King Taco gets official place in Los Angeles history with monument status

A Los Angeles taco staple that started as a humble ice cream truck has officially become a part of the city’s history.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council granted landmark protection to the original King Taco outpost in Cypress Park, recognizing the humble eatery as a cornerstone of the city’s food culture and Latino heritage.

The site at 1118 N. Cypress Ave. has been added to LA’s list of Historic-Cultural Monuments, a designation reserved for places that helped shape the region’s identity.

The decision follows earlier approvals from the Planning and Land Use Management Committee and the Cultural Heritage Commission.

Long before King Taco grew into a 22-location Southern California staple, founders Raul O. Martinez and Maria G. Martinez launched the business in 1974 by converting an old ice cream truck into a mobile taco stand, a move widely credited with igniting LA’s now-famous taco truck culture.

According to the company’s history, the idea took root near MacArthur Park, where Raul Martinez brought homemade tacos to local soccer games.

Demand quickly followed, as players began asking to buy the food, exposing a shortage of authentic Mexico City-style street tacos in the city at the time.

City preservation leaders underscored the broader impact of the venture.

The Cultural Heritage Commission stated: “With the establishment of King Taco, Raul O. and Maria G. Martinez not only created the first taco truck in the United States but also introduced the Mexican-style soft shell taco to the wider public and revolutionized the Latino culinary scene in Los Angeles.”

Officials added that the property “exemplifies significant contributions to the broad cultural, economic or social history of the nation, state, city or community.”

With the designation now in place, LA can temporarily halt any demolition plans for up to a year, giving preservationists time to map out long-term protections.