Carnitas El Momo Founder Romulo ‘Momo’ Acosta Passes Away at Age 81

Romulo “Momo” Acosta, recognized as the patriarch of Carnitas El Momo and an important personality in Los Angeles’s taco landscape, died on October 15 at White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights. His death followed an eight-year struggle with various health problems. Initially hospitalized for pneumonia on September 25, Acosta’s son, Juan Carlos “Billy” Acosta, noted that complications from pneumonia, as well as lingering effects from a stroke and heart attack in 2018, led to his father’s passing.

Born on March 8, 1945, in Salamanca, Guanajuato, Romulo learned the art of carnitas from his father at a young age. After moving to Los Angeles with his family for better opportunities, he began selling authentic Salamanca-style carnitas, eventually turning his passion into a thriving business that would grow over the decades. Despite numerous challenges, including an industrial accident that shifted his focus to catering, Romulo established Carnitas El Momo, which became renowned for its traditional flavors. He is survived by his wife, Inocencia Acosta Avendano, five children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry on his legacy.