Chef
Jorge Alvarez-Tostado
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Los Angeles, California, United States
i. Biography
Jorge Alvarez-Tostado has been Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Tacos 1986 Group — Tacos 1986 in Los Angeles, United States — since 2018. The title carries a clear body of work: Tijuana-style tacos on fresh made-to-order corn tortillas, a mushroom taco singled out by the Los Angeles Times, and a run of formal honors for a restaurant built around direct, specific pleasures.
The Honours
Pearl Recommended status arrived for the restaurant in 2025, adding a fresh marker to its public standing. Opinionated About Dining placed it at #30 on its Cheap Eats in North America list in 2024, after ranking it #33 on the same list in 2023. The dish recognition came earlier. In 2019, the hongos taco was named to the Los Angeles Times 15 Best Dishes of 2019, a concise accolade for a taco built around mushrooms rather than meat. That honor matters within Alvarez-Tostado’s story because it identifies a signature item by name and ties the restaurant’s acclaim to a specific plate.
The Craft
The cooking at the restaurant is centered on Tijuana-style tacos. Fresh made-to-order corn tortillas carry Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Adobada, and Mushroom, giving the menu its essential structure and its range. The mushroom work is especially defined. The vegan mushroom tacos use a seared mushroom filling and salsa macha, a pairing that connects the hongos recognition to a concrete technique and condiment rather than to a vague idea of plant-based cooking. Alvarez-Tostado’s specialties extend beyond a single menu item. His areas of work include cooking, health food, and food demonstrations, alongside the taco craft that has brought the Los Angeles restaurant its named honors.
The Career
Before opening the restaurant, Alvarez-Tostado studied at the International Culinary Center from 2012 to 2013. That training precedes the 2018 start of his role as Co-Founder and Co-Owner, and it places his later work within a defined culinary path rather than a purely accidental rise. Since 2018, the group has been his central platform. The accolades that followed — a Los Angeles Times dish selection in 2019, Opinionated About Dining placements in 2023 and 2024, and Pearl Recommended status in 2025 — give the career arc a public shape: training, founding, cooking, then recognition for both a dish and the restaurant’s broader value.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Jorge
What awards has Jorge Alvarez-Tostado received?
At the restaurant he co-founded, honors include Pearl Recommended status in 2025 and Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America rankings of #30 in 2024 and #33 in 2023.
What is Jorge Alvarez-Tostado's most notable recognition?
The hongos taco was named to the Los Angeles Times 15 Best Dishes of 2019.
What is Jorge Alvarez-Tostado known for?
He is known for Tijuana-style tacos made with fresh made-to-order corn tortillas and fillings including Carne Asada, Pollo Asado, Adobada, and Mushroom.
