09/26/09

Manuel Special with Pork!

by porkjello

I went here with two friends that can put away their fair share of large meals. We ordered the Manuel Special, a huge burrito filled with pork and topped with, you guessed it, more pork! Usually, with large portioned food, quality is sacrificed with quantity. Not at El Tepeyac. This was a delicious burrito that is worth the trip to East L.A.

The parking lot has a corner shrine to the Virgin Mary and I guess it's there to pray for your soul if you tried to finish the Manuel Special by yourself. My two friends and I ate two thirds of the burrito and we were full. We took the other third home and it took two more people to finish it off. A $20 burrito that fed 5 people is an awesome deal.

If you are in LA, you gotta give this place a try!

• Pros: Great burrito, cosy restaurant feel

09/11/09

As good as it gets for Mexican food in LA

by spursrule

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.

For starters, I'd k1ll for their guacamole recipe. El Tepeyac is the only place I have ever been that had better guacamole than I can make on my own. Their salsas are top notch too; especially the ranchero salsa (I believe) that they put in the Hollenbeck burritos.

It's hard to pick a favorite plate here. Their enchiladas are outstanding because of the red guisada they're covered in. The shredded beef they put in the beef enchiladas is also always cooked to perfection.

Their refried beans are outstanding. The only other restaurant I know where they're as good is back in Texas. The rice is consistently good too.

All of that leads me to their burritos. I'm a Texas boy and we don't eat burritos, but I gotta recognize game here. The Hollenbeck burritos (especially my favorite, the Hollenbeck de machaca) are really without peers. 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). Last but not least, they're huge. It has been a year since I have had the pleasure of eating there, but I last recall the burrito being something like $8; a hell of a value.

The taquitos covered in guacamole are outstanding, and I have always enjoyed the T-bone with grilled jalapenos and onions. The shrimp in mojo de ajo were equally great when I had them.

• Pros: love the salsa, the gucamole, the red guisada on the enchila
• Cons: Waiting outside for a spot to open is almost guaranteed

08/29/09

The little old man at El Tepeyacs

by geewhiz434

I first tasted the manuel special in the 1980's I did'nt live in East L.A. than and for all these years, about a year ago I ended up moving to El Sereno which is not far from El Tepeyac, my first visit back was beatiful me and my Son dove into the burrito and could'nt finish it on my way out to the parking lot an little elderly man asked how was your food I didn't hesitate to tell him how great it was, he asked what i had I said the manuel special he said oh you like my burrito he than exclaimed I'm Manuel who the burrito is named after he was so warm and nice to my family he even gave my little girl a barbie doll I'll never forget the food and the friend I made in the El Tepeyac's parking lot

E

• Pros: burrito supremo best in Alll of Los Angeles
• Cons: Be prepared to wait alway busy