I headed to Tacolandia, an event held at the historic El Pueblo de Los Angeles.  There were unlimited tacos from 43 of L.A. and Mexico’s taco vendors, plus desserts, tequila, and mariachi music.  It was a hot day with lots of lines to stand in, so next year I’ll be sure to bring a few more friends and lots of sunblock!  But of course, the food was delicious and gorgeous, so it was absolutely worth it.

Here’s a peek at some of the delicious treats!

It was held at El Pueblo de Los Angeles, just next to Olvera Street.  Parking is already tight in the area, so be ready to take public transportation or do some searching!

The tequila garden with music!

Lots and lots of lines, because it was one popular event!

Now, to the food!

My favorite of the day was from Amor Y Tacos (which I have visited twice before here and here).  You will have to excuse the blurry picture, but I was excited to pick up the taco and devour it.  The short rib filling was amazing and I loved the fluffy, handmade tortilla that they used.  It may have been too unusual for others, but I adored it!  Delicious!

I noticed that a few people were scared off by the tongue, but it was absolutely delicious…  I loved the pickled onions and radish sprouts, which was a nice, fresh bite in contrast to the tender lengua.

Overall, it was a great event!  The good news is that the food was absolutely spectacular, and the ticket price was amazing.  I just wish it was longer!  The not-so-good news is that the line to get in took about 45 minutes, even though I showed up a bit early to account for the difficult parking.  The lines for the taco stands and drink stations were pretty long, and I even had one food blog colleague turn around when he saw everyone.  I showed up alone to cover the event, so even though I had a good time socializing with new friends in the lines, I could only hit a few stands before the event was over.

So, note to self for next year (because I absolutely still recommend it):

1. Show up REALLY early
2. Bring as many friends as possible
3. Possibly buy premium tickets
4. Expect the long lines
5. Plan for the must-eat stations beforehand

Tacolandia 2014
125 Paseo De La Plz
Los Angeles, CA 90012