Trejo's Tacos: A Collection of Sometimes Healthy, Mexican (and Adjacent), Vegan-ish, and Always -Delicious Recipes (and Stories) from L.A.'s Baddest Good Guy: A Cookbook
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- Create Date：2021-08-25 09:54:50
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Danny Trejo
- ISBN：1984826859
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Summary
From the legendary actor and L。A restaurateur comes a cookbook featuring 75 badass recipes， from lowrider donuts and award-winning vegan cauliflower tacos to a sweet and spicy brisket inspired by Danny's mom's barbacoa。
Throughout Danny's life， sharing good food has always been essential--whether it was home-cooked meals made by his mom while imagining the menu for their dream restaurant or whipping up post-wrap celebratory tacos for his Hollywood friends。
Now， with his own restaurant empire growing， Danny shares his favorite recipes for bold， fun， and versatile Mexican food by way of L。A。 You'll come away with the know-how and skills for cooking slow-braised pork shoulder with bacon and chiles for unbelievably flavorful carnitas， turning spiced fried chicken or Mexi-falafel into tacos and burritos， and how to make cotija and chile mashed potatoes that will impress all your friends （especially when served with brisket！）。
The book also includes stories about Danny's lifelong love of food， from the meals his mom made when he was growing up in the San Fernando Valley to a map of his favorite restaurants and hangouts in Los Angeles， how his time in prison led to his acting career and opening a restaurant， and his journey of becoming an AA/NA counselor。 Like Danny's restaurants， Trejo's Tacos is generous， hospitable， and symbolic of L。A。's vibrant Latino culture。
Throughout Danny's life， sharing good food has always been essential--whether it was home-cooked meals made by his mom while imagining the menu for their dream restaurant or whipping up post-wrap celebratory tacos for his Hollywood friends。
Now， with his own restaurant empire growing， Danny shares his favorite recipes for bold， fun， and versatile Mexican food by way of L。A。 You'll come away with the know-how and skills for cooking slow-braised pork shoulder with bacon and chiles for unbelievably flavorful carnitas， turning spiced fried chicken or Mexi-falafel into tacos and burritos， and how to make cotija and chile mashed potatoes that will impress all your friends （especially when served with brisket！）。
The book also includes stories about Danny's lifelong love of food， from the meals his mom made when he was growing up in the San Fernando Valley to a map of his favorite restaurants and hangouts in Los Angeles， how his time in prison led to his acting career and opening a restaurant， and his journey of becoming an AA/NA counselor。 Like Danny's restaurants， Trejo's Tacos is generous， hospitable， and symbolic of L。A。's vibrant Latino culture。
Reviews
Nikki
，
Great book for recipes
7jane
，
Although this is a meat-eater’s cookbook most of the time， there are some vegetarian/vegan recipes included， so those who eat that way will get something out of reading this， too。 Most of the recipes have photos; there is 75 recipes in total。 The author is mostly known for his many acting roles， but has also been a criminal， and now is also a restauranteur with a variety of place around Los Angeles。 He states that he doesn’t mind if the reader makes the recipes in different ways， or uses only pa Although this is a meat-eater’s cookbook most of the time， there are some vegetarian/vegan recipes included， so those who eat that way will get something out of reading this， too。 Most of the recipes have photos; there is 75 recipes in total。 The author is mostly known for his many acting roles， but has also been a criminal， and now is also a restauranteur with a variety of place around Los Angeles。 He states that he doesn’t mind if the reader makes the recipes in different ways， or uses only part of the recipe （like marinade or sauce， for example）， or mixes recipes freely – I like this。 :）Some shortish stories are included within: how he got started on the food business， mural art in LA， typical days in Trejo places， being a fan of the Rams and the Dodgers （and getting to serve food to the team， and not just in LA）。All recipes have a short information bit at the beginning， and some include useful tips。 There is also useful information on what to have in the pantry， tools to have （incl。 what to have when one wants to do the donuts – I think you do need to have some intention to do them regularly， and have people to eat them within 4 hours， when they are good）。The recipes are grouped （with each section having a short introduction）:- salsas， creams， sauces， and vinaigrettes- tacos， burritos， bowls， and quesadillas （some recipes here are filling， then ways to use them in the first three; the biggest grouping）- other food （= ”food that isn’t a taco” as it is put here）- donuts and desserts （mostly donuts; the vegan recipes include honey as one sweetener choice， but not as the only one）- drinks （mostly alcoholic but does have some that are not）A few faves （there are more， no doubt about it， but here’s a few immediately-interesting for me）:Chicken tikka burritos， Mexi-falafel tacos， Jackfruit tacos， Mushroom asada bowls， Breakfast burrito， Roasted cauliflower tacos， BCR （beans， cheese & rice） bowls， Black pepper tofu tacos， Street corn in a bowl， Mexican-ish risotto… and from the drinks section: Strawberry lemonade。Although I felt that the book could’ve gone on longer – I guess that’s a good sign – the recipes looked delicious， the photos included looked great， and it’s nice to see a good actor having so many good eating places。 I guess I could keep them in mind if I ever go to LA （not very likely， but whatever）。 Interesting and with great variety of recipes; I like this cookbook！ 。。。more
Bryan
，
I’ve heard about Trejo’s Tacos for years but have never been on my trips to L。A。 I’ve seen the Rose Bowl stands at football games， but want my first taste to be the fuller experience of one of the cantinas。 After reading this book， I want to eat there more than ever。 Danny Trejo is an icon， and the best of America。 It was a joy to read his stories， to see his humanity and humility on the page。I will be making quite a few of these dishes。 It feels weird to replicate the food in a restaurant I’ve I’ve heard about Trejo’s Tacos for years but have never been on my trips to L。A。 I’ve seen the Rose Bowl stands at football games， but want my first taste to be the fuller experience of one of the cantinas。 After reading this book， I want to eat there more than ever。 Danny Trejo is an icon， and the best of America。 It was a joy to read his stories， to see his humanity and humility on the page。I will be making quite a few of these dishes。 It feels weird to replicate the food in a restaurant I’ve not dined in， but here we are！ Can’t wait。 。。。more
Min
，
I am a fan of Danny Trejo as a human being。 I know little of his story， but what I do know is he has worked hard for it， and as he tells us in the book-- everything good to happen to him is because he helped someone。 It's not how you start。 It's how you finish。 A heart-warming introduction when Danny tells us how his mother and he dreamed of a restaurant， and how that finally came to be。 The vignettes sprinkled through the text are clearly a love letter to the city of L。A。， and its myriad offeri I am a fan of Danny Trejo as a human being。 I know little of his story， but what I do know is he has worked hard for it， and as he tells us in the book-- everything good to happen to him is because he helped someone。 It's not how you start。 It's how you finish。 A heart-warming introduction when Danny tells us how his mother and he dreamed of a restaurant， and how that finally came to be。 The vignettes sprinkled through the text are clearly a love letter to the city of L。A。， and its myriad offerings of cuisine because of its abundantly available products in the southern California weather。 Immediately we learn that the recipes are adaptable， "cook it the way it makes sense to you， and your life" （p。 18） because he's learned living in L。A。 that many people have dietary restrictions， and he wants to feed everyone。 Trejo's Pantry chapter covers the essentials to making Mexican cuisine from the book。 The best part is that not only does he discuss which items are best to purchase， but how to use it so one can treat it like a separate ingredient when making an inspired meal that is its own recipe。 Following that is a portion discussing the various tools to use for optimal results。The book proceeds on to the main courses we all associated with a Mexican restaurant: tacos， burritos， and quesadillas。 I love the name of the next chapter， "Food that isn't a taco"， and offers such staples as guacamole， Spanish rice， black beans， refried beans， fajita， and ceviche。 Then proceeds to a more health-oriented portion that covers salads。 Moving forward on to the desserts which features Trejo's Donuts， with cookies， rice pudding， and churros--of course！ Finishing with a selection of beverages， some alcoholic， and some not to be used any way one wants。 An index of recipes， and ingredients makes this a great way to try， and experiment with this cuisine 。 。。。more
TJ Shelby
，
Partial autobiography but mostly a cookbook。 Fun stuff and a few recipes I will define trying out。
Catherine
，
Some really delicious-looking recipes that I shall have to try along with some interesting stories about his restaurants & L。A。 - fun cookbook read
Lise
，
Yes， I read a cookbook from cover to cover。 I'm old， okay？Most of these recipes seem like too much work， but I will try a couple。 I enjoyed the stories about LA and his life there。 I look forward to his autobiography。 Yes， I read a cookbook from cover to cover。 I'm old， okay？Most of these recipes seem like too much work， but I will try a couple。 I enjoyed the stories about LA and his life there。 I look forward to his autobiography。 。。。more
Beth deAcosta
，
Always looking for great books of different types。。。。。plus when I spotted Danny Trejo's name I do believe I won the lottery。 Interesting way his lifelong happenings blended so perfectly with great recipes and personal stuff。 For movie's， all I had to do was have his name pop up and always watch。 Now these books of his and restaurants seem so perfectly blended and compliment his life and its successes。 Bravo！💃💃📖🌶🌮🍩💃💃 Always looking for great books of different types。。。。。plus when I spotted Danny Trejo's name I do believe I won the lottery。 Interesting way his lifelong happenings blended so perfectly with great recipes and personal stuff。 For movie's， all I had to do was have his name pop up and always watch。 Now these books of his and restaurants seem so perfectly blended and compliment his life and its successes。 Bravo！💃💃📖🌶🌮🍩💃💃 。。。more
Amber
，
I am a fan of Trejo's acting and now I am a fan of his cooking （or at least how I can replicate his cooking）！ His recipes are realistic for home cooks and look delicious。 He has a full bio coming out in a bit that the information in this book was a good prep for。 I am a fan of Trejo's acting and now I am a fan of his cooking （or at least how I can replicate his cooking）！ His recipes are realistic for home cooks and look delicious。 He has a full bio coming out in a bit that the information in this book was a good prep for。 。。。more
Jessica
，
This is great cook book， true to the flavors and appeal of Southern California。 The recipes took me home， with recipes and ingredients I can find on the east coast。 Great photography of each recipe， as well as local street art。 The stories of Danny Trejo show the dynamics of a Southern California and Hispanic culture， focus on family， community， and the melting pot of the area。
Laurie
，
Great book。 I've always been a Danny Trejo fan， and I love this book！ It's a love letter to LA with great photos of the city， art， and food。 The recipes are made with simple ingredients， and many vegan recipes are included。 So far I've made the beef fajitas （delicious！） and I can't wait to try more。 Great book。 I've always been a Danny Trejo fan， and I love this book！ It's a love letter to LA with great photos of the city， art， and food。 The recipes are made with simple ingredients， and many vegan recipes are included。 So far I've made the beef fajitas （delicious！） and I can't wait to try more。 。。。more
Chef Beth Casebolt
，
Great cookbook with some laughs thrown in。What a fun cookbook！ I have always liked Danny's acting。。。now I like him as a cook too！ I am a professional chef & know a good cook when I see one。 These recipes are are awesome & so versatile。 I love how they work as is or changed up to meet your own needs。 I wish I could go to L。A。 & check out Danny's restaurants。 If any of you have that opportunity please go！ I would love to hear your opinions。 Great cookbook with some laughs thrown in。What a fun cookbook！ I have always liked Danny's acting。。。now I like him as a cook too！ I am a professional chef & know a good cook when I see one。 These recipes are are awesome & so versatile。 I love how they work as is or changed up to meet your own needs。 I wish I could go to L。A。 & check out Danny's restaurants。 If any of you have that opportunity please go！ I would love to hear your opinions。 。。。more
Matt
，
Wonderful book full of terrific food and engaging stories。
Jan
，
Great taco cookbook！
Pinky
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Nice to see some recipe options for vegans and vegetarians that aren't just beans and rice。 Really excited to try out the nacho donuts， black pepper tofu tacos， and mushroom asada。 Nice to see some recipe options for vegans and vegetarians that aren't just beans and rice。 Really excited to try out the nacho donuts， black pepper tofu tacos， and mushroom asada。 。。。more
Brandy
，
Yum！Great background info from a man that beat all odds！ I can't wait to try these recipes！ Thank you for sharing with all of us！ Yum！Great background info from a man that beat all odds！ I can't wait to try these recipes！ Thank you for sharing with all of us！ 。。。more
Jessica Samuelson
，
Read for Overdrive's Professional Book Nerds 2021 Reading Challenge， Task # Read a cookbook， select a recipe， and make it Read for Overdrive's Professional Book Nerds 2021 Reading Challenge， Task # Read a cookbook， select a recipe， and make it 。。。more
Melzebub
，
Really good recipes， Interesting glimpses into Trejo's life if you are interested in his biography but the recipes are worth the buy。 Really good recipes， Interesting glimpses into Trejo's life if you are interested in his biography but the recipes are worth the buy。 。。。more
Stan
，
What a great book。。。。full of really delicious， contemporary Mexican recipes and cool anecdotes and from a Hollywood icon。 Straight-forward humble dude that shares a lot of the tried and tested recipes from his restaurants。
~Vixhen~
，
This is a beautifully put together book。 I loved Danny's stories about his family， his time in prison and how he got started acting。 I loved the pictures in the book。。。it's full of color。 It just popped off the pages！ His recipes are mouth-watering。 I've never really been a fan of Mexican food， but this book had me writing a shopping list- quick！ My only regret is that I don't leave close enough to try Trejo's Tacos in person。 I know I would have been a repeat customer。 This is a beautifully put together book。 I loved Danny's stories about his family， his time in prison and how he got started acting。 I loved the pictures in the book。。。it's full of color。 It just popped off the pages！ His recipes are mouth-watering。 I've never really been a fan of Mexican food， but this book had me writing a shopping list- quick！ My only regret is that I don't leave close enough to try Trejo's Tacos in person。 I know I would have been a repeat customer。 。。。more
Gayle Bell
，
An amazing journey
Tyson Stewart
，
It was fun to read this book。 I am looking forward to trying out the recipes， especially the chicken tikka taco。
Rebecca Reddell
，
I borrowed this from my work library over the holiday break， and it's been such a wonderful read。 First， I have to say that it combined two of my favorite things: Tacos and Danny Trejo。 When it came to our library， and I was processing it for the shelf， I knew I had to read it。 After taking the time to devour Mr。 Trejo's life journey， beginning with his stints in state prisons， getting clean and sober， working on 300+ movies， becoming a father， and becoming a drug counselor - heading back to the I borrowed this from my work library over the holiday break， and it's been such a wonderful read。 First， I have to say that it combined two of my favorite things: Tacos and Danny Trejo。 When it came to our library， and I was processing it for the shelf， I knew I had to read it。 After taking the time to devour Mr。 Trejo's life journey， beginning with his stints in state prisons， getting clean and sober， working on 300+ movies， becoming a father， and becoming a drug counselor - heading back to the penitentiaries to counsel those still inside - I was enamoured。 His memories of his mother， growing up in LA and coming back to it as an adult， the recipes and food being a staple of his homelife whether there was little or plenty， and how his mother's kitchen was a safe haven growing up touched my heart。 It was nice to learn more about a man I've always liked since first seeing him on a Monk episode。 From that very first tv show， I've searched out the other shows and movies Mr。 Trejo played on because something about that first performance led me to like him， even if I didn't personally know him。 The history， honesty， and reflection within this book make me appreciate the person who is an actor。 Whether I've loved him in roles in Monk or Spy Kids， Nash Bridges， Brooklyn Nine-Nine， or any other part， there's something about him as a human being that draws you in and makes you want to learn more。 You may not know him personally， but he's one of those people you can't help but respect and wish well。 Reading his cookbook on how to cook the Trejo way was fun， insightful， and delicious。 I started writing down notes on what to keep on hand in my spice cabinet， and then I realized， I can't just rent this book， I have to buy it for my very own！ The recipes had my mouth watering， and there were too many to try。 His salsas， pestos， and sauces were delectable looking。 The Mushroom Assada and Roasted Cauliflower Tacos had me writing a shopping list - which grew longer the more I found in this book。 Another uplifting part of this book was how it made me think of my dad。 We used to eat tacos when I'd go over and visit him on a Friday or Saturday night。 They'd be simple， no-fuss tacos， but they always seemed to be the best I'd ever eaten。 This made me think of him and how we'd probably have looked through this cookbook together and tried some of these appetizing recipes。 It made me miss him， but it made me smile as well。 I'm sure he would have loved Trejo's Tacos too。I highly recommend this cookbook if you're a lover of Trejo， a fan of tacos， or just in the mood to read and savor something worthwhile in this world。 2020 is better for its publication and the joy it brings to the world。 Buen Provecho！ :） 。。。more
Shannon
，
This is far and away my favorite Christmas gift this year。 It's so well done， from the ease with which he shares his backstory to how clear and concise each recipe （and it's variations！） are。 Putting the effort in to make all of the veggie options stand on their own （mushroom asada！） is such a rare skill， that I'm excited to try those ahead of some of the meat-based options。 Plus， doughnuts。 This is far and away my favorite Christmas gift this year。 It's so well done， from the ease with which he shares his backstory to how clear and concise each recipe （and it's variations！） are。 Putting the effort in to make all of the veggie options stand on their own （mushroom asada！） is such a rare skill， that I'm excited to try those ahead of some of the meat-based options。 Plus， doughnuts。 。。。more
Dawn
，
Fun cookbook - more fun since we live close to the woodland hills restaurant and had been there a few times before covid。I want to make the donuts and the brussel sprouts！
Jen
，
So wonderful。 I wish I had a full kitchen to try all the recipes。 I can't wait to make the basic sauces and add them to lots of things。 So wonderful。 I wish I had a full kitchen to try all the recipes。 I can't wait to make the basic sauces and add them to lots of things。 。。。more
Lang
，
Seems a mixture of Trejo's voice， a millennial editor， and an ad campaign。 Some of this stuff seems to be direct quotes or recycled from his webpage and wikipedia。 Obviously this is to market his chain， good on him， that's smart。 But it felt like it was a collaboration with the City of LA tourist committee and not the love letter I was expecting。 Good recipes。 Seems a mixture of Trejo's voice， a millennial editor， and an ad campaign。 Some of this stuff seems to be direct quotes or recycled from his webpage and wikipedia。 Obviously this is to market his chain， good on him， that's smart。 But it felt like it was a collaboration with the City of LA tourist committee and not the love letter I was expecting。 Good recipes。 。。。more
Jesse Will
，
The recipes are just stunning。 A great way to take your Mexican nights up a notch or three！
Jay Newman
，
Not only are the recipes great and the stories， but I love the way the book is arranged with a master recipe and then how to turn each of those into tacos， burritos， and bowls。
Gina Zappa
，