After more than three decades of serving Hollywood’s biggest stars, a legendary taco spot that counted Brad Pitt and Johnny Knoxville among its fans is closing up shop for good.
Cactus Taqueria announced this week that it will shut its doors on July 12, ending a 34-year run that made it a neighborhood institution.
The beloved eatery was founded in 1992 by Mario Tornel, an immigrant from Tijuana, Mexico, who arrived in the US with a dream and generations of family recipes that would go on to win over locals and A-list celebrities alike.
Since that time, the family has been dishing out burritos, tacos, tortas, nachos, and other fast food Mexican favorites to those in Hollywood and the community.
Tornel opened the original shop just up the street from the current spot on Vine and Barton in Hollywood, working day and night to make it a success.
However, the first shop was destroyed in the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but Tornel didn’t let that stop him and he just rebuilt, eventually spanning more locations.
Still run by the family, Mario’s son Marlo, talked about the early days and said his dad missed big events like soccer games and graduations just so the business would be a success.
“When my dad opened this location, he told me, lightning doesn’t strike twice. But lightning struck here,” Marlo told LA Taco.com.
The flagship shop became not only popular among those who would stop in for a taco in the late evening hours, but stars like Pitt, Jimmy Kimmel, and Quentin Tarantino who have called on them to cater events, because they loved what they ate there in their earlier days.
“We’ve had Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom when they were still together, Paul Rodriguez, Eric Tillman, Hilary Duff, Olivia Rodrigo, [Metallica’s] Robert Trujillo, 2 Chainz,” Marlo said.
Late world-renowned chef Anthony Bourdain was also no stranger to the tasty menu they served up and was a frequent guest to the shop on Beverly Blvd for their popular lengua tacos, Marlo explained.
The shop is a true Hollywood icon featured in movies and TV shows like “Flight Of The Phoenix,” “Bosch,” and “House.”
Knoxville of “Jackass” fame even filmed a show there, buying everyone food during the shooting of the scene, Marlo said.
The list of memories go on and on, as he recalled a wedding proposal by people who first met in line late at night, being part of people’s weddings, birthdays and even funerals, hired to serve up food by people who loved it while they were growing up.
Tornel said the shop has survived some rough times too, like a drive-by shooting in the 90’s at the height of the gang problem in LA and COVID, when businesses like theirs — that thrived on late-night diners —were closed.
The story is ending not because business dried up, but because the land is needed for a new mission.
The original Cactus Taqueria will close after the nonprofit Project Angel Food — which shares the property — decided to expand its operations. The charity, which prepares and delivers meals to critically and seriously ill patients, is taking over the site, forcing Cactus Taqueria and the other businesses on the lot to vacate by July 12.
Even with the doors closing, Marlo said he hopes the decades of sweat and sacrifice that built the iconic taqueria won’t be forgotten.
“We want people to know how much hard work and sacrifice went into this. Because if we don’t let that be known, it’s like we’re throwing all that away, like that time didn’t even happen,” Marlo said.
Heartbroken regulars have flooded social media with memories of late-night taco runs and years spent at the Hollywood staple, mourning the loss of one of the neighborhood’s most beloved eateries.
“Saddened to hear! That’s my sticker on the window in slide 2. I’ve eaten here many MANY times over the years. Good people,” one person wrote.
“One of our favorite food spots! We love the Tornel family!” another added.
“My favorite burritos in LA. I have been eating here for 26 years and was just there earlier this week,” a third wrote.
These little stands like Burrito King — which closed recently after 50 years — are becoming fewer in the city as the cost of operating rises and development takes over.
As for what comes next, Marlo said his dad isn’t worried.
“My dad is very proud. He just says, ‘we’ll go do it on our own, we’ll figure it out. If we have to start selling food on the street, then we’ll do it.’ And he’s not scared,” Tornell said.
With little time left, he said they just want people to stop by before it’s gone to share some memories and their recipes, so their story lives on.
“So, I hope people come enjoy our food; I hope they come support us. We hope people that have memories here want to come back and enjoy a little bit of that before it’s gone.”
Read the full article here
