El Ruso, the trailer-turned-truck celebrated across Los Angeles for its hand-stretched Sonoran flour tortillas, has officially put down roots in Studio City. On Wednesday evening, owner Walter Soto and tortilla specialist Julia Silva fired up their first brick-and-mortar taquería on Ventura Boulevard, opening the doors and starting service at 5 p.m. The counter-service spot brings the truck’s tacos and giant sobaqueras to a stretch of the Valley that has been steadily filling up with new places to eat.
According to Eater LA, El Ruso Taquería launched in the former storefront at 10628 Ventura Boulevard, serving tacos and burritos built on Silva’s Sonoran flour tortillas. The lineup includes asada, chile colorado, al pastor, rib-eye, and shrimp, plus margaritas, beer, and horchata. Soto told Eater LA that the truck will temporarily pause operations while the team focuses on the new restaurant, calling the move a “new opportunity to be able to give [guests] pure quality.”
From Cart to Counter
Soto debuted El Ruso as a trailer in Boyle Heights in 2016, then graduated to a roaming truck that became a regular presence in Silver Lake, where long lines often formed for Silva’s tortillas. In a 2020 review for the Los Angeles Times, critic Bill Addison called the tortillas “masterful,” helping cement El Ruso’s status in Los Angeles’s crowded taco scene. That reputation, built on slow-cooked stews and hand-made flour tortillas, set the groundwork for a permanent location.
What To Expect Inside
The Studio City taquería keeps things familiar for El Ruso regulars. The menu mirrors the truck’s hits, focusing on tacos and oversized Sonoran-style burritos known as sobaqueras, all anchored by Silva’s hand-stretched flour tortillas. Eater LA also notes that El Ruso appeared on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, which helped push the team’s profile beyond Los Angeles. With the truck on pause, Soto and his crew can concentrate on translating their roadside operation into a sit-down experience.
Ventura Boulevard's Growing Food Scene
El Ruso’s debut adds more fuel to Ventura Boulevard’s rise as a dining corridor, as Studio City continues to build out its roster of new restaurants. Local reporting shows the boulevard has welcomed a steady wave of concepts this year, reshaping the neighborhood’s food landscape, as highlighted by Just Studio City. Bringing in a high-profile taquero like Soto only underscores the area’s momentum.
The new taquería is located at 10628 Ventura Boulevard. Hours may shift as the team settles into the space, so diners are encouraged to check the restaurant’s website and Instagram for the latest updates. El Ruso’s site directs customers to @elrusola for current hours and announcements.
