Credit: King Taco via IG @kingtaco_official
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It’s no secret that Mexican cuisine (with all its variations, fusions, and creative twists) is an essential part of any Angeleno’s diet. That’s thanks in large part to the city’s vibrant Latino community, and of course, to its bold flavors everyone loves.
One of the most iconic names behind this beloved dish is a true L.A. legend. What started as a converted ice cream truck later found its flagship home in Cypress Park. Over the years, fueled by its overwhelming popularity, its owner expanded the business to more than 20 locations across SoCal.
Now, according to LAist, King Taco’s legacy could soon be permanently cemented in the city’s history. The Cultural Heritage Commission will determine whether the original location retains enough historic integrity and continues to reflect its cultural significance. If approved, King Taco would join a small group of designated restaurant landmarks recognizing Latino culinary contributions.
The U.S.’s first taco truck
Back in 1974, Raul and Lupe Martinez bought an old ice cream truck and converted it into what’s widely considered the first mobile taco-making station in the country, introducing the Mexican city–style street tacos to a city that mostly knew tacos from hard shells at sit-down restaurants.
Writer and journalist Gustavo Arellano has even credited Martinez as the inventor of the modern taco truck, launching a movement that would eventually put mobile Mexican cuisine on the map across Southern California and beyond.
That humble truck, lovingly named La Güera (the blond), became such a hit on the streets of East L.A. that within six months the Martinez family opened a brick-and-mortar outpost in Cypress Park. That first location served as a central kitchen and eventually grew into what is today a celebrated local institution.