I was driving around LA the other night and I realized it. I was looking for a taco truck I think. Or maybe I was looking for something else. On the radio was The Beatles “Oh! Darling”, and I was in East LA; a city I have grown to love and a city that has grown to love me. We have grown to love you El Bandini? Ha! How preposterous! The city does not love. The city is just like that lightning bolt that came from the sky the other night that destroyed that poor woman’s roof. The city is indifferent to love. The city is just the new wilderness.
Well, I was in this new wilderness, and I found myself unable to get out of my car. I just drove and drove and I passed taco truck after taco truck. I wanted to get out of my car, pull out my camera, and get back into the game, but I couldn’t. I got an eerie feeling and I felt strange and lonely. I had lost my taco mojo.I felt uneasy about the darkness and the shapes that formed the city. It was as if the city had finally figured me out. I knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I left El Bandini at the corner of City Terrace and Pomeroy St and drove home.
This was several months ago. I thought the mojo might come back, but it hasn’t. So rather than just go quiet, I thought it was best to tell anyone who still reads the blog that there will be no more updates.
So, thanks to everyone who read the blog over the years. Thanks to my friend Shelby Lewis. And most of all thanks to all the taco truck workers and taqueros out there that work so hard.
Oh, and one more thing – fuck you Taco Bell!
Thank you for your years of hard work :)
ReplyDeletesorry to see you go man. thank you for enriching my life. always enjoyed your humorous reviews, and found out about so many places because of you
ReplyDeletewish you luck with whatever is next
It was the Cool Ranch "Taco" wasn't it? Fucking Taco Bell. They will pay for this.
ReplyDeleteyou had a great blog bro
ReplyDeleteFantastic blog! Sorry to see you go!
ReplyDeleteThis cannot be - it will not be! Bandini - contact me (TacoGator) at jmalbanese@venicecreative.com asap - I will carry the flag. I will meet you at the corner of City Terrace and Pomeroy St to obtain the necessary credentials.
ReplyDeleteTacoGator
This cannot be - I Taco Gator will pickup the fallen banner and carry it forward. Meet me at the corner of City Terrace and Pomeroy St at a time of your choosing or contact me at jmalbanese@venicecreative.com.
ReplyDeleteDeath to the Taco Dorito - it is an abomination upon the earth
The Taco Gator
Wow, I have been reading your blog for years and was shocked to see that you're giving it up. Take care, man. Thanks for all the awesome pics and reviews.
ReplyDeleteI moved away from L.A. years ago, but reading this blog always made me happy to come back. It captured something important about the food culture (and really, just the culture) of the city. Thanks for all your hard work, man! Tacos and tamarind jarritos shall be eaten in your honor.
ReplyDelete...sigh...what's going on this week–first Google Reader announces that it's boarding up the shop, and now The Great Taco Hunt...? *snif*
ReplyDeleteAgain...sigh...I guess I can understand. But there's a part of me that hopes that one day you get the urge to tell us all about the most incredible taco that you just found. But thanks so much for all of the work that you've done, and the great tacos I've eaten because of your blog.
Be well!
This is a sad day for me. I will still keep the site bookmarked.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed your blog for years Bandini. Sorry to see you go! I personally stopped eating that king of food about a year ago and now eat fish, fruit and vegetables and and snack only on dried nuts and fruit.Cut out booze all together. I've lost 30+ pounds and now run 5-6 miles a day 4 days a week. Get a good physical check up after all those greasy tacos man. Take care and good luck!
ReplyDeletecmon huero no mames guey! :p yer the man bandini! thanks to you i discovered sum amazing tacos(leos,El chato,la taqiza & mexicali taco) sad to see you go man..hope u get yer mojo back
ReplyDeleteNoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Just... no.
ReplyDeleteI think we all knew that this day was coming, but still it's heartbreaking. Maybe without all the pressure of the blog, you will rediscover your taco passion and enjoy them again, this time just for yourself.
ReplyDeleteMay the best tacos be yours forevermore.
I think we all knew this day was coming, Our Friend. But it's still heartbreaking. I hope some day that you will start to re-love tacos, this time only for your self. Outside of the pressure of the blog.
ReplyDeleteMay the best taco juice be yours always.
Thank you soooooo much, Bandini for turning us on to many wonderful tacos across our huge City! We will miss you, but we understand. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYour work has been an incredible resource over the years. We are a lesser city without the continuation of this blog.
ReplyDeleteMove forward knowing you made a contribution that touched many Angeleños, our stomachs as well as our hearts.
Thank You, I enjoyed the chase I was on but then I found someone crazier than I, The Great Bandini. I bow down to you and thank you for broadening my horizon and teaching me many things!
ReplyDeleteThank You
Burger Boy
you've done LA Latin street food a great service, thanks ;-p
ReplyDeleteBandini. You rock. I was just lamenting my own lack of blogging but said "Never fear, sometimes Bandini runs out of taco gas, but he always comes back." Then I came to check on you for inspiration. I hope you will keep writing in some way or another and of course don't stop EATING tacos just because you don't want to blog about them anymore. ox Taco Maven
ReplyDeleteI work as a jet charter pilot. I found your blog while on a layover about a year ago. I was in LA for 3 days. Every meal I had, I ate out of a truck. I would read your past posts and hunt out the trucks that sounded good. I have not been back much since but still keep up on your blog, planning for any future trips I will surely have.
ReplyDeleteI live in NY and like you know it's tough to find those tacos here. I keep looking though, here or in other layover cities, and when I find something close I think of you and what you would think about my order.
Best of luck and thank you for all your great work. Forever know that you will be missed!
Bandini, your blogs have made mi vida mas sabrosa. Sorry to see you go. Thanks for the many years of taco-goodness.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad day, compounded by the fact that I'm getting the news late. You're an inspiration and this blog will always be a testament to what you brought to the city of LA. Hopefully we can finally get that taco together and not blog about it, at all. -A
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this blog. The information you have here has been invaluable to many of us. I found your blog less than a year ago and you certainly gave some great reviews in regards to the Taco Trucks.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Josue
Do you have any other blogs? I started reading this because of the tacos, but came to enjoy your writing as well. Would love to check out anything else you write. :,( sad tho, I'm going to miss this.
ReplyDeleteBandini, it saddens us to see you go. Your contributions to the Taco Beat is invaluable and I speak for all our Taco Truck/Stand comrades in THANKING YOU for all your hard work & effort at the Taco Throne. Alas, Austin Powers found his Mojo and so can you!
ReplyDeleteShould you need a hand, or a Taco, err..or 6, stop by Leo's Taco Truck ANY TIME. On the house. Our success is owed to MANY, and you kind sir are certainly among them.
We just opened in Hollywood -now covering La Brea North to South -@Venice & @Sunset. Should feel like a Cuba Libre or a Brewsky along with your Tacos, we're only a few yards in front of The Woods Bar. Our treat. ;)
The invite has no expiration or strings attached. Best of luck in your new endeavors Señor Bandini and thanks for the Great Years!
May the Taco Be with You!
-Leo's Taco Truck
www.leostacotruck.com/locations
Oh man, sad day in Tacoland...but I totally get it. A big thank you for doing all the dirty work for us - you have guided me to so many good tacos/times and for that I am forever appreciative.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
Best blog for LA peeps. Will miss your reviews because your top rated tacos were always on point. Thanks for all the great intel, you did a great job and it was very much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOh no! :( That is so sad! Can't you blog every now and then or pass it to someone? I saw TacoGator raising his hand.
ReplyDeleteWell, best wishes and you did a GREAT job!
I always knew the day would come, but I thought they would find you with your shoes sticking out of The Last Dumpster Behind the Greatest Taco Truck. I read you for many years but, like you, I have gotten older and lost a little fire for La Grasa de La Raza. You made things fun for me, El Bandini. I hope you find something else to eat and write about...DAK
ReplyDeleteYou've done a great service, highlighting taco diversity in LA. Thank you for carrying on the Angeleno tradition of using taco like a verb: to taco (inf.); I taco; you taco; he/she tacos; we taco....
ReplyDeletehey =) i just started planning to open a taco truck on my own. so your blog i really helping me to figure out whats important and whats not. thanks for that! http://tacotrucko.blogspot.de
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great blog! Wish you all the best!
ReplyDeleteLovely poetic ending to what was and is arguably the greatest blog on the planet. Don't let your hosting bill slip. I will want to scour your backlogs for decades, my friend.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, sounds a little bit sad... How about lets we show our love to Taco by using this Taco Lover T-shirt!
ReplyDeleteI Love Taco T-shirt