A beloved LA taqueria specializing in braised meat tacos (guisados) using traditional techniques and handmade blue corn tortillas. Each taco is small but intensely flavored. The sampler plate is the ideal way to try multiple stews.
Guisados in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles — with additional locations in Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the Arts District — has become one of the city's most admired taco operations since opening in 2010. The name means 'stews' in Spanish, and the concept is built around braised meat tacos that honor the slow-cooked traditions of Mexican home cooking. Each taco is built on a handmade blue corn tortilla that is thicker and more substantial than the average corn tortilla, providing a sturdy base for intensely flavored stewed meats. The rotating menu typically includes cochinita pibil (Yucatecan slow-roasted pork with achiote and citrus), braised short rib, tinga de pollo (chipotle-stewed chicken), chile verde, and chiles toreados. Each portion is small by design — the tacos are meant to be sampled in multiples. The sampler plate of six tacos on six tortillas is the ideal first-time order, allowing visitors to work across the menu. The blue corn tortillas are pressed and cooked fresh throughout service, and the kitchen produces its own salsas in small batches. Guisados is an unpretentious, counter-service operation with modest décor and fast-moving lines. Multiple locations across Los Angeles make it an accessible destination for most visitors to the city. The original Boyle Heights location at 2100 East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in Los Angeles, California, is the flagship.
Location
2100 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Highlights
- Braised-meat taco specialist serving cochinita pibil, short rib, and tinga de pollo on handmade blue corn tortillas
- Blue corn tortillas pressed and cooked fresh throughout service — thicker and more flavorful than standard corn tortillas
- Sampler plate of six tacos is the definitive first-time order, spanning the best of the rotating braised-meat menu
- Multiple LA locations including Boyle Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the Arts District
- Small taco format designed for sampling in multiples — most regulars order four to six pieces
Tips for visiting
- Order the sampler plate for your first visit. Multiple locations throughout LA.
Accessibility
Guisados locations are generally on street level with counter-service layouts accessible to wheelchair users. The Boyle Heights flagship and most other locations offer step-free entry; the dining areas accommodate mobility aids.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to order at Guisados for a first visit?
The sampler plate of six tacos is the ideal introduction. It comes with six different braised-meat fillings on fresh blue corn tortillas and allows visitors to discover the full range of the menu's slow-cooked offerings in one order.
What makes the tortillas at Guisados different?
Guisados uses handmade blue corn tortillas that are pressed and cooked fresh throughout service. They are thicker and more robust than standard corn tortillas, with a nuttier flavor that complements the braised meat fillings particularly well.
Does Guisados take reservations?
No. Guisados is a counter-service taqueria with no reservations. The lines move quickly and the turnover is fast; even during peak lunch hours the wait is rarely more than 10 to 15 minutes.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes. The menu typically includes at least one or two vegetarian braised fillings, often featuring seasonal vegetables or bean-based stews prepared with the same slow-cooked technique as the meat options.