El Tepeyac Cafe

(323) 267-8668

812 N Evergreen Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90033 34.0475 -118.1977

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Neighborhoods: Boyle Heights, Central LA

MANUELSELTEPEYAC.COM

Years in business

Established in 1956

Price:

$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Cheap Eats, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Mexican

What People Are Saying About El Tepeyac Cafe

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Outside this so-authentic-it's-kitschy landmark, vendors ply cookies and trinkets to those waiting in line for the best burrito in L.A. Inside, a shrine to the Virgin Mary overlooks a dozen Formica tabletops crowded with families devouring the meaty behemoths. El Tepeyac burritos are so big and unwieldy they can only be eaten with a knife and fork. The Hollenbeck burrito--a monstrosity of rice, beans, guacamole, chili and stewed pork jam-packed in a flour tortilla and topped with ranchero sauce--has earned its signature status. Unrepentant carnivores should go for the all-meat Oscar burrito.…

Editor's Tips

Look Good:
Go on a cheap, fun date that shows your local savvy. Look lovingly into each other's eyes over the $12 Manuel Special burrito--the two of you probably won't even finish it.
Save Time:
Belly up to the counter, where there's always a seat. Warning: You can't move from the counter to a table.
ambiance
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. the food is great the servers you can tell have been there forever and the ambiance is what you want cause I mean hey.
  2. live about 60miles from this location, but do have a friend that lives in Los Angeles so we decide to try as I had read a review about "best burrito in L.A." on the internet.
  3. It is just small resturant, with a few tables and a slightly romantic atmosphere.
  4. but long lines and parking is poor.
  5. Lot for parking-safe area (unless your a big chicken)
  6. ambience: total greasy spoon place, not fancy, go thier for breakfeast that is the best
  7. hours/days. The place is quite small but it is so comfortable because of the wonderful staff, the great comfort food and the happy customers!
food quality
93.50000381469727% positive
  1. You have to really love the food, or forget it.
  2. Their chips and guacamole is good but their salsa is nothing to rave about.
  3. The chips and salsa are good, but you know how most restraunts offer that for free and Manuels they don't, well actually they do but only to certain people.
  4. Their refried beans are outstanding.
  5. The employees are great, the food is great and you are guanteed not to be hungry until the next day!
  6. You will love their extremely large burrito.
  7. the food is great the servers you can tell have been there forever and the ambiance is what you want cause I mean hey.
  8. frequent EL TEPEYAC on a regular bases, and i gotta say that it is the best place to get mexican food in LA.
  9. chips/salsa. The wait staff are nice and friendly.
  10. Great value, great food!
  11. Terrific sauces, meats, including chicken, that is cooked and seasoned perfectly, make for a wonderful meal.
  12. The Hollenbeck burrito to me is the best.
  13. just ok food, nice informal dining room
  14. For those who love real authentic Mexican food, you gotta try this one!
  15. The house salsa is uniquely delicious and saucy.
  16. The Food is muy excellente - not much else to say for these authentic homecooked dishes like your Abuelita used to make.
  17. Great Mexican food!
  18. You can't miss this one if you are on a hunt for the best Mexical food in California!
  19. I've been coming here with my parents since I was a kid, and my personal fave is the steak picado burrito, which is spicy with large chunks of beef inside and topped wet with sauce and steak.
  20. Today, my favorite is Huevos Rancheros: eggs sunny up, simmered in a wonderful sauce with peppers and onions, melted cheese and more rice and refried beans than can be eaten by your average big man; with two big tortillas so hot that you can't initially h
  21. Seems like many people don't know what good mexican food should taste like.
  22. El Tepeyac is the best authentic Mexican food around.
  23. This Place is not tasty & Too expensive not what it used ta be?
  24. The food is full flavored and there's a certain fifties feeling that's pretty cool.
  25. But we think nostalgia, not great food, etc is what keeps it going (strong as ever, it appears).
  26. The service was awesome and the food was even more awesome.
  27. The people giving bad reviews are either lying about El tepeyac or they like fast food over Quality, hey to each their own.
  28. its the best place to eat, theres GREAT food.
  29. great food, great prices and damn good eating.
  30. The rice is consistently good too.
  31. My mom owned a mexican restaurant, so I could get great mexican food for free.
  32. The guacamole is fresh and amazing.
  33. The food is delicious and the service is terrific.
  34. good burrito but overhyped
  35. went with my friends and order a big burrito that runs about $10.0.
  36. We asked for fresh salsa because I was leary about existing salsa they have at your table before you sit down.
  37. The Machaca is the best, be prepared for some serious food coma.
  38. The food is exceptionally tasty, and portions generous
  39. truly dont think the food here is as authentic as some have commented.
  40. Thats the key, if you like the food you eat in a mexican house hold , then you will love el tepeyac, if you like taco bell , then you wont.
  41. The shrimp in mojo de ajo were equally great when I had them.
  42. flavour. When he asked for jalapenos the owner came back with a fresh tomato, onion & jalapeno pan fried and it was the best.
  43. No, this is not authentic Mexican food.
  44. In my opinon, if you want Mexican food "El Tepeyac" is the best place you can eat.
  45. went here two different times i odered a machaca burrito and taquitos beef for my first visit, the machaca was dry and had no flavor for a $ 9 dollars burrito?
  46. They are consistently the best food and food value for the money.
  47. person such as myself, who on a daily basis eats authentic homemade mexican food, give this restaurant the highest rating.
  48. Great fresh co.
  49. would also recommend The Hollenback or if they still have the burrito called The Oscar De La Hoya Burrito which was also a great burrito.
  50. They've got a large, varied, menu, with many unique dishes to try, so after you've attempted the burrito specials, go for the combination dinners, a real culinary treat, and very reasonably priced.
  51. Obviously, many do love the food!
  52. The Manuel burrito is the best, but I'd order one for at least 2 or 3 people.
  53. The rice and beans were authentic.
  54. The Tepeyac is a great real authentic mexican food you want to dine in.
  55. My favorite burrito there is the Hollenbeck.
  56. live about 60miles from this location, but do have a friend that lives in Los Angeles so we decide to try as I had read a review about "best burrito in L.A." on the internet.
  57. But I love Mexican food, and I'm very particular about it.
  58. hours/days. The place is quite small but it is so comfortable because of the wonderful staff, the great comfort food and the happy customers!
  59. My favorite is the Machaca Burrito, which they whip up fresh.
  60. Great food!
  61. The best Mexican food you can eat!
  62. food is pretty good too.
  63. no matter where your coming from or where you're going, everyone remembers the "big burrito"place on the hill.
  64. They're a combination of my favorite guacamole I have ever had, one of my favorite salsas, outstanding beans and rice, and delicious shredded meats (+ egg in the machaca).
  65. This is probally my favorite mexican food resturant.
  66. good food yes cheap prices no
  67. LA Classic - huge, delicious burritos.
  68. Our grown children and grandchildren would not miss the outing, The burritos and taquitos are my favorite, The guacomole is the best-fresh avacados.
  69. The food wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good either.
  70. They have both an outstanding HOT Salsa and a equally outstanding mild sauce.
  71. Two thumbs up to traditional Mexican food and to HUGE size portions.
  72. Great food, I know where to eat this 5 de Mayo!
  73. of course my fav is the machaca plate and the hollenbeck burrito.
  74. the taquito was fair but the beef had a greasy gamy taste the Guacamole was excellent but the sides wrere too much beans were bad Too.
  75. enjoyed a nice sandwich here last week
  76. Huge portions and flavorful dishes.
  77. The food is still excellent; one of the best in LA....but not as good as it was 1-15 years ago.
  78. The food is absolutely delicious, and the burritos put taco bell to absolute shame.
  79. While the burritos are great, the combination plates with enchiladas, tacos, etc., are wonderful, too.
  80. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the city -- huge and delicious buritos, incredible taquitos with a mountain of gucamole, and the best huevos ranchos.
  81. This is a huge large burrito meant for 3 people, and has everything included inside.
  82. When still in school the Hollenbeck Burrito was my favorite: a huge plate-sized wet burrito with everything delicious in it: carnitas, rice, beans, avacado and cheese.
  83. decent food
  84. best place for mexican food for a good deal!
  85. My friend had the chicken fajitas which were made with all white meat chicken and fresh veggies and huge slices of jalepenos.
  86. This was a delicious burrito that is worth the trip to East L.A.
  87. that means if I have to wait in line for some good food guess what.
  88. it was a big dissapointed i think the only reason y people eat there is because the plates r huge but honestly the food dont really have taste its pretty gross and real mexicans dont eat there u only c caucasion no offense but they wouldnt know wat good m
  89. I've long since retired from the city, but frequently travel long distances to be pampered by Manny's homelike, delicious, authentic, generous.
  90. Lot for parking-safe area (unless your a big chicken)
  91. The food is outstanding and they give you HUGE portions.
  92. feel the that the popularity of the restaurant has forced the staff to produce mass quantities of tasteless food.
  93. Great food.
  94. burrito should be a good size and able to taste everything in it, this is just saying hey come eat here I have a huge burrito ooohh but it its not that good you can get better at the lunch truck down the street or inside the resaturants at the Mercadito
  95. This is by far my favorite place to eat Mexican food at on the west coast; at least, my favorite place north of the border.
  96. Try the steak picado the best in the city.
  97. One big burrito!
  98. Bring someone you love and share a burrito (any one), because even then you'll have to roll each other out of there.
  99. We ordered the Manuel Special, a huge burrito filled with pork and topped with, you guessed it, more pork!
  100. i'll admit the burritos are fabulous, but don't leave without trying the taquitos (which come with a whopping scoop-full of guacamole) and the enchiladas rancheras (get one cheese and one beef.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. They've got a large, varied, menu, with many unique dishes to try, so after you've attempted the burrito specials, go for the combination dinners, a real culinary treat, and very reasonably priced.
  2. You can't go wrong with anything that you may order from the menu cause it all comes in big portions.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The best Mexican restaurant in
  2. frequent EL TEPEYAC on a regular bases, and i gotta say that it is the best place to get mexican food in LA.
  3. In my opinon, if you want Mexican food "El Tepeyac" is the best place you can eat.
  4. This place has the best biggest burritos of any Mexican restaurant anywhere in the LA area.
  5. its the best place to eat, theres GREAT food.
  6. best place for mexican food for a good deal!
  7. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the city -- huge and delicious buritos, incredible taquitos with a mountain of gucamole, and the best huevos ranchos.
service
85.0% positive
  1. Seems like many people don't know what good mexican food should taste like.
  2. The food is delicious and the service is terrific.
  3. nice staff, great burritos, locals
  4. feel the that the popularity of the restaurant has forced the staff to produce mass quantities of tasteless food.
  5. The chips and salsa are good, but you know how most restraunts offer that for free and Manuels they don't, well actually they do but only to certain people.
  6. It seems that the servers in the place have grown to hate their jobs after so long.
  7. The service was terrible on both occassions I ate inside.
  8. The staff seem pretty cool too.
  9. The employees are great, the food is great and you are guanteed not to be hungry until the next day!
  10. the food is great the servers you can tell have been there forever and the ambiance is what you want cause I mean hey.
  11. it was a big dissapointed i think the only reason y people e
  12. chips/salsa. The wait staff are nice and friendly.
  13. The people giving bad reviews are either lying about El tepeyac or they like fast food over Quality, hey to each their own.
  14. Family operated, great service.
  15. This is a huge large burrito meant for 3 people, and has everything included inside.
  16. hours/days. The place is quite small but it is so comfortable because of the wonderful staff, the great comfort food and the happy customers!
  17. The prices are reasonable and the service is great.
  18. The service was awesome and the food was even more awesome.
  19. The Manuel burrito is the best, but I'd order one for at least 2 or 3 people.
  20. it was a big dissapointed i think the only reason y people eat there is because the plates r huge but honestly the food dont really have taste its pretty gross and real mexicans dont eat there u only c caucasion no offense but they wouldnt know wat good m
value
91.18000030517578% positive
  1. also had the taquitos, which they serve with so much guacamole (no wonder it's so expensive) that there's no way a normal person would eat so much guac with the two small taquitos.
  2. Food is good prices are not that cheap and services can be alot better.
  3. Great value, great food!
  4. great food, great prices and damn good eating.
  5. This Place is not tasty & Too expensive not what it used ta be?
  6. We ordered the Manuel Special, a huge burrito filled with pork and topped with, you guessed it, more pork!
  7. The food is outstanding and they give you HUGE portions.
  8. Of all the places on the list, Tepeyac is the most affordable.
  9. it was a big dissapointed i think the only reason y people eat there is because the plates r huge but honestly the food dont really have taste its pretty gross and real mexicans dont eat there u only c caucasion no offense but they wouldnt know wat good m
  10. This was a delicious burrito that is worth the trip to East L.A.
  11. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the city -- huge and delicious buritos, incredible taquitos with a mountain of gucamole, and the best huevos ranchos.
  12. They are consistently the best food and food value for the money.
  13. good food yes cheap prices no
  14. My friend had the chicken fajitas which were made with all white meat chicken and fresh veggies and huge slices of jalepenos.
  15. the biggest, best burritos, with the most generous servings of guacamole, in the world (U.S., anyway)!
  16. Huge portions, great taste, a questionable East LA neighborhood make for an amazing value.
  17. The prices are reasonable and the service is great.
  18. Moreover, since you can get a couple of smaller more flavorful burritos for about the same price at MANY places in L.A. (El Gran Burrito, to name just one), I think the value here was actually only average as well.
  19. The portions are huge and the fee is small.
  20. The burritos I got were huge, yet, but the filling was an absolutely stomach-churning mix that didn't taste good, smell good or look good.
  21. You can't go wrong with anything that you may order from the menu cause it all comes in big portions.
  22. The burritos are huge for the price, I recommend you share them.
  23. so now still look foward too that Manual Special Burrito which is really a huge Burrito.
  24. I've long since retired from the city, but frequently travel long distances to be pampered by Manny's homelike, delicious, authentic, generous.
  25. Two thumbs up to traditional Mexican food and to HUGE size portions.
  26. This is a huge large burrito meant for 3 people, and has everything included inside.
  27. This is still one of the best Mexican places in greater LA, but prices have gone up over the years, and it is no longer the bargain it once was.
  28. Huge portions and flavorful dishes.
  29. When still in school the Hollenbeck Burrito was my favorite: a huge plate-sized wet burrito with everything delicious in it: carnitas, rice, beans, avacado and cheese.
  30. burrito should be a good size and able to taste everything in it, this is just saying hey come eat here I have a huge burrito ooohh but it its not that good you can get better at the lunch truck down the street or inside the resaturants at the Mercadito
  31. And on those occasions when I was feeding the entire study group I'd order the Manuel Special: A double Hollenbeck, well constructed upon two huge tortillas.
  32. went here two different times i odered a machaca burrito and taquitos beef for my first visit, the machaca was dry and had no flavor for a $ 9 dollars burrito?
  33. The food is exceptionally tasty, and portions generous
  34. LA Classic - huge, delicious burritos.
wait time
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. I've long since retired from the city, but frequently travel long distances to be pampered by Manny's homelike, delicious, authentic, generous.
  2. It seems that the servers in the place have grown to hate their jobs after so long.
  3. but long lines and parking is poor.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/08/11

good,i really like it

by extalent

You really can't beat it

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/03/11

Terrible Service...Very Disappointing

by yvanrc51

Con: It is very disappointing that they do not substitute guacamole for sour cream. Their service is rude. They mock their customers. I heard servers on the phone insulting customers after hanging up on the phone, using vulgar language in Spanish. They have no respect. Elena and Laura do not seem happy to be working there.

Pro: Tepeyac has good food. Carlos and Mirasela were nice.

In the end, the food is good. It is slightly overpriced; but I will not go to an establishment that treats their customers in such a terrible manner.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/04/11

Simply the best in town!!

by Mz Krizz

My family and I have been eating at El Tepeyac in East Los Angeles all my life, and from what I've heard my parents ate there while dating in the 70's. Ironically, this is also one of my father in-law Ray's favorite places to go eat his Huevos Rancheros with Pork Meat and not to mention a personal visit and shot of tequila from the one and only Manuel himself. El Tepeyac is clearly the place to go eat real, authentic Mexican food. Their burritos are the bomb and the fact that they pile on the cheese makes it even more mouth watering. My favorite are the hard tacos.....tasty crunchy and filled with all the good stuff. My brother loves the Oscar Burrito (with extra cheese please). In fact, now that our mother has moved back to the hood, my brother and I will be having El Tepeyac tomorrow morning for breakfast. The breakfast of champions, what better way to start your morning!!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/15/10

New Mexico

by LiveintheMoment

There was a restaurant with the same name many years in New Mexico. Good to know there is one in Southern California. It was good.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/13/10

Fantastic Mexican Food

by esthalg

Huge portions and flavorful dishes. You really can't beat it.

The Details on El Tepeyac Cafe

Place Categories:

  • great homemade mexican food
  • best style burritos
  • huge portions
  • favorite guacamole
  • best hollenbeck burrito
  • nice wait staff
  • great service
  • favorite house salsa
  • not authentic mexican food
  • good chips
  • outstanding rice
  • authentic homecooked dishes
  • outstanding refried beans
  • great real authentic mexican food
  • equally outstanding mild sauce
  • good machaca
  • like mexican food resturant
  • incredible taquitos
  • favorite machaca plate
  • affordable el tepeyac
  • favorite eating spot
  • favorite machaca burrito
  • best small place
  • great food value
  • big dissapointed

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