Orange County: Tijuana-Style Tacos & SoCal Classics
Orange County’s taco scene is especially strong in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton and the northern parts of the county. It also overlaps heavily with the Tijuana-style taco culture found in LA and San Diego.
Angel’s opened its first permanent Anaheim location in 2025 after developing a cult following for its LA street-taco stands. The Anaheim location brings the same trompo-driven al pastor, handmade tortillas, salsa bar and late-night energy.
Tacos Los Cholos is one of OC’s big taco destinations. The emphasis is on mesquite-grilled meats, with ribeye and arrachera particularly popular. The salsa bar and loaded baked potato are also part of the appeal.
This is a more unusual OC pick. Tacos Nice specializes in the traditional steamed-taco approach, with asada, pastor, carnitas, birria and other fillings. Its menu also includes quesabirria and birria ramen.
Angel’s has multiple OC-area setups, including a Santa Ana location. The combination of a spinning trompo, grilled meats, fresh tortillas and late-night service makes it a particularly good choice for a taco crawl.
This is the practical, no-frills option: inexpensive, filling and open around the clock at its Fullerton location. It’s particularly useful for a late-night taco run, although consistency can vary according to customer reviews.
The Taco-Truck Rule
The best taco-truck experience isn’t necessarily the prettiest
one. Look for the spinning trompo, the smoky grill, the line of locals, the salsa bar and the person eating tacos while standing next to their car. That’s usually a pretty good sign you’re in the right place.
