Black Tortillas, Novelty Skeletons, and Wild Fusion at the Most Exciting Taqueria in Los Angeles

"Devils on the door, gargoyles on the roof, a cloaked skeleton on the patio, and black octopus spinning on a grisly trompo: nobody commits to the bit like metalheads, and chefs Alex and Elvia García may be the most metal chefs in Los Angeles. At Evil Cooks, their earnest embrace of an aesthetic vision is deeply satisfying. And the food fucking shreds."

"Don't miss the Corazón Abierto menu, a small set of specials that reinterpret a wide range of global flavors, like bean and cheese dumplings or tom yum aguachile. In the latter, raw shrimp gets zapped with a high-voltage aguachile infused with lemongrass and tons of chiles. It is fun and riotously spicy, the kind of thing that snaps you to attention."

"Don't miss the two dessert tacos, one with citrus flan and coconut flakes, the other with a churro, cheesecake, and jicama-strawberry marmalade on a crepe-like tortilla. The Hell Menu (the Garcías stay on message) is for omnivores; the Heaven Menu caters to vegetarians. Many dishes can also be made vegan. Provided they can rock with the metal soundtrack (as they should), this is a good spot for kids."

Evil Cooks is a metal-themed taqueria in El Sereno run by chefs Alex and Elvia García that began as a personal pop-up. The menu reimagines taqueria standards with bold, precise flavors and theatrical presentation. The McSatan taco combines cheeseburger elements with a thick, fragrant tortilla to showcase balanced ingredients. The Corazón Abierto specials reinterpret global flavors, including a tom yum aguachile with raw shrimp, lemongrass, and abundant chiles that is explosively spicy. Two dessert tacos offer citrus flan with coconut and a churro-cheesecake with jicama-strawberry marmalade. The Hell Menu serves omnivores, the Heaven Menu serves vegetarians, and many dishes are veganizable, while the patio decor and soundtrack make the spot family-friendly for those who embrace the metal vibe.

Read at Eater LA