carne Asada (Mexican steak), and the prices are fairly accessible, making them a budget-friendly and tasty option in South LA.
Reasons Why Birrieria Jalisco Makes Our List
There are three things you can’t beat from Birrieria Jalisco: taste, authenticity, and reasonable pricing. The mix of these three makes this place one of my favorite Mexican food places in Los Angeles. Service is impeccable. Just make sure to get some cash because they don’t accept cards.
They have a 3.7-star rating across 250 reviews on Yelp. You can find them on Compton Avenue.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
While the two Birria types they have available are obviously the go-to choice, their Horchata (Rice water) is simply decadent and refreshing. The place is small but authentic, so you try their Tortas, Tacos, burritos, or some of the Birria broth for a cold Californian morning. They close early (6 PM), so make sure to grab something for breakfast or lunch.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
Try this classic place with something sour and a little sweet to cut a little on the richness of the broth. You can try the Super Sour Haze 1g Vape Cartridge from LMFAO. With 85.2% of Delta-9 THC levels, this cart is perfect for both new users and veterans who want something a little milder. And with an energetic boost with just a few tokes of this high-quality extract, you’ll want that small energetic boost to make some space for dessert.
Best Birria Tacos in East Los Angeles
Birrieria Gonzalez
If you just want a quick Birria Quesadilla, Birrieria Gonzalez is one of the best truck chains to get your cravings from. They started with a small lunch truck near Maple Avenue and quickly grew to one of the biggest lunch trucks in the east area, with over 1600 reviews on Google Maps!
With tasty options like Keto Tacos, Birria Tacos, Mulitas (corn tortilla top and bottom with cheese and Birria), and Tostadas, their menu is simple and pretty affordable, with some delicious side and dessert options like rice or Flan. So whether you come here for an Instagram-worthy foodie pic or want a quick way to fill your munchie cravings, Birrieria Gonzalez at Whittier Boulevard is a pretty solid choice.
Reasons Why Birrieria Gonzalez Makes Our List
This food truck has gained popularity fairly quickly, which kind of gained our attention in the first place. That said, their Birria is savory and rich, and their Tacos and Quesadillas are top tiers and worthy of your favorite munchies. Their generally affordable pricing is also a pretty fair point, so I just had to include them in this list.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
Their Birria Plate with beans, rice, onion, and cilantro is a must-try. However, their Keto Taco is a very good munchies option. That said, the Quesadillas with Birria beef is a delicious snack that you can just munch over and over, and suddenly, you’ve had 3 of them and start to think about your life choices. They are that good.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
With Birrieria Gonzalez, you might want to get some takeout and enjoy their dishes at home. So for all the brunch lovers out there, you might want a high-potency strain like Dime Bag’s Space Face. This high-THC flower (27.03%) has just the right amount to let you unwind and get maximum relaxation with just a few tokes. Its sweet and earthy notes hit all the perfect spots to indulge in some hearty meals and stay at home with savory Birria.
Birria El Jalisciense
You cannot get more authentic than Birria El Jalisciense. If you are done with prissy places or restaurants, this small food truck is a family-owned business that only works on Saturdays until they are over with their food.
They only have nine items on their menu, and of course, Beef Birria is their emblematic dish, with some hearty broth as a side. You can also order Birria Tacos without the broth, but you truly want to taste their rich broth that tastes like a warm abuela hug after you’ve been hungover.
Just make sure to order beforehand, as they tend to leave after finishing their sales. There’s truly nothing more authentic than trying their unique, slowly cooked beef stew recipe with some tasty soft corn tortillas.
You can find them at Olympic Boulevard. They don’t have too many reviews, but the 4.7-star rating is still very impressive.
Reasons Why Birria El Jalisciense Makes Our List
Birria El Jalisciense is a small, unique spot that feels authentic. It doesn’t have a big menu, and all of its food is freshly made every weekend. So they made our list because of their tasty options and how good they are, and generally, we wanted to support a local food truck that had tasty and affordable options as well.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
Get some Birria plates and broth to have on the go, and you are ready for some rich and decadent munch. You can only choose between getting the fat portion of the meat or more of the lean cuts, but we definitely would choose a mix of both. You get the best of both worlds: the richness of the natural fattiness with the filling alternative of lean meat.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
If you want something sweet and sour to cut some of the tenderness and savory goodness of El Jalisciense’s meals, I recommend going with Papa’s Herb Lemon Cherry Gelato Live Resin 1g Vape Cartridge. This full-bodied, sweet, and tart cart is perfect for getting a cerebral high to unwind while getting creative and exploring East LA. The cart has 89.43% of Delta-9 THC, with strain-specific terpenes and a top-shelf extract that’s ready to toke on the go.
Best Birria Tacos in West Los Angeles
Teddy’s Red Tacos Venice
If you are down West LA, you have to take some of the most popular places to get Birria-style munchies like stew, tacos, tostadas, and other delicious treats. Teddy’s Red Tacos opened in 2016 and has expanded to 4 different locations, but the Venice Beach place is our favorite location.
With a sauce that’s kept as a family secret, their Birria tacos are perfect to cure any hangover or cravings you’ve got. Lowkey, this is also the place to have a taste of authentic Mexican drinks, like homemade Horchata Water or Mexican Coca-Cola. Plus, the 1000 reviews they have on Google with a 4.6-star review is a testament to how good they really are.
Reasons Why Teddy’s Red Tacos Venice Makes Our List
Teddy’s Red Tacos truly has a place in West LA’s food scene. From a small place to today’s locations, they stand out with simple yet delicious Birria Tacos that you must try if you are big into tacos or simply want something beefy, cheesy, and somewhat spicy.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
Honestly, try their Deluxe Plate. For 16 bucks, you get a taste of their Taco, Mulita, Quesadilla, Tortilla Chips, and eight ounces of their delicious broth. So if you want to have a taste of what the Mexican Birria is capable of (or getting different things to get your munchie game on), try Teddy’s.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
Teddy’s Red Tacos Venice is simply one of our favorite places on the list, and we’d go with a medium-potency disposable to pair the experience. Try Muha Meds’ 1G Lemonado Disposable for some tasty lemony tokes with delicious zesty and citrusy notes with just a small hint of sweetness. With a hefty 88.05% Delta-9 THC, this ready-to-go disposable is perfect for a refreshing burst of flavor to help with the savory and spiciness of Birria.
Birrieria Gomez
Lastly, meet Birrieria Gomez, a family-owned taco food truck that has some of the best Birria Quesadillas and Aguas Frescas around the West area. These are not only pretty affordable, but users simply adore how juicy their slowly cooked meat is.
Their Birria Tacos and Quesadilla-Birria Tacos are just juicy and full of flavor, and after COVID, they serve pre-bottled Horchata and Hibiscus drinks. While their menu is not as diverse as others from the list, they deserve a shout-out because of their combos and serving sizes.
Reasons Why Birrieria Gomez Makes Our List
Birrieria Gomez has the perfect balance between flavor, cost, and serving sizes. They have plenty of limes and sauce, and the side consomme is one of the biggest on the list. Plus, their location is unbeatable by being so close to LAX, so if you are touring down California, you can definitely get a bite if you are in the area.
Items You Cannot Miss Ordering
If you are unsure what to get as a munchie, get their Birria Tacos Combo. This pack has four soft Birria Tacos, Mexican Rice, Beans, and a 14oz consomme that’s more than perfect to get your dinner. It is also a great way of sharing dinner with someone with a massive serving size.
Suggested Cannabis Pairing
I saved the best recommendation for last: Gelato’s Cereal Milk 1g Pre-roll. This delicious hybrid joint is perfect for having a few potent tokes with a sweet note. Users usually report a calming, mostly cerebral high that’s slightly energizing. This preroll is the perfect option if you want to feel relaxed without feeling too sedated or drowsy, which pairs perfectly with Birriera Gomez’s goods.
LA Birria Tacos: Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve talked enough about some of our favorite choices for the best Birria tacos in Los Angeles; however, you might still have a question before trying this tasty meal. Here are some of the frequently asked questions
What is a Birria Taco?
A Birria taco is a beef or goat-rich meat dish with lots of flavor, spices, and chilis. It is often served in soft corn tortillas with a side of broth.
Does Costco have Birria Tacos?
Yes, some Costco locations have frozen Birria tacos or stew, but we fully recommend going to a food truck or restaurant first.
What Is So Special About Birria Tacos?
Some of the special characteristics of Birria tacos are the rich flavor, spices, and the hearty feeling of tender meat. It is often considered a brunch or hearty meal, perfect for the weekend or getting some midday munchies.
What Does La Birria Mean in English?
Birria is often used to call the stew used in these meats, but the actual origin is somewhat unclear. Some people say it comes from an old Spanish word meaning “excellent” or “splendid” due to people giving high regard for the dish.
