A close second to Wine Wednesday as our favourite day of the week, Taco Monday is always a crowd pleaser. Who can hold it against us? Even though tacos are already a reasonably priced option for a snack, lunch, or dinner in Los Angeles, the cost of all those al pastor and fish tacos can add up quickly. Because of this, we are always looking for good deals on tacos—we’re talking about prices as low as one dollar a piece—so that we can continue to support our habit. Check out our in-depth guide to the cheapest places to eat in Los Angeles and get started snacking by reading about the best Taco Tuesday specials in the area.
On Monday, bargain hunters can find Taco Tuesday-style deals. Because October 4th has been designated as National Taco Day.
Here are some deals from Southern California-based chains with multiple locations.
Acapulco Restaurant Y Cantina: Three al pastor tacos will go for $6 Monday at all of the chain’s locations. acapulcorestaurants.com
Chronic Tacos: The Aliso Viejo-based chain will be giving away a free taco with the purchase of a Coca-Cola fountain drink on Oct. 4. The offer includes chicken, carnitas, al pastor and veggie tacos but excludes fish, shrimp, steak, Beyond Beef and potato tacos, according to a news release. It is good for in-store purchases at participating locations.
Del Taco: The Lake Forest-based chain is promoting its new line of Stuffed Quesadilla Tacos with a series of daily deals on its Del Yeah! Rewards App. Monday’s deal is a free Stuffed Quesadilla Taco with any purchase. The tacos feature both shredded cheese and cheese sauce in soft tortillas with steak, grilled or crispy chicken fillings.
El Pollo Loco: It has been a while since this Costa Mesa-based chain offered a hard-shell taco, which it debuted way back in 2007. It is bringing it back Oct. 4-Nov. 1 for digital orders. The Crunchy Taco features shredded chicken, tinga sauce, lettuce and Jack cheese. On Monday, people who order it on the El Pollo Loco app or online get a free bottle of Mexican Coke to go with it, according to a news release.
El Torito: This full-service chain will offer Mini Crispy Tacos with either steak or chorizo for $6 all day on Monday, according to a news release. Happy hour specials will kick in at 3 p.m.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill: This Carlsbad-based chain is offering customers one free taco with any purchase on Monday. To choose the taco you want to eat, view the Rubio’s menu on rubio’s restaurants inc website. Online and app customers can use the code TACO. Rewards club members who make an order on Monday will be entered in a contest to win $50 worth of Rubio’s food.
Trejo’s Tacos: If you want to see movie tough guy Danny Trejo dressed like Willy Wonka, visit this taco chain’s Facebook page and you’ll see a promotion for for a golden ticket contest on Monday at Los Angeles locations. The ticket is worth a $50 gift card.
Cabo Cantina:
Cabo Cantina (Hollywood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood) has a lot of deals going on (like 2-for-1 drinks from 4-8pm, seven days a week), but their Taco Tuesday deal is especially appealing: all-you-can-eat tacos for $7.
Pink Taco:
Let’s ignore the dubious name and embrace Pink Taco for its fantastic Taco Tuesday deals, which begin at 4 p.m.: $3 tacos, $3 elote corn, $3 Dos Equis, $5 sangria, and $7 frozen margaritas.
Cocina Condesa:
Diners can mix and match any two tacos for $5 beginning at 5 p.m. (options include al pastor, asada, pescado, carnitas, kale and cauliflower and more). Add $3 for beans and rice, and wash it all down with a $8 Condesa margarita.
La Cuevita:
Highland Park’s dive-turned-Mexican-cocktail-den is decorated for Dia de los Muertos, with skulls, skeletons, and upside-down bats adorning mezcal and tequila shelves. The slightly kitschy, multi-room venue hosts live music and DJ nights, such as Taco Tuesdays, with DJ Sweet Caroline spinning tunes and free—yep, free—tacos with drink orders after 10 p.m.
The Eight Bar:
Sure, you could head to Whole Foods to pick up the ingredients for your own tacos, or you could head to the Eight Bar at the DTLA location for $2 tacos, which are available on Tuesdays until 9 o’clock at night.
Malo:
Taco Tuesday is celebrated on a Monday at Malo, which is Silver Lake’s version of a South of the Border stay-cation. Malo does things a little differently than other restaurants in the area. At Malo, every single taco is only $2 from 4 o’clock until they close, during what is simply referred to as “taco night.” You have the option of selecting hard shell options such as braised chicken, mashed potato, beef, or “mock ground beef,” as well as soft shell options that are more creative such as chicken carnitas, baja shrimp, pork belly tinga, or sugar pumpkin flower.
Baja Sharkeez:
Everywhere you go along the coast of Southern California, you’ll find a Sharkeez location. Find a location close to you that is open on Tuesdays to take advantage of the restaurant’s mini street tacos for just $1.99 each and regular tacos for $3.25; however, the deal does not apply to all varieties of tacos.
Tacos Mexico:
Tacos Mexico operates a number of stands across the city of Los Angeles; however, if you visit any of their stands on a Tuesday, you’ll find that tacos are priced at either 65 or 75 cents each.
Casa La Doña:
On Tuesdays, Casa La Doa in Downtown sells tacos for a dollar each, and customers can choose from fillings such as carne asada, pastor, carnitas, and chicken. Taco Tuesdays are called Taco Tuesdays. Make it a point to sample a variety of their salsa from the extensive menu they offer.
Don Chuy’s:
Don Chuy’s celebrates Taco Tuesday with 99-cent tacos in seven varieties: asada, al pastor, carnitas, pollo, desebrada, frijol and papa. Serve with cans of Budweiser and Tecate, each of which costs $3.
