Best Tacos Near
LAX Airport
73 million passengers fly through LAX every year. Most of them eat overpriced airport food. Don’t be one of them.
You’ve just landed at LAX — or you’re about to take off — and you’re hungry. The question every traveler asks: where are the best tacos near LAX airport? The answer has been sitting on Arbor Vitae Street for nearly 40 years.
Lax Tacos is located at 543 W Arbor Vitae St in Inglewood — roughly a 5-minute drive from LAX airport terminals. While millions of travelers each year settle for expensive, mediocre airport food, the people who know Inglewood head straight here. Family recipes. Fresh ingredients. Authentic Mexican food made the same way since 1986.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what to order, when to go, how to get here from the airport, and why Lax Tacos has earned the loyalty of locals and travelers alike for four decades.
Inglewood, CA 90301
10 min by rideshare
Why Skip Airport Food Entirely
LAX handled over 73 million passengers in 2025 — making it one of the busiest airports on the planet. And every single one of those travelers faced the same choice: eat inside the terminal at inflated prices, or find somewhere better nearby.
Inside LAX, you’re paying a premium for the convenience of location. A basic burrito that costs $7 elsewhere becomes $14 once it’s inside a terminal. The quality rarely matches the price. Airport food is built for volume and captive audiences — not for people who actually care about what they eat.
Inglewood sits directly adjacent to LAX. And this neighborhood has some of the best, most affordable, most authentic Mexican food in all of Los Angeles. If you have 30–45 minutes before your flight — or you’ve just landed and your hotel is nearby — there is absolutely no reason to eat airport food.
If you’re flying out of LAX, leave for the airport 45 minutes earlier than usual and stop at Lax Tacos first. You’ll eat better, spend less, and walk into the terminal satisfied. Lax Tacos is on Arbor Vitae Street — literally the same road that leads directly into the airport.
Why Lax Tacos Is the Best Taco Spot Near LAX
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1It’s genuinely 5 minutes away
543 W Arbor Vitae St is 1.5 miles from the LAX central terminal area. Arbor Vitae Street runs directly east from the airport. By car or rideshare, you’re there in under 10 minutes. No detours, no guessing.
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2Family recipes since 1986
The Miranda family started selling tacos from a catering truck on this same corner in 1986. Nearly 40 years later, the same recipes are still being made in the same kitchen. That kind of consistency is extremely rare — and it shows in every bite.
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3Everything is made fresh daily
The aguas frescas — horchata, jamaica, tamarindo — are prepared every morning. The salsas are made in-house. There are no shortcuts. When your taco arrives, you’re eating something that was prepared that day, not reheated from yesterday.
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4Open 9 AM to 10:30 PM — late nights on weekends
Whether you’re catching a morning flight or landing late at night, Lax Tacos is open. We close at 10:30 PM on weekdays and stay open until 11:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Red-eye traveler? We’ve got you covered.
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5Prices that make airport food embarrassing
Street tacos start at $1.50. A California Burrito — one of the most filling things on the menu — is $14.99. A fresh horchata is under $2. You can feed two people for what one mediocre airport meal costs inside the terminal.
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6Delivery available if you’re at a nearby hotel
Staying at a hotel near LAX before an early flight? Lax Tacos delivers via Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates. You don’t even have to leave the hotel. Order ahead, eat in your room, and head to the terminal well fed.
What to Order at Lax Tacos
First time here? Here’s what the regulars always recommend — and what to pair together for the ideal meal.
Two corn tortillas, your choice of meat, cilantro, onion and salsa. The foundation of everything. Try al pastor or carne asada your first time.
Crispy fries buried under grilled carne asada, melted cheese, beans, sour cream and guacamole. The dish people drive across LA for.
Carne asada, fries, cheese, sour cream and guacamole all wrapped in a large flour tortilla. A complete meal on its own.
Slow-cooked beef, consomé-dipped tortilla, served with rich broth for dipping. LA’s most popular taco — available every day.
Eggs, hashbrowns, beans and your choice of meat all day long. Perfect for early morning departures or late arrivals.
Made from scratch every morning with rice, cinnamon and vanilla. Cold, creamy and the perfect pairing for any taco or burrito.
Order 3 street tacos (al pastor + carne asada) + one carne asada fries to share + a fresh horchata. This covers the full range of what makes Lax Tacos special — and it comes in under $20 for two people.
Opening Hours
Lax Tacos is open every day of the week. Whether you’re catching an early morning flight or arriving on a late-night connection, we’re here.
| Day | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Full menu all day |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Full menu all day |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Full menu all day |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Full menu all day |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Late night open |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Late night open |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Full menu all day |
- → By Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Request a ride from any LAX terminal to “Lax Tacos, 543 W Arbor Vitae St, Inglewood.” It’s a straight shot east — 5 to 10 minutes depending on terminal traffic.
- → By Car: Exit the airport via Arbor Vitae Street heading east. Stay on Arbor Vitae and we’re on the right side at 543 — about 1.5 miles from the terminal loop. Parking available on-site.
- → Hotel Delivery: Staying at an LAX-area hotel? Most addresses near the airport are within our delivery radius on Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates. Order from your room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lax Tacos at 543 W Arbor Vitae St in Inglewood is the best taco spot near LAX. Just 5 minutes from the airport terminals, they’ve been serving authentic family-recipe Mexican food since 1986. Street tacos start at $1.50 and the carne asada fries are a must-try.
Lax Tacos is about 1.5 miles from the LAX central terminal area — roughly a 5-minute drive heading east on Arbor Vitae Street. By rideshare it typically takes 7–10 minutes depending on traffic.
Yes — Lax Tacos opens at 9 AM every day and serves their full breakfast menu (breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos, breakfast tortas) all day long. Perfect for early morning departures.
Lax Tacos has some of the most affordable Mexican food near LAX. Street tacos are $1.50 each, breakfast burritos are $6.50, and full specialty items are under $15. Far cheaper than anything inside the airport terminals.
Yes. Lax Tacos delivers via Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates. Most hotels near LAX airport are within the delivery radius. Enter your hotel address on any of those apps to check availability.
The Carne Asada Fries are the most-ordered item — crispy fries topped with grilled asada, melted cheese, beans, sour cream and guacamole. The California Burrito and Birria Tacos are close runners-up.
Yes. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, Lax Tacos is open until 10:30 PM. On Fridays and Saturdays they stay open until 11:30 PM — making it a great stop after late evening arrivals or night flights.
Coming Through LAX?
Don’t settle for airport food. Five minutes away, we’ve been doing this since 1986 — and we’ll still be here when you land.