Danny Trejo now the bad boy of tacos, on wheels
Danny Trejo dominates on screen with his bad guy persona, and now he is scaring up audiences in a new way with his latest venture into the restaurant business. Trejos Tacos has just opened in Los Angeles and is already hosting at-capacity crowds with lines down the block.
The attraction is Trejo’s personally approved satisfying menu that features signature items including Fried Chicken Tacos, Street Corn and Rancho Gordo heirloom beans, vegan-friendly black pepper tofu tacos, a seasonal farmer’s market salad, wild shrimp tostada and the BCR burrito. The Jidori chicken taco is proving a top-seller, with just the right amount of heat and wrapped in a lettuce leaf instead of a tortilla to offset the fried chicken breading.
Other taco varieties include steak, achiote chicken, pork shoulder, brisket, Baja fish and vegan options such as Austin style avocado and roasted cauliflower. The tacos can be rolled, bowled or machete style (served in a lettuce cup). The menu will be gradually expanding and already there is a steak taco with red cabbage offered that is not on the menu. For those who like spice, Trejo’s signature hot sauce is a hit and will soon be for sale to take home.
Beer and wine will be offered on tap. The signature beer, “Trejo’s Cerveca,” is a Mexican style craft lager brewed in Los Angeles’ Arts District along with five other rotating local craft beers. Non-Alcoholic beverages consist of a date sweetened housemade Horchata, Kombucha on tap, (fermented tea and very healthy), Trejo’s own signature blended coffee which will be available either as a drip or nitro cold brew and two housemade Agua Fresca’s.
Taco fans of all ages are loving Trejos, with the crispy brisket taco, featuring a sprinkle of Parmesan, stacking up as a favorite with kids. While the Spy Kids movies might be the only age-appropriate movies starring Trejo that little ones are familiar with, Trejo has not forgotten his young fans and has included a small play area for kids on the patio with books, giant blocks and a Connect 4 game.
All menu items are housemaid and local with the exception of a few items brought in from Northern California, and even the cookies are baked fresh daily from nearby Cookie Casa. The cookies are best served as the Trejo’s Ice Cream sandwich, which is a Mexican hot chocolate chip cookie with McConnell’s ice cream.
The eatery seats at total of 62 guest with mostly outdoor seating and seating for 12 inside. Trejo’s Tacos is located at 1048 South La Brea where a Taco Bell was abandoned 10 years ago. The new taco joint was a dream of the actor’s since he was a boy and his mother dreamed of opening a restaurant, but she never realized her vision.
“My mom and dad came from the era where the woman stayed home…and the man worked,” said Trejo.
The actor is proud of what he has built, along with partners Ash Shah and Jeff Georgino, and already a second Trejo’s Tacos location is set to open Hollywood this spring.
Already the restaurant is operating its own food truck in the city, adding more “street cred” to the rand. In addition to events and catering, Trejos’ is even planning road trips to San Antonio, Seattle, Las Vegas and San Diego. The truck features a rotating menu of four tacos starting with brisket, pork, cauliflower and grilled chicken – along with horchata, aguas frescas and chips and guacamole.
While much of the early success of the restaurant and its expansion so early in it launch can be attributed to Trejo’s celebrity, it is the menu that keeps patrons coming back, and the fact that Trejo is involved in every aspect of the operation to keep it close to his vision.
“The menu is my vision,” says Trejo, “I have tasted and approved all the food.