Full episode out now on YT: “How These Metalheads Built One of LA’s Best Taco Spots | Plated Legacies” 🎥
Alex Garcia always dreamed of being a metal rockstar—feeling the roar of the crowd and the adrenaline of the stage.
But fate had other plans. Leaving Mexico, he moved to the United States with nothing more than a trash bag of clothes. Life forced him into the kitchen, where he helped his mom pay rent, and his rockstar dream had to wait.
Now, alongside his wife Elvia, Alex is rewriting his destiny. Fueled by their shared love of heavy metal and tacos, they created Evil Cooks—a wildly original LA restaurant that blends rebellious flavor with rock-and-roll soul. Together, as Evil Cooks, they’ve cooked up a revolutionary fusion that has earned them a spot on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list and even a James Beard Award nomination.
Episode 1 of Plated Legacies by @officialcreatorcode dives into their incredible journey—from lost dreams to culinary legend. Tune in to see how adversity turned into an opportunity, and how two rebels mixed music and food to create a taste of destiny.
#larestaurants #lafood #laeats #jamesbeard
It’s an honor to be in the @beardfoundation semifinals list next to some amazing friends, colleagues and amazing line up! Without any of these people, it wouldn’t be the same! 🤘🏼🤘🏼 Elvia & Alex Garcia
Chef ALex Garcia from @evil_cooks shares the dish his mother made for him as a child.
She fed us first. We learned to cook by watching her.
This Mother’s Day, we want LA’s mothers to be able to build that same kitchen for their own kids.
Help us raise $10,000 to support food and Mother’s Day gifts for the families we serve.
Tag the woman who fed YOU first. Tell us the dish.
🌺Link in bio to give.
She fed us first. Now we give back. #losangeles #community #mutualaid #mothersday2026 #donatetoday
Taco Madness 2026
Here is a look at every taco I tried at Taco Madness…
🟡Tacos Los Cholos -The rib eye taco. This was the priciest taco I had here, but worth it. It had a hefty slab of rib eye and really tasty sauces.
Taste 5/5 Spicy 3/5
🟡Evil Cooks -Man oh man do Evil Cooks bring it! Some special effects (human skulls and guillotines) and some real life carnage (the beef skulls full of succulent cabeza). I had to try everything offered by Evil Genius Chef Alex, both the green chorizo and cabeza. The cabeza here was my BEST TACO of the night!
Taste 5/5 Spicy 3/5
🟡Tacos y Birria La Unica -This birria has been on my hit list for a llllllong time. They were the one and only to pull their truck into the madness! So glad to finally try it. Solid quesataco and consome.
Taste 5/5 Spicy 4/5
🟡Tacos El Toro -They were about to sell out and had run out of lengua, but I snagged a cabeza taco. It was small but packed full of meat and they hit me with habanero sauce. Very good.
Taste 5/5 Spicy 5/5
🟡Villa’s Tacos 3 -so I have been eating at Villa’s 1&2 for years, but never made it to 3 for the new menu yet. This was the longest wait time, clocked in at over an hour. Vic keeps always keeps the mood up talkin to the line and pumping music. I got the pulpo taco. It was stunning.
Taste 5/5 Spicy 3/5
I was there 4.5 hours, had 6 tacos, and went home happy.
#tacos #taqueros #dtla
We are so grateful for have the chance to plant a good seed in this kids for their future! Thank you @cristeatorres for make this a memorable experience
