The Sporkful Danny Trejo, From Lockup to Donut Shop (Reheat)
Mar 6, 2026
Danny Trejo, veteran character actor and Los Angeles restaurateur, shares vivid life stories. He recounts tough-guy film roles, prison and recovery, and how his mother’s cooking inspired Trejo’s Tacos. Conversations cover translating family recipes to a menu, running inclusive restaurants, and surprising turns from trainer to screen presence.
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Home Cooking That Shaped Trejo's Taste
- Danny Trejo grew up eating his mom's enchiladas topped with two eggs and hot dogs wrapped in tortillas.
- He recalls nopales (cactus) in eggs and deep-fried tortilla-wrapped hot dogs as memorable childhood foods that shaped his palate.
Prison Riot That Redirected His Life
- Danny describes getting into serious trouble as a youth, ending up in Salinas/Soledad state prison and surviving violent prison dynamics.
- He recounts a 1968 riot triggered by a gum incident that led to solitary confinement and a vow to live differently.
From Drug Counselor To Onset Boxing Coach
- After getting sober in 1968 and released in 1969, Danny worked as a drug counselor and was pulled onto a 1985 movie set to train Eric Roberts to box.
- Writer Eddie Bunker recognized him, recommended he be made SAG, and Trejo suddenly started getting paid acting gigs.