Guerrilla Tacos: Recipes from the Streets of L.A. [A Cookbook]

by Wesley Avila, Richard Parks III

The definitive word on tacos from native Angeleno Wes Avila, who  draws on his Mexican heritage as well as his time in the kitchens of some of the world's best restaurants to create taco perfection. 

In a town overrun with taco trucks, Wes Avila's Guerrilla Tacos has managed to win almost every accolade there is, from being crowned Best Taco Truck by LA Weekly to being called one of the best things to eat in Los Angeles by legendary food critic Jonathan Gold. Avila's approach stands out in a crowded field because it's the 50 base recipes in this book are grounded in authenticity but never tied down to tradition. Wes uses ingredients like kurobata sausage and sea urchin, but his bestselling taco is made from the humble sweet potato. From basic building blocks to how to balance flavor and texture, with comic-inspired illustrations and stories throughout, Guerrilla Tacos  is the final word on tacos from the streets of L.A.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Collections

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Adina Hamik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the raw street approach to trying to make it as a street vendor while presenting some top notch taco ideas.

[Peejay(Pamela) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite taco book. I use it all the time for inspiration.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book, as much a memoir as a cookbook. The photos and cartoons mix together to make a lovely visual feast as well. It made me miss Los Angeles and my adventures there.

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recipes of amazing taco possibilities (plus salsa, quesadillas, tostadas, and tortas)! Who would have thought of combinations such as Pork Belly and Caviar, Octopus and Chorizo, Tuna Poke and Sea Urchin on tacos? I'm plotting a visit to LA just to try this place for real. The recipes are clearly written and include, typically, a long list of ingredients and for many recipes, a significant investment of time. There are some quick and easy combinations, and some that you have to search out more exotic ingredients. The author suggests substitutions and tells you where you can find ingredients in LA/CA or online. The writing is fresh and accessible and the story of the author's journey is very compelling.

[Tbone · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, it was all about the salsas

[Brigham Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great range of interesting recipes where the last step is always: Now put it on a tortilla.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guerrilla Tacos: Recipies from the Streets of L.A. The first thing that came to mind was that he copied Danny Trejo’s book. I was mistaken. This one was published first. I'm so sorry for that, Mr. Avila.

I'll be honest, the food doesn't look that great. Not all food looks good that tastes wonderful. Take pizza for example. If you look at it objectively, it looks disgusting.

Starting with the basics, tortillas. I was surprised that this book encourages people to purchase them rather than make your own. Even I can make homemade corn tortillas. It's super easy and they taste so much better than store-bought ones.

Overall I like this book, but it's not spectacular.

[Tracy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Fun read.

Enjoyed the life story and the realness of the journey.

Nothing is perfect and we struggle, and we fight, and we fail, and we pick back up, and we discover, and move forward. I like the author, and I'm rooting for him along his continued journey. We don't have to be the same to appreciate each other and to value what each of us has to offer up as human beings. He is someone I would like as a friend...plus, I know he'd always bring good stuff to the potluck. ;)

Great read, great photos, great recipes.

[DK Simoneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the story woven through the recipes. I like hearing how someone follows a dream and makes it work. The pictures were wonderful. The recipes were a little “out there” and way to complicated for what I think should be easy. I definitely realized a taco can be whatever I want it to be. And I most certainly appreciated the tip on how to buy and heat the tortillas. This was a decent book just not the end all inspiration on tacos for me.

[Katie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to read + unique recipes

I love to read cookbooks and this one really doubled as an autobiography. I wasn’t expecting to be so interested in the author and the story of how this taco truck came to be. I probably won’t make a lot of the recipes in the book (so much lard) but I found some great tips and a few things I want to try.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t presume Wesley Avila’s terrific Guerrilla Tacos is a book just about tacos. You’d be mistaken, because this is story, a wonderfully told narrative about a man, his struggles, and his dream. Thankfully for him—and for us—it’s a story with a happy ending and a slew of delicious recipes.”
Nancy Silverton

[Jane Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious!

Lots of creative, tasty recipes for making tacos. Recipes are involved but you really create some amazing dishes. If you love tacos, you will love all the new inspiration for feeding yourself. This is a must have on my list.

[JoAnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story stuff is cool but be advised that the recipes are complex and usually involve harder to find ingredients and the cooking itself is not simple unless you are already an amateur chef. This is not a book of recipes for beginners.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a nice book. i especially liked the narrative of the chef's experiences and evolution, quite amazing. creative recipes and not just tacos but other food cart goodies. Worth reading. I want to look up his cart when I'm next in LA (damn covid).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book. Not just a cookbook, but a chef’s story as well. Just the sort of cookbook I like best. I didn’t have a chance to try any recipes before the public library demanded its return, but there are some very creative and tasty sounding recipes in this book.

[Gerri Leen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book with really interesting recipes. Loved the backstory.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very gun cookbook to read. Many of the recipes for tacos and salsas were very accessible (espcially here in NM) and I enjoyed reading about his chef-ing journey.

[Josh Fogelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes. All the ones I have tried, especially the salsas, are delicious. The personal story of Wesley Avila is also interesting.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent cookbook! Beautiful pictures and interesting recipes I’d like to try! Just wish I could find some of the fresh ingredients but it’s worth a look!

[Aasinathena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Wesley gave a brave face lift,a new makeover to the world of tacos. While I respect the traditional taco varieties:love his take on tacos too!

[Jay Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read hundreds of cookbooks and this is one of my favorites ever. It's not just the recipes, but the story of Guerrilla Tacos that make the difference.

[Zell Murdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have loved more pictures, and the way the recipes were laid out really didn't help my to visualize the dishes and flavor profiles. But really interesting ideas!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve made adobo chicken and carnitas with two of the salsas. Everything was so good. The salsas were your best I’ve ever made or tasted anywhere. The tacos were just as tasty.

[K Hue · Rating 5 out of 5]

My FAVORITE cookbook of the year so far!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book, everything from his stories of childhood & family to his years as a Teamster/union guy to his forays into food cart/food truck chef...recipes include: Sunchoke Taco, Carrot-Habanero Salsa, Tomato-Pepita Salsa, Razor Clams a la Plancha, Tuna Poke & Sea Urchin Tostada, Beef Tendon Taco, Duck Heart Taco, Roasted Pumpkin Taco, Pork Belly & Caviar Taco (!!!), Shishito Pepper Taco (!!!!??!!), OCTOPUS & CHOIRZO TACO, Golden Beet Poke Tostada, Turkey Net Confit Burrito (!!!!!!), Street Taters...

[Heather VanMouwerik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that a lot of the recipes are inaccessible for people on a fixed budget or living on the east coast, I would highly recommend this book for one reason: Wes Avila himself. The sections where he discusses his life, why/how he got into food, and the evolution of his taco truck were interesting and insightful. Also, the recipe with the pork shoulder was one of the best things to ever come out of my kitchen.

[Note: I read the ARC]

[Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was blown away by all of the different tacos Wes Avila thought up. He can take anything and make a taco out of it! Reading his story of how he came to be a chef running a food truck, was also inspiring. This is a guy who goes after what he wants and makes it happen. While I won't be making every taco in the book, I am sure going to try most of them.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing, great recipes!

[La'Tonya Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. And it sits on shelf right next to Roy Choi's, L.A. Son. Changed my taco game forever.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully creative recipes. Most requiring to meant ingredients for a weekend night, but good Mexican food usually takes awhile with a ton of spices.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of taco ideas and great pictures. cookbook porn for sure.