Sky's Gourmet Tacos Is Pure Los Angeles on a Plate

"Sky's Gourmet Tacos celebrated 34 years of operating from an intimate Mid-City space. Barbara “Sky” Burrell has become known for her all-day breakfast tacos, wraps, and crawfish burrito; she's one of the Los Angeles chefs who celebrates the blend between Black and Brown cultures as a soul food-Mexican food hybrid: Black tacos. Los Angeles spots like Sky's, Worldwide Tacos, and Taco Mell prepare a lightly fried tortilla shell featuring meats with non-traditional seasonings (Lawry's or an all-purpose seasoning was the standard in my childhood home), and topped with shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream."

"Starting at 8 a.m., find breakfast dishes served all day, including Burrell's beef, turkey, or carnitas breakfast tacos. Sky's breakfast sandwiches, on Mexican telera bread, feel like the ones mom used to make but with far better technique. During lunch, Sky's lunch platter includes beef, chicken, or turkey tacos with a side of rice and beans. Both the pinto and black varieties are exquisitely creamy."

"We need to talk about the shrimp tacos, which use Gulf of Mexico shrimp and a proprietary seasoning for an otherworldly bite. The tender marinated lobster taco with shredded lettuce and Burrell's sassy sauce (she'll never reveal its tangy-sweet recipe) remains another favorite dish. It's better to try the generously portioned filet mignon nachos with a group. The kitchen grills the steak with butter, garlic, and citrus over melted cheese, beans, and tomato."

"If Sky's hasn't sold out of her pineapple cheesecake, pocked with real pineapple chunks and brightened by pineapple juice, order it immediately. Sky's resembles a spot in Puerto Vallarta, full of umbrellas and high-top tables in an adobe building. It's a good place to settle in with horchata, sorrel lemonade, or coffee. During later hours, parking can be scarce. If Burrell is present, introduce yourself."

Sky's Gourmet Tacos has operated for 34 years in a Mid-City space and is known for all-day breakfast tacos, wraps, and a crawfish burrito. The menu features lightly fried tortilla shells filled with meats and non-traditional seasonings, topped with shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream. Breakfast runs from 8 a.m. and includes beef, turkey, and carnitas breakfast tacos, plus breakfast sandwiches on Mexican telera bread. Lunch offers a platter of beef, chicken, or turkey tacos with rice and beans, with both pinto and black varieties described as creamy. Shrimp tacos use Gulf of Mexico shrimp with a proprietary seasoning, and lobster tacos include shredded lettuce and a tangy-sweet sassy sauce. Filet mignon nachos are grilled with butter, garlic, and citrus over melted cheese, beans, and tomato, and pineapple cheesecake is made with real pineapple chunks and pineapple juice. The setting includes umbrellas and high-top tables, with horchata, sorrel lemonade, and coffee available.

Read at Eater LA