History

Est. 1974 · Los Angeles

Our Story

1969

Next stop: USA

With 12 MX pesos in their pockets and a goal to reach the U.S., Don Raúl and Doña Lupe traveled from Mexico City to Tijuana. Once they arrived, the attendant told them they were short on change for their next bus. Hesitant about returning, they were unclear about their next step and future. A bystander overheard their conversation and approached them with tickets.

Fun factRaúl's first job in the U.S. was as a dishwasher. He went on to work as a butcher, where he became an expert in selecting meats.

1973

Tacos and Fútbol

Raúl grew up playing in Liga de Fútbol Villa Madero while living in Mexico City. When they moved to California, they would drive to MacArthur Park to watch the locals play. With no food vendors close by, they would pack their tacos to-go and grill some carne asada while enjoying the matches - a typical custom in Mexico.

When the games were done, the players began to line up to ask if they could purchase tacos. Raúl was inspired by the number of people who would remind him how difficult it was to find authentic Mexico City-style food in the city.

Fun factDid you know there was a King Taco league in the U.S?

1974

First U.S. Taco Truck

Despite doubts from others, they purchased a 1950s ice cream truck and converted it into the first mobile taco-making station. On a summer night in 1974, Raúl and Lupe stationed their taco truck next to an East LA bar where they became popularly known.

Writer and journalist, Gustavo Arellano has credited Raúl as the inventor of the modern taco truck..

Fun factIn Mexico, it is custom to name your truck.
Raúl named his La Güera.

1975

The Original

Six months later, Raúl and Lupe purchased a small space located in Cypress Park. In the beginning, this location was primarily used as a central kitchen so that they could open and properly operate their restaurant business. Today it is one of the few surviving original restaurants, making it an L.A. staple.

Fun factIt was in this exact location where Lupe experimented and created the formula for the famous salsa roja.

1978

King Taco #2

One of King Taco's most popular locations on Ford and 3rd Street. At the time, this location operated as an order-to-go restaurant. Customers would walk up to the windows, cashiers would take orders by hand and pass them on to the cooks. Customers would enjoy their tacos on the hood of their cars, a common custom then.

Attached to the restaurant was a bodega (warehouse), where they would handle production. This is also the location where Raúl had his first office space, which today has been preserved.

Fun factRaúl was a big believer in giving back.
The fountain on site was a gift from nuns at their local church.

King Taco at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

1994

Expanding

Raúl had an admiration for motorsports and respected the craft. The family often participated in weekend excursions to race tracks in northern California. In the mid-90s, King Taco branched out by stationing their food truck at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Their first year was such a hit that they decided to continue participating in the yearly event.

Fun factKing Taco has supported drivers from go-kart racers to Long Beach Grand Prix racer Colton Herta and F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi.

2026

A Los Angeles Landmark

Fifty years after Raúl and Lupe first opened their doors in Cypress Park, King Taco #1 was unanimously designated a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles City Council. A vote recognizing the restaurant as a place that exemplifies significant contributions to the cultural, economic, and social history of the community and an important business reflecting Latino commercial identity.

Fun factWhat started as a simple desire to feed their community, became one of Los Angeles' most beloved and now officially recognized cultural institutions.

King Taco #1 designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument

Today

The legacy continues

Hardworking, passionate, and caring are just a few words to describe the person Raúl was. He had a deep appreciation for hard-working employees and offered growth and opportunities to his employees, a work culture that King Taco continues today.The Mexican fast-food favorite has since expanded to 22 popular locations throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Today, King Taco serves a wide variety of authentic Mexican foods, and has been recognized by prominent food critics.

In honor of Don Raúl’s legacy, King Taco continues to support and uplift the community that gave it its start by supporting organizations that attend to those in need and those who are homeless, funding organizations that assist children living with cancer, HIV, and AIDS, responding to assist with national and international disasters, providing sponsorships to law enforcement organizations, as well as being a team player with events that procures funding for diabetes and more.

Join our team

A painting of King Taco #2 painted by Ricardo Barragan

A painting of customers painted by Ricardo Barragan