The StoriesKCRW & Gustavo’s Great Tortilla Tournament
FAQsCan I get some history?
One day in 2018, Gustavo Arellano looked at a pack of corn tortillas and saw a date: 1951. That's how old his dad's go-to tortilleria, Miramar in East Los Angeles, was. That delicious moment of clarity inspired Gustavo to examine Southern California's tortilla culture. He told KCRW about his wild plans to do so via a sports-style tournament. After many conversations, the Great #Tortilla
How were the tortillas selected?
Tortillas are typically selected to reflect the breadth of Southern California's culture. Tortillerias that have been neighborhood institutions for generations as well as mass-market ones. Tortillas made with heirloom, non-GMO corn from Mexico and those made from American corn. Tortillas from markets and ones from restaurants. Tortillas from ranging from Ojai to Coachella, Chula Vista to the San Fernando Valley. Thick tortillas and thin tortillas. Powdery, flaky tortillas. Delicious tortillas. And, every year, we're going further and further across California — watch out, Yreka!
How are the tortillas judged?
Easy. It's all about the taste. Do they heat well? Does the corn taste like corn and the flour like wheat? As they're pitted against each other, is one a fundamentally better experience than the other?
Who is Gustavo?
Gustavo Arellano is a Southern California muckraker, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, longtime contributor to KCRW's Good Food and does the "Orange County Line" every Monday during KCRW's Greater LA.
What does the event feature?
The event will feature KCRW DJ sets all day, great food, an Ask a Tortilla Expert table, and live tournament rounds between the Fuerte Four tortillas to determine who walks away with the Golden Tortilla!
What is the Golden Tortilla?
Exactly what it sounds like: a gold tortilla on a plaque. This trophy will be presented to the winner to take home on October 8!
What is the Fantasía Bracket?
The Fantasía Bracket lets you play along with our Tortilla Tournament judges. Check out the list of contenders, do your research and vote for your favorites. It's like filling out brackets for any sports tournament — but better because it's tortillas.
What is the Bronze Comal People's Choice Award?
Forget what the judges think. This is all about YOU. After we reveal the Suave 16, you can vote for your favorite. We'll announce the People's Choice winner at the Tortilla Tournament on October 8.
Will there be food and drinks available for purchase?
Smorgasburg LA is the city's largest weekly outdoor food market, featuring finely curated 90+ food, beverage, and shopping vendors. There's also a beer garden. So come hungry and thirsty!
What if there's a forecast for rain?
Smorgasburg LA happens every Sunday, rain or shine, and so will the Tortilla Tournament!
Is Smorgasburg LA free to enter?
Yes. Smorgasburg is free to attend and open to all ages.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are not allowed at the market, we’re sorry!
Is there parking?
Yes, there is a 4,000 car garage on-site.
Still have more questions?
Email events@kcrw.org and we will do our best to answer them.
When and where is the event?
Sunday, October 8, 2023 from 10am to 4pm at Smorgasburg LA at the ROW DTLA.
Why should I RSVP?
Because there's tons of event info that we would love to send you! The schedule, where to park, and so much more.
What does the event feature?
The event will feature KCRW DJ sets all day, tons of great food, an Ask a Tortilla Expert table, and of course, live tournament rounds between the Fuerte Four tortillas in Southern California to determine who walks away with the Golden Tortilla!
What is the Golden Tortilla?
Exactly what it sounds like: a gold tortilla on a plaque. This trophy will be presented to the winner to take home on October 16th!
Will there be food and drinks available for purchase?
Smorgasburg LA is the city’s largest weekly outdoor food market, featuring finely curated 90+ food, beverage, and shopping vendors. There’s also a beer garden. So come hungry and thirsty!
What if there's a forecast for rain?
Smorgasburg happens every Sunday rain or shine, and so will the Tortilla Tournament!
Still have more questions?
Email events@kcrw.org and we will do our best to answer them for you.
The Stories The Map
2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021
2022
2023
Looking for a fun Sunday AND the best tortilla in SoCal? Well, come spend a food-filled day with KCRW at the finale of Gustavo’s Great Tortilla Tournament! There will be music, friendly competition, and more culinary delights than you could ever imagine. Gustavo Arellano and KCRW’s Good Food host Evan Kleiman will lead us through the day which will feature…
- DJ sets with KCRW’s Raul Campos and Wyldeflower
- Tortilla painting with tortilla artist extraordinaire Joe Bravo
- Mariachi Tierra Azteka
- I Love Micheladas beer garden
- Tons of perks for KCRW members (scroll down for the list <3)
- An Ask a Tortilla Expert booth (ask them ANYTHING tortilla)
- Live tournament rounds between our four finalists to determine who walks away with our coveted prizes: The Golden Tortilla, and the Chiquihuite Cup
- 90+ (yeah, 90!) finely curated food, beverage, and shopping vendors because…
This all goes down at Smorgasburg LA, the city’s largest weekly open air food market. Smorgasburg is FREE (in THIS economy?) and so is our party within it. RSVP and we’ll send you the good details.
RSVP for event info
Need some background on KCRW & Gustavo's Great Tortilla Tournament?
KCRW has teamed up with L.A. Times columnist and “Taco USA” author Gustavo Arellano (for the sixth year in a row!) on his quest for tortilla greatness. Gustavo created an eclectic list of 96 tortillas found around Southern California, from Sylmar to Ojai to Coachella to Chula Vista, and whittled them down to 32 corn + 32 flour, in four brackets of 16. He and three other judges have the difficult and widely sought after task of choosing which tortillas advance to the next round. Upsets have happened, unlikely winners have emerged. And now it all comes to a head on Sunday, October 8 at Smorgasburg LA where we'll get to the bottom of the question that plagues us all: what is the best tortilla in Southern California? And is it corn, or flour? RSVP now to find out!
Each of the Fuerte Four will receive a 4-pound tub of lard, courtesy of Coast Packing. The ultimate winner will walk away with the Golden Tortilla, get to host the Chiquihuite Cup for a year, and receive a $500 store gift card courtesy of Northgate Market.
Bronze Comal People's Choice Award
For the first time this year, we’re also awarding the Bronze Comal People’s Choice trophy to whomever among our 16 finalists receives the most votes from the public! Your favorite tortilla didn’t make it to the Fuerte Four? Well, step up and make sure they don’t leave this year’s tournament empty handed! The tortilla contender with the most votes will win the coveted Bronze Comal, which comes with a trophy and a $300 store gift card courtesy of Northgate Market! We'll announce the People's Choice winner at the Tortilla Tournament on October 8.
*By voting, you consent to receive communications from KCRW regarding the Tortilla Tournament. You will also receive KCRW’s weekly newsletters and invitations to future events. You can unsubscribe at any time. KCRW will never sell or share your personal data.
Member Perks
KCRW Members, guess what? The Fuerte Four are bringing samples just for you! The first 300 KCRW members to visit the Street Team table will receive a tortilla-tasting pass to sample tortillas from HomeState, Pan Victoria, Taco María, and Heritage BBQ!
Members can also enjoy discounts from select Smorgasburg vendors all day. Check out all the sweet & savory details here.
OUR ESTEEMED JUDGES
Gustavo Arellano, LA Times columnist and KCRW contributor
Doing the #tortillatournament for five years has shown me just how many people are doing it right in Southern California, whether in tortillerias, restaurants, mercaditos, supermarket chains and even Walmart, which stocks Romero's thick flour tortillas, my go-to for quesadillas. As the years go on, more and more folks are ditching the unholy GRUMA trinity — Maseca/Mission/Guerrero — and upping their tortilla game.
Evan Kleiman, Host of KCRW’s Good Food
I eat tortillas all the time, even when the meal they are accompanying is not Mexican. For corn tortillas I rely on Northgate Market. As for my choice of flour tortilla, I get the award-winning Sonoratown now that there's a location walking distance from my house.
Sean Vukan, #TortillaTournament scout
As a scout, I've been able to see how many tortillerias and restaurants are doing it right, and even the not so great ones are worth supporting over the Thanos that is GRUMA. At the minimum, I know there's a Stater Bros. near me where I can pick up a pack of Romero's or a Northgate where I can get my corn tortillas. I've always preferred flour tortillas, so it was a stroke of luck to be assigned that in my first year as a Tortilla Tournament judge. I hope I can fill Mona Holmes's shoes.
Connie Alvarez, KCRW Communications Director
What's my day-to-day tortilla? Well, thank goodness that when it comes to corn, Trader Joe's tortillas are actually flavorful and hearty. As for flour, I go out of my way when I can for a few packets from La Monarcha –– but in reality, it's usually Trader Joe's again. If that bursts your bubble about what a tortilla judge should be eating on the daily, then please take my kids to school and soccer for me while I live out our shared tortilla woman-about-town fantasy!
About Smorgasburg LA: Smorgasburg LA is the city's largest weekly outdoor food market, featuring 90+ food, beverage and shopping vendors curated from the next wave of Southern California's chefs, food entrepreneurs, designers, collectors and local makers. Open every Sunday from 10am to 4pm at ROW DTLA, Smorgasburg L.A. combines food, shopping, a family-friendly beer garden and more to create a perfect day with friends, family, or colleagues..
This event is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
