King Taco’s original Cypress Park location eyed for historic monument status

One of Los Angeles’ most iconic taco institutions could soon receive official recognition from city leaders.

The original King Taco location in Cypress Park is being considered for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument, a move that would formally acknowledge the restaurant’s influence on LA’s taco culture and its role as a symbol of Latino immigrant entrepreneurship, according to LAist.

The proposal is scheduled to be reviewed by the city’s Planning and Land Management Committee, which will consider adding the restaurant at 1118 N. Cypress Ave. to the city’s list of protected historic sites, according to city records.

King Taco founder Raul Martinez launched the business in 1974 from a converted ice cream truck after recognizing demand for Mexico City-style tacos that were difficult to find in Los Angeles, according to the King Taco website.

Martinez was inspired after bringing homemade tacos to local soccer games near MacArthur Park, where players began asking to purchase the food — highlighting the lack of authentic Mexican street-style options in the city at the time, according to the company’s history page.

Within a year, Martinez and his wife Lupe opened a small brick-and-mortar location in Cypress Park that initially served as a central kitchen supporting the growing business.

King Taco helped popularize soft tortilla tacos filled with meats such as carne asada, carnitas and al pastor, helping shape what many consider the modern Los Angeles taco landscape, according to LAist.

The restaurant ultimately expanded into a regional chain with more than 20 locations across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, becoming a staple of Southern California’s Mexican food scene.

The nomination is part of the city’s broader effort to recognize cultural landmarks tied to immigrant communities that helped shape Los Angeles’ identity.

If approved, the Cypress Park site would join a select group of businesses recognized for their historic and cultural significance.

King Taco remains family operated today and continues supporting charitable an community initiatives while preserving the legacy established by its founders more than five decades ago, according to the company’s website.

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