Taqueando with Bill Esparza

The taco hounds have been waiting for this one. On this episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza launches a 3-part Ultimate Mexico City Guide , starting with the food Mexico City does better than anywhere else: tacos . Bill breaks down 11 essential taco styles in CDMX and tells you exactly where to find the best versions of each. Think pastor , suadero , carnitas , tripita , canasta , and more, plus ke...

On this episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza sits down with Edgar Núñez , chef-owner of Sud 777 , for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from breaking food-culture controversy to one of the most thoughtful culinary careers in Mexico City. The episode opens with a deep dive into the viral backlash sparked by a British baker’s comments dismissing Mexico’s “bread culture” and the beloved bolillo....

In this special Best of 2025 episode of Taqueando , host Bill Esparza looks back at the conversations that defined the year in LA food culture. From interviews with chefs like Enrique Olvera , to cultural icons like Pepe Aguilar , to deep dives on taco crawls, Valle de Guadalupe wine, Panamanian cuisine, and the forces impacting restaurants and street vendors across Los Angeles, this episode captu...

On this week’s episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza sits down with Nayomie Mendoza , owner of Cuernavaca’s Grill , for a reflective year-end conversation. Together, they share their most memorable meals of 2025 while taking stock of a difficult year for restaurants shaped by wildfires, ICE raids, and ongoing instability across Los Angeles. It’s a thoughtful discussion about resilience, community, a...

On this episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza sits down with Kaila Yu for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation recorded over bowls of congee at her favorite San Gabriel Valley restaurant, Lu’s Garden . Kaila Yu is a Los Angeles–based luxury travel and culture journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times , New York Times , Rolling Stone , Condé Nast Traveler , National Geogr...

This week on Taqueando with Bill Esparza , Bill sits down with LA Times restaurant critic Bill Addison for a deep, reflective conversation on the brand-new 101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles list. They dive into how the 2025 list came together, what it says about LA dining during one of the toughest years the industry has faced, and why the city’s chefs, workers, and communities continue to show...

Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America 2025 just dropped — and Bill Esparza sits down with Esquire Food & Drinks Editor Jeff Gordinier for a deep dive into the year’s most exciting openings, the big national trends, and why fun is the defining theme of 2025 dining. In this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , Bill and Jeff break down how the list came together, the philosophy behind spo...

In this episode of Taqueando , Bill sits down with Chef José Luis Hinostroza , the visionary chef behind ARCA in Tulum, to explore the side of Tulum that most travelers never see. After leaving Noma , Hinostroza moved to the Yucatán to immerse himself in its jungle, ingredients, and lesser-known Indigenous traditions — a region of Mexico with flavors, crops, and cooking techniques unlike anywhere...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we dive deep into the rise of Sinaloan food and culture in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire . For decades, Sinaloenses have shaped the region through music, migration, and community — but only recently has LA begun to experience the true depth of Sinaloan regional cooking . Bill shares his personal history performing concerts in Sinaloa with iconic...

On this special on-site episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , recorded live at the San Diego Food + Wine Festival , Bill sits down with some of the most influential chefs shaping modern Mexican and Baja cuisine. Featured guests include Chef Carlos Gaytán ( Paseo, Valle, Txuco ), Chef Rael Coronado ( Una Más , Savage ), Chef Juan Cabrera ( Casa Tijuana , Fonda Fina ), Chef Sabina Bandera ( La Gu...

James Beard Award–winning chef, author, and TV host Rick Martínez joins Taqueando with Bill Esparza , powered by Acquired Taste , from his home in Mazatlán, Mexico to talk about his brand-new cookbook Salsa Daddy — a vibrant love letter to chiles, tomatoes, and the joy of making salsa. Rick and Bill dive deep into the regional nuances of Mexican salsas, the history and culture behind each ingredie...

Today on Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we’re joined by Tejal Rao and Ligaya Mishan , the chief food critics of The New York Times , for a deep, deliciously nerdy dive into the art of food writing and restaurant criticism. Bill and his guests unpack how they approach reviewing restaurants, what makes great criticism endure, and why the critic’s role still matters in a world dominated by social medi...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we’re diving into one of the most beloved — and misunderstood — foods in Mexican-American culture: the breakfast burrito . Bill explains why he believes the breakfast burrito has lost its soul, transforming from hearty construction-worker fare into influencer slop that bears little resemblance to its Mexican origins. From the history of the burrito...

This week on Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we head north to Portland to talk with Polo Bañuelos and Carlos Reynoso , the visionary duo behind Mis Tacones — one of the country’s most celebrated vegan Mexican restaurants. 🌮 Born from homesickness for the food they left behind in Los Angeles and Mexico , Mis Tacones began as a pop-up and grew into a community-driven restaurant redefining what Mexica...

This week on Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we open the mailbag for a special Q&A episode. Bill shares his picks for the best Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles , the smartest way to get to Valle de Guadalupe from Tijuana without driving , and his favorite hotels in Mexico City . Plus, he recounts the ultimate Brazilian Michelin experience , explains why hand-made tortillas are sometimes overra...

In this episode of Taqueando , food writer and taco authority Bill Esparza visits Madre on Fairfax , one of Los Angeles’ premier Oaxacan restaurants , for an epic 13-mezcal tasting spanning the diverse regions of Mexico. Leading the experience is Ivan Vasquez , Madre’s owner and renowned mezcal expert , who guides Bill and special guest Nayomie Mendoza —owner of Cuernavaca’s Grill —through a rich...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , Bill sits down with Casandra Salinas — better known to her hundreds of thousands of followers as @yo_soy_casandra . From her family’s Zacatecas ranch, Casandra has built a devoted audience by sharing an unfiltered look at authentic rural life in Mexico, from traditions and animals to the food on her table. Bill and Casandra dive into her unlikely ri...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , the legendary food writer and taco authority breaks down how to plan the ultimate Los Angeles taco crawl. Bill shares the epic route he reserves for journalist friends and true taco heads, plus more localized crawls across East LA, the Inland Empire, and a special late-night edition. He also gives listeners a peek behind the curtain at how his iconi...

On this episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza welcomes the legendary Pati Jinich — acclaimed cookbook author and host of Pati’s Mexican Table , La Frontera , and Panamericana . Pati opens up about her mission to share the depth and diversity of Mexico’s regional cuisines, weaving together stories of culture, history, and anthropology. From beloved hometown flavors to unforgettable discoveries on her...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we sit down over lunch on the iconic rooftop of LA Cha Cha Chá with executive chef Paco Morán . Once hailed as one of Los Angeles’ most successful Arts District restaurants — and the anchor of a growing Mexican restaurant empire — LA Cha Cha Chá is now preparing to close its doors. Chef Morán opens up about the devastating impact of ICE raids, cityw...

A guided tour through Tepito , Mexico City’s legendary barrio bravo 🌮🔥 Bill Esparza breaks down what it really means to eat like a local in CDMX — and why Tepito is the best place to do it. Plus, shoutouts to Carnal in Highland Park + an epic food event at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa . 🎙️ Powered by Acquired Taste 👅 #MexicoCity #CDMXFood #StreetFood #EatLikeALocal #BillEsparza #Taqueando

This week on Taqueando with Bill Esparza , we celebrate one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes: chiles en nogada . Bill sits down with Chef Liz Galicia , “La Reina de los Chiles en Nogada,” for a deep dive into the history, symbolism, and culinary technique behind Puebla’s signature dish. From the dish’s patriotic origins to the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and nutty flavors, Chef Galicia deliver...

On this episode of Taqueando with Bill Esparza , Grammy-winning Mexican music icon Pepe Aguilar joins Bill at Teddy’s Red Tacos for an unforgettable conversation about food, culture, and his legendary career. From his go-to Mexican restaurants and taco trucks in Los Angeles to classic old-school spots like Musso & Frank, Pepe shares his ultimate guide to eating in LA. He also takes us to his h...

On this episode of Taqueando , Bill Esparza sits down with chef Carlos Salgado , the visionary behind the acclaimed (and now-closed) Taco María , to reflect on the rise of Alta California cuisine and what it meant to pioneer a movement that redefined Mexican cooking in America. Carlos shares why he walked away from Southern California’s fine dining scene to start fresh in Door County, Wisconsin ,...

In this powerful episode, Bill Esparza sits down with Odilia Romero—Zapotec interpreter, scholar, and co-founder of Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO) —to explore the deep roots and vibrant present of LA’s Indigenous communities. They dive into the cultural and culinary legacy of Oaxacalifornia , how Indigenous food traditions shape Los Angeles, and what it really means to support Indigeno...