King Taco's Original Location Declared LA Historic-Cultural Monument

The original King Taco restaurant in Los Angeles' Cypress Park neighborhood has been designated a historic-cultural monument, recognizing the influence of founders Raúl and Lupe Martinez on the city's culinary identity. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the designation on April 21, following earlier approvals by a city council committee and the Cultural Heritage Commission. The Martinez couple arrived from Mexico City in 1969 with only 12 pesos, eventually settling in LA where Raúl worked as a dishwasher and butcher. Inspired by demand for authentic Mexico City-style tacos, they began grilling meat at MacArthur Park soccer matches, then launched one of the nation's first-known taco trucks from a 1950s ice cream truck in 1974. Their soft corn tortilla tacos were a novelty in the US at a time when hard-shelled tacos dominated. King Taco has since expanded to over 20 locations across greater Los Angeles. Raúl Martinez died in 2013 at age 71; Lupe Martinez remains active in the business.