King Taco — Whittier Blvd origin + LA street-taco template

King Taco is a Los Angeles–based chain of taquerías founded in 1974 by Raúl Martínez Sr. and his wife Lupe Martínez. It is widely credited as the first modern taco truck in the United States and a pioneer of the LA-Mexican-style soft taco.^[1][5]

Biography of Raúl Martínez Raúl and Lupe Martínez emigrated from Mexico City to Tijuana in 1969 with only 12 Mexican pesos, then settled in Los Angeles.^[1][3] Raúl worked as a dishwasher and later as a butcher.^[1][3] In 1973, the couple began grilling carne asada at MacArthur Park soccer matches, where players asked to buy their tacos.^[1][6] This inspired them to start a taco business. In 1974, they converted a 1950s ice cream truck into a mobile taco station named La Güera and parked it outside a bar on Brooklyn Avenue (now Cesar Chavez Avenue) in East LA.^[1][4][6] Writer Gustavo Arellano credited Raúl as the inventor of the modern taco truck.^[1][5] Within six months, they opened a brick-and-mortar location in Cypress Park, which served as a central kitchen.^[1][2] A second location, King Taco #2, opened in 1978 at Ford and 3rd Street in East LA as an order-to-go restaurant with walk-up windows.^[1][6] The chain expanded to more than 20 locations across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, with restaurants in Ontario, Fontana, Old Town Pasadena, and Long Beach.^[2] By 1995, there were 14 restaurants grossing over $21 million.^[2] Raúl Martínez Sr. died on December 3, 2013, at age 71 while visiting family in Mexico City.^[2][4] Lupe remains active in the family-run business.^[3]

The Al Pastor + Carnitas + Buche Template King Taco introduced soft corn tortilla tacos topped with meat, salsa, cilantro, and onions—a novelty in the U.S. when hard-shell tacos were dominant.^[3] Raúl was known for selling al pastor tacos, which were not commonly sold in LA before him, and he started selling them at midnight outside a bar.^[4] The menu also featured carnitas and buche, establishing a template that defined LA-Mexican-style tacos.^[1][4] Lupe created the famous salsa roja at the Cypress Park location.^[1]

Comparison to Other 1970s-Era LA Taquerías King Taco is often compared to other 1970s-era LA taquerías such as El Tepeyac and Pancho Lopez. While El Tepeyac (founded 1972) is known for its massive burritos and sit-down dining, and Pancho Lopez (founded 1975) for its al pastor and salsa bar, King Taco pioneered the taco truck model and rapid expansion into a chain.^[1][2][5] All three helped popularize Mexican street food in LA, but King Taco’s mobile-first approach and family-run growth set it apart.

Legacy The original Cypress Park location was designated an official historic-cultural monument by the Los Angeles City Council in 2024.^[3] King Taco continues to operate 22 locations and is recognized for its authenticity, community charity (including an annual posada), and role in shaping LA’s taco culture.^[1][4]