Inside the Pink Taco

I have always been fascinated with the Pink Taco location on Sunset Boulevard, which sits next to my home-away-from-home, the Chateau Marmont. At one time, it was known as The Players, a supper club I wish I had been able to experience in person. You can read more about that 1940s incarnation at my previous post.



As for the history of Pink Taco itself, I visited their website. Below is the edited version:



Devoted to damn good tacos. Mexican cuisine has captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts around the world. One restaurant that has embraced the flavors and vibrancy of Mexican culture is Pink Taco. What started as a small-scale venture with a cheeky name has blossomed into a renowned restaurant chain. Pink Taco was founded in 1999 by Harry Morton in Las Vegas, NV, opening its first location within Hard Rock Hotel & Cafe. Inspired by the vibrant street food culture of Mexico, Harry envisioned creating a restaurant that offered a unique dining experience. In its early years, Pink Taco operated as a single location in Sin City. The restaurant quickly gained popularity, attracting locals, celebrities and tourists alike with its inviting ambiance, lively music, and delectable Mexican fare. Pink Taco prided itself on adopting a casual, fun-loving atmosphere that mirrored the vibrant energy of Mexican street markets. 

Below is a shot from my first visit to the Las Vegas (ala “Sin City”) location with my friend Illica, circa February 2003:

 

“Cheeky name” is right. If you haven’t figured it out, I’ll let you visit Google to see what it’s slang for.



Above: from my recent visit with Melissa, aka “The Colonel.”



I’ve always wanted to explore the restaurant to see if there are any architectural remnants from The Players days, but have never done so until my visit a few months ago.



This time, I had my camera AND the restaurant was devoid of guests, which made my snooping/shooting less nerve-wracking. I love the archways and REALLY love this door, which has an old school feel about it. Original? Who knows.



I do love the decor of the PT. Vibrant AND creepy!



At the Pink Taco, it’s Día de los Muertos every day!



I asked the hostess if I can snoop around upstairs. Not only did she say yes, she took me around herself. I doubt that her mother was even alive at the time of The Players, but that was ok. I didn’t care.



I can’t say I got a 1940s vibe, walking through the halls and going into each dining/drinking area (and there are many).



I did ask her if she had heard about the alleged underground tunnel that connected The Players to the Chateau Marmont and she said “yes.”



She’d never seen it personally, but heard that it existed at one time.



While it was disappointing to see virtually nothing left from The Players, it was still satisfying to have checked it out anyway. One less thing on my bucket list. As for Willis, he can’t get enough of this place. He loves to walk by it as he knows there will always be broken chips on the floor to sample!



See more Sunset Boulevard Pink Taco photos at my main website.