Taqueando After Dark DTLA

Two nights in August, the whole floor turns into one long taco crawl. Chefs from Mexico, taqueros from around LA, DJs in every room, one wristband for all of it.

Doors at 6, last call at 11.

Who’s cooking

Two Michelin Guide restaurants are coming up from Mexico for this, one each night.

August 27, Ruffo Ibarra of Oryx, known for a black taco built on blue corn.

August 28, Tomás Gastélum and José Luis Hinostroza of Fireside. Hinostroza cooked at Noma and Alinea before opening in Mexico.

Both nights, from around LA:

Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish, and the lamb neck tamal he built his name on.

Tacos Royale, whose carne asada got called the best in the city this year.

Mariscos Chiltepín, for the aguachile and the salsa negra that goes on it.

Tijuanazo, for adobada.

Tacos La Carreta, for the vampiros.

Paletas from Los Alpes, fruit cups from Edmundo Cortés.

Bill Esparza put the lineup together. He won a James Beard Award writing about this food, and he has been tracking most of these cooks for years.

Tickets

General Admission, $55. The run of the floor and a tasting flight from the chefs above.

Early Access, $75. Same thing, an hour before the doors open to everyone else. First at the bar, first through the rooms, no lines.

All You Can Drink, $135. Everything above plus five hours of open bar. Two cocktails up here usually run $40.

Premium Tequila Tasting, add $35. A guided pour through bottles that never make it to the open bar.

CIELO

A portion of proceeds goes to CIELO, Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo, an Indigenous women led nonprofit working with Indigenous communities across Los Angeles.

Good to know

Level 8, 1254 South Figueroa Street, downtown Los Angeles. Doors at 6pm, last call at 11pm. Paid parking on site. One ticket, one night, Thursday or Friday. Refunds up to three days out. Plenty more to eat and drink beyond what the ticket covers.