ADRIANS TACOS — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Adrian's is a taco purveyor that's been parking in Downtown Los Angeles' Arts District since 2008, now mere footsteps away from the Wes Avila's ultra-hyped "Guerilla Tacos" restaurant. This is a much different taco experience than that, though may not necessarily be a lesser one when you consider the costs associated with each. If you choose to eat "in," you'll be eating your tacos on fold-out tables while sitting on milk crates, and you're going to be paying for those tacos in cash, but at least you won't have to tip anyone.

If there is one taco to order at Adrian's, it appears to be their "Shrimp Taco," which features double corn tortillas stuffed with small spiced shrimp, coated with fiery seasoning without being smothered in sauce. It was as excellent of a shrimp taco as I've had in Los Angeles west of Mariscos Jaliscos. The "Cabeza Taco" was nicely seasoned and sauced with a punchy salsa verde that I enjoyed. Here, their cabeza was shredded, though still as juicy and soft as you'd expect cabeza to be.

Lastly, I need to explain my rating: I asked for separate plates for my tacos when I ordered, they understood my request, and they refused to give them to me for reasons they did not care to explain to me. If they're trying to reduce paper waste, I could have lauded them for that in this very review. If it was a matter of economics, I could have compensated them. But the lack of explanation around being unable to meet my polite request was mildly infuriating. I have deducted a star accordingly.

That said, it was an overall positive eating experience, and I wouldn't...

Update: went back out of convenience and they tried to charge me 12 dollars for a chicken torta, which was 8 dollars last time I got one a few months ago. I made them refund me and went elsewhere, despite the inconvenience. They definitely charge whatever they feel like they can get away with. I’m going elsewhere from now on.

Adrian’s has pretty good food, nothing crazy but good. The problem is their business practice of charging different amounts based on their mood. One day a chicken torta is 8 dollars, next day it’s 11. One day carnitas tacos are 2.25, next day 2.75. My friend orders a chicken quesadilla, 6 dollars. I order one, 8 dollars. It seems like they just look at you and charge as much as they think they can get out of you. I’m really tired of it and will be going somewhere else...

They were...ehh I had 2 Fish & 1 shrimp taco - Nice presentation, i feel the tortillas was too small for the fish tacos (traditionally, you would use a regular size tortilla but they use a taco size) Fish had no taste, shrimp was actually well seasoned (liked it best). I feel they were a bit stingy with the toppings - Only a little onion & cilantro in the tacos, and no cabbage or lettuce... Ummm a itty bitty tiny dash of red sauce (should've asked for 3 times what they gave me). Friendly people, but I did not like that either a woman manager or owner was yelling at an employee for making a mistake. They have their usuals as I observed, wait wasn't bad for a walk in. Not bad if you're starved, but not my favorite go-to...