El Tepeyac Cafe

11/22/09

good food nice informal dining room

by Benjamin Orr at Citysearch

I could have enjoyed this restaurant so much more, I had heard so much about it for years about their giant Manuel special burrito. The burrito was just okay and I was very full after eating this monster burrito and that's saying a lot because I can eat a bunch. I will probably not go back because they charged me for some corn chips, and the salsa they bring is in very small dishes. I'm a salsa fiend and need a lot and I believe they had the red and the verde and they were good. Any mexican restaurant that charges for chips I will not be visiting again because this is a given that you get chips with your meal. Not only do they charge but it's for a very large profit not just to cover the actual cost. I think it was $1.75 for a darn bowl of chips. Anyway, if this doesn't bother you then I half-heartedly recommend it.

• Pros: big burrito, great tasting dishes
• Cons: no chips and salsa

09/26/09

Manuel Special with Pork!

by porkjello at Citysearch

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 at Citysearch

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 at Citysearch

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

05/03/09

Still the same..... yea yeah!!!!

by PhranCisco at Citysearch

Been going to El Tepeyac on and off for over 20 years....

Took my wife and the family-in-law for sinday breakfast, they loved it, the live musica was an extra touch of Manny.....

Fam bam already plan a next visit..

p.s. manny ramirez.... mannywood.. yeah right....

the O.G. MANNYWOOD IS AT EL TEPEYAC

• Pros: Still the same taste, same friendly atmosphere.

04/02/09

The Best Anywhere

by Pastor at Citysearch

I have been eating here for what seems decades, maybe because it been decades. Every dish served is excellently prepared and served. They are famous for the burritos but all should try their other dishes to really appreciate this wonderful family owned and operated restaurant.

• Pros: Great Food
• Cons: There are no cons here

03/29/09

Worth the Drive!!

by TheMamarazzi at Citysearch

I have been visiting El Tepeyac since before I was born! How is that possible? My mother frequented here whilst I was en utero!

I live in San Diego now but let me tell you...every chance I get I am all over it.

I recently stopped in on my way to Morro Bay. It was a detour off the planned route but my BF and I had leftovers that we shared once we got to our destination.

If you can't finish the Manuel's Special...then the Hollenbeck is definitely finishable! I recommend it to everyone.

I have even managed to get co-workers hooked on it during a business trip to LA.

• Pros: Manuels Special IS all that!
• Cons: Long drive...but sooo worth it from San Diego!

03/08/09

A good burrito but overhyped

by Krezer at Citysearch

I went there based on the reviews I read. The burrito was large but nothing spectacular to me. I didn't find the ingredients all that great and have had better. None the less, it was still good as I ate the whole thing. It might be worth checking out for some but I believe there are many hole in the wall places that can out do this over-reviewed restaurant.

• Pros: Filling burrito
• Cons: If you don't live close to it, not worth driving there.

01/25/09

machaca burritos

by latinadavis608 at Citysearch

love this place!! have been going there since I was 12 yrs old. over 24 years a customer!!1 there machaca burritos are awesome... if you like meat this is the place to go. if you're a vegetarian I suggested eating at some tofu food restaurant on the west side (or go to Henry's or whole foods and make your meals at home). No i am not a neighborhood person...i don't live in the area never have, my parents would take us there and they heard of it from going to csula. take it for what it's worth and how business was open is for there meaty cheese mexican food!!!

01/10/09

My Favorite Mexican Restaurant for the past 44 years

by boarhog1 at Citysearch

That's right I said it, and I'm not even Mexican.

But I love Mexican food, and I'm very particular about it.. I found El Tepeyac and Manny, 44 years ago when I first attended Cal State University at Los Angeles. I think that even then, I spent more time at Tepeyac's than at school. After college, I went to work for the City of LA and was always a regular for lunch. I've long since retired from the city, but frequently travel long distances to be pampered by Manny's homelike, delicious, authentic, generous. heart-warming gourmet food.

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 handle them with your bare hands..

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. 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. Needless to say my study groups were the most popular in school. I also love the Chile Rellenos and the Cheese Encheladas. But every thing on the menu is outstanding.

The prices are reasonable and the service is great. They have both an outstanding HOT Salsa and a equally outstanding mild sauce.

This place has always been a folk favorite with everybody, like City workers of many Cities, Many police agencies, Church across the street, the community at large. El Tepeyac and Manny it's ever popular propretor is now and has been for at least the past 44 years, Without Equal. In fact this review has made me hungry for a visit. I'm on my way.

• Pros: Consistent high quality food and outstanding taste and service
• Cons: It's too far away from my home for my liking