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Arturo's Puffy Taco
15693 Leffingwell Rd, Whittier, CA 90604
Why go
Rare puffy-taco specialist serving crispy Tex-Mex shells.
Official site, hours and details(opens in a new tab)How to get there
The story
About Arturo's Puffy Taco
The inspiration
Arturo's Puffy Taco exists to bring San Antonio-style Tex-Mex to Southern California, a love that transplants from Texas wanted to share with Angelenos1 . The name puffy taco was coined in the family and later trademarked by the restaurant2 .
Who's behind it
John Lopez, a co-owner, describes how the business grew little by little through word of mouth2 .
What to order
- Carne asada puffy taco: the second-best seller behind the ground beef .1
What people are saying
.
Why you should try it
This is a rare chance to eat San Antonio-style puffy tacos in California, from the family that named the dish and holds the trademark2,5,6 . Everything is made fresh in-house, from the salsas to the fried shells, at a walk-up stand that locals have kept busy for decades1,3,4 .
Sources
- 1. ABC7 Los Angeles (opens in a new tab): On the Menu: Arturo's Puffy Taco in Whittier boasts unique tacos (Mar 17, 2023)
- 2. ABC13 / Localish (opens in a new tab): Puffy tacos have Texan roots but were first introduced in Southern California (Nov 13, 2023)
- 3. Eat the World Los Angeles (opens in a new tab): Arturo's Puffy Taco Texas Mexican Tex-Mex Whittier Los Angeles (Feb 23, 2026)
- 4. LAist (opens in a new tab): Why I believe LA's best tacos can be found in Whittier (Aug 2, 2024)
- 5. Eighty Flavors (opens in a new tab): SoCal's Best Kept Taco Secret: Arturo's Puffy Tacos (Aug 28, 2024)
- 6. Texas Monthly (opens in a new tab): The Delicate History of the Puffy Taco
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Where this destination comes from
- Address checked: Oct 17, 2026, source (opens in a new tab). Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
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