Long Beach Taqueros To Compete In First Ever 'Taco Death Match'

LONG BEACH, CA — Ten taqueros will face off in the first ever "Taco Death Match" in Downtown Long Beach, where they will create tacos dedicated to dead loved ones in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

These "ofrenda tacos" will be paired with a festival-specific beer from a local brewery for judges and festival attendees to try.

Created by founding partner of distillery Broken Spirits and Smoke and Fire Isaias Hernandez and journalist Brian Addison, the festival will offer free tastings from the following chefs and taqueros:

• Asadero Chikali
• Bar Becky
• Battambong BBQ
• Chinitos Tacos
• Ellie's
• Los Dorados
• Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso
• Smoke & Fire
• Tacos La Carreta
• Taqueria "Camerones"

“I wanted to honor the taco in a way that treated it like the culinary wonder it is and showcase how the taco has become universally known in SoCal food culture. In that sense, I wanted chefs to challenge themselves with a food-as-storytelling approach—and that’s what Taco Death Match really is.”

General admission tickets start at $15 and go up to $150 for VIP.