Our city’s best taquerias will more than likely never be honored with historic landmark status, no matter how good, how old, or how crucial they are. If 69-year-old El Tepeyac is not officially a historic or cultural landmark, we see scant hope for the stellar cooking coming from our favorite no-name tables and stands, hole-in-the-wall diners, or trucks with peeling Popocteptls. However, Henry’s Tacos, a North Hollywood stronghold for the North American hard-shell taco, just might be able to pull it off.
The Studio City stand, a favorite for connoisseurs of the unfairly maligned “gringo taco,” like Tony Danza, is turning 50 this December and, pointing to its Googie signage and sloped roof, is actively pursuing historic-cultural landmark status.
The restaurant is employing the same tactic Irv’s Burgers used to avoid being wiped out, insisting it is a prime example of a type of roadside eatery once dominant in L.A. It is a cool-looking lil’ structure to be sure. CityWatch clarifies that there’s an instinct of self-preservation at work here too, as the old-timey taco spot was damaged by a car crashing into it earlier this year. Attaining historic status would help provide restoration funds next time someone thinks Henry’s is a drive-though.
What do you think? Would you like to see Henry’s gain historic-cultural landmark status? Let us know your thoughts in our comments.
LA’s Next Historic-Cultural Landmark a Taco Stand? [City Watch LA]