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Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Restaurants Cafes Mexican, Cafes [Edit]
812 N Evergreen AveLos Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 268-1960
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 6 am - 8 pm
Wed-Thu, Sun 6 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 6 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
879 reviews for Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
Review Highlights
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"The hollenbeck burrito is incredible." In 70 reviews -
"Joking aside, one of the best chile verde in LA." In 41 reviews -
"HUGE portions of quality mexican food." In 31 reviews
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879 reviews in English
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Review from Manuel V.
Downey, CA
Manny's Original El Tepeyac is something every Californio should experience, as well as out of state visitors and tourists! They have this awesome burrito that I could use as a pillow! LOL! Tasty too! Definitely for groups and conversational starters! LOL!
Guys, don't take the first dates here, unless she can EAT! :) -
Review from Destinee D.
Whittier, CA
5/14/2012
Ive been consuming Manuel's food since my mom got pregnant with me twenty two years ago.
EVERYTHING is delish.
When I go, I always spilt a Manuel's Special (massive burrito in guac., meat [beef or chicken], cheese, rice and beans) with my brother and father (its that big).
Decent pricing, friendly fast service.
I also reccomend their chicken taquitos, cheese or chicken enchiladas, Manuel Special (if you're a huge eater or eating in a group).
Sometimes Manuel is there when the line is long and he'll offer you a free shot right then and there! Hahaha! I don't drink but most other latinos do so this is a pretty nice gesture hahaha -
Review from Nick E.
Seattle, WA
5/6/2012
I was on a roadtrip with 11 high schoolers and we were staying at the Boys & Girls Club in the neighborhood. We asked the employees and kids at the Club where we should eat, and everyone said "El Tepeyac." Being that we were a group of 13 black or white people, the guy who worked at the Club walked us there and ate with us. I'm not sure if any non-Mexican people have ever been in that neighborhood. It was a great experience, especially for my teens.
The restaurant is basically an experience in and of itself. We got the Manuel's Special burrito and it was legitimately huge. What the actual fuck. It came in one of those big tin serving trays that could otherwise be used as like a baby crib or something. It wasn't just huge, either; it was really good. In ordinary fashion, I just asked the waiter what was best and we went with that. I got the Jamaica to drink and it was for the win. -
Review from Karen E.
Montebello, CA
5/24/2012 11 Check-ins Here
I have to say I was very disappointed with my meal today and the service. The place wasnt that busy but it took forever just to get waited on. The enchiladas had no taste and the service was very poor. I was so disappointed. I am a frequent visitor to El Tepeyac and have to say that the service and food quality were not to my expectations.
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Review from Nikki W.
Ontario, CA
5/6/2012
Machaca bowl! AMAZING!
salsa could be better -
Review from William C.
San Jose, CA
4/23/2012
I visited this place after seeing it on television. The guacamole/taquitos were what brought me here but once I arrived, most people were wolfing down burritos and so that's what I ordered.
I ordered the Machaca burrito with enchalada sauce. Now you can see from the photos above that these are as big as your forearm and somehow I managed to put away three-quarters of it. Afterwards I felt proud and disgustingly full at the same time.
Since it also happened to be my birthday...they did not hesitate to pour me and my girlfriend each a shot of tequila (maybe moonshine because it came out of a Vitamin water bottle). On top of that, they played a Happy Birthday song on the old school juke box. It was so unexpected, but everyone was so incredibly jovial and friendly that I won't soon forget it.
Overall this place deserves five stars from me because of the friendly and fast service, good taste, big portions, and great value for what I ordered. Bravo! -
Review from Shantel P.
Santa Ana, CA
4/13/2012
So as my bf and I were leaving CSULA and we thought it would be a good idea to eat before we got on the freeway so he yelped mexican food and became super excited when this place popped up since he saw it on the man vs food...or some tv show..not sure. Anyways, we went in at about 3pm and there was not a lot of people. We sat ourselves and the waitress came over and took our order. We ordered a chicken burrito (it says it feeds 3-5 people or something like that). When the lady brought it out I almost had a heart attack!! IT WAS GIANT! We ate less than half and I was surprised because my bf is a monster and he eats like a pig.
Overall, the taste of the chicken was really good. The burrito had beans, rice, chicken, and chili. I would come back and would recommend if you are around the area. -
Review from Jose A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/24/2012
Do Not Go Here.
There are a million better places to go with in a 2 mile radius for a burrito. Seriously, once the novelty of the huge burrito wears off, you're just left eating a so so burrito. -
Review from Kelvin C.
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overrated. Lines are long and this place is one of the biggest hole-in-the-walls in a really ghetto area...NOT someplace you'd visit at night.
I ordered their so-called "legendary" Hollenbeck carne asada burrito and it was edible at best. The carne asada meat was barely cooked and the sauce was just watery and flavorless...reminded me of tomato water with salt and bell peppers. Maybe I should have ordered something else like the taquitos or tacos (which were recommended by a friend) but yelp lured me to try the burrito. At $10, this place was disappointing.
#BURRITO_FAIL -
Review from Lori C.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2012
The oversized burritos are overhyped.
The burrito is huge but the flavor is lacking. It's super salty and that's about it. I'd say the only saving grace was the guacamole in the burrito - so chunky and yummy.
This place is obviously well-known and worth trying once, but a second trip is probably very unlikely. -
Review from Maggie C.
3/21/2012 10 photos
Manny...Manny...Manny...
Dunno how you did it but I went to your place twice in one week.
I went with my girlfriends for dinner and I was skeptical at first. I tried El Manuel Tepeyac @ City of Industry and I never went back. Simply put, not a fan.
Ordered burrito de asada ($9.25). I was disappointed when I found out this place didn't have any carnitas. What do you mean no carnitas? The worker let me sample the pork and I decided to order carne asada instead.
The burrito was good and its carne asada was finely chopped. They were generous with both beans and guac. Too much bean but loving its chunky guac.
I went back again 2 days later since I was craving its carne asada and guac bad. Yea..I ordered the same thing again. It was still good, but not as good as the first time. My carne asada was chunky and this time I asked for less beans. Its meat wasn't as tasty as the meat I tasted on my first visit.
Service was amazing!!! I asked for extra sauce and got it in seconds. Someone was always checking to make sure I got everything I needed. I ate half of the burrito because I didn't want to be Ms. Piggy (even though it's hard to stop eating) and the worker actually grabbed a new tortilla and made a new burrito from the leftover.
Funny how this place is so different compared to Industry location. This place is like a neighborhood place and Industry place is so corporate. Service is efficient, fast and friendly here and the other location messes up all my orders. The food at this location is 10X better too.
Plenty of parking and I think I saw Manny sitting in this small white car parked next to me.
4 stars!!
Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe is kinda yummylicious!!Listed in: My love for Latin foods
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Review from M W.
Los Angeles, CA
5/23/2012
Nice folks. Fun environment. Plentiful food. Take your out-of-town visitors.
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Review from Louis A.
Beverly Hills, CA
3/22/2012
If I could give minus stars, I would!
Ordered the hollenbeck burrito everyone talks about. While the guacamole was pretty good, I have no idea what all these people are raving about. I mean, WHAT KIND OF MEAT IS THAT?!? Disgusting! I trashed it for fear if I gave it to a homeless person, his family would sue me for poisoning him! -
Review from Jenn R.
Newport Beach, CA
4/2/2012
Went on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. A short line of people were waiting to be seated inside as expected from what I read in the reviews. The hubby and I decided to get the food to-go at the window on the side of the building. That line was pretty short and they helped each customer very quickly.
We ordered the Hollenbeck - one of the most recommended burritos in reviews and I believe it was the one featured on TV?? and a side of guacamole and chips and a couple horchatas. There is a huge outdoor eating area, mostly covered overhead, and you can just get your food "to-go" and eat it there.
Pros:
-Burritos are as huge as people say they are. The two of us are big eaters, starving and needing food to pick us up after getting our pockets emptied (just had our taxes done down the street).
-Guacamole was HUGE for a small size and you can taste the freshness of the avocados.
-Tender, juicy meat.
-Fast service.
Cons:
-Size isn't everything. Don't get me wrong- the Hollenbeck was delicious, but I've had better. The large size does not yield equal distribution of ingredients. My half had a ton of meat and some beans, my husband's side had some meat, little beans and a TON of rice. The massiveness of the burrito also makes you want a better tortilla-to-meat ratio. If I am in the area, I'd probably try El Tepayac again but I wouldn't drive there for no reason other than to have their food.
-The menu board outside doesn't give much of a description of what is in the entrees. It is like they assume that you know what a Hollenbeck, Okie and Oscar entail. -
Review from Ryan D.
La Puente, CA
4/19/2012
My favorite restaurant, period. I've been coming here since I was born. I usually get the Manny's Special, all 8lbs of it. Glorious. If food was a woman, Manny's would be the most beautiful thing to ever grace the planet.
I got to see Manny himself for the first time early this year. He gave me some tequila and was very friendly and chatted up my girlfriend (in a good way). He kicks ass. He's been running a badass joint forever.
Anywho, not much else to say other than this is THE place to go. Been going here for nearly 30 years. -
Review from Frank K.
La Mirada, CA
5/22/2012
Went here sunday May 20,2012 I wanna use bad language to explain how great the food is. That Guacamole is the real deal. I wish I lived near by. I would make this my only location for burritos! SO DAMN GREAT! NEXT TIME WE DRINK TEQUILA!!
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Review from Alejandra G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2012
This review is for take-out only.
So I've lived about 5 min away from El Tepeyac my entire life, but the lines always kept me away. Thanks to yelp, I found that they have take-out, with it's seperate window around the corner!
My next problem was this, El Tepeyac is known for it's huge meaty burritos, and I'm a vegetarian...but thanks to yelp once again, I found that they have a vegetarian burrito!
That was it, nothing holding me back from El Tepeyac any longer...so off I went.
It was a Saturday night, but it was raining, and there was still a line for people to be seated! Armed with my knowledge of the take-out window though, I confidently walked around the corner as if I had done this many times before (this is why I love yelp, never lets me look lost and foolish when going places for the first tme) There was a nice covered patio area with tables and a huge poster of the menu, but I already knew what I was ordering. I was greeted by a friendly young woman and ordered my vegetarian burrito. It came out to about $8.
I took a seat and waited. No lie, my order was ready in less than 5 minutes, despite the fact that they were super busy.
I couldn't wait to get home to see what the fuss was all about so as soon as I got in the car I opened up my box and was amazed at the size of my "burrito"! Let's just say it was BIG. and it smelled soooo delicious! The 5 min drive home seemed so long as I couldn't wait to try it. Well, about 1/4 into it, I realized I was stuffed! Beans, rice, guacamole, cheese, and some sort of tomato sauce were the perfect combination that made this burrito. My bf tried it and was also susprised by how good it was but couldn't finish it either. The next day, I had the leftovers for lunch and it was still great.
I will definately be going back to el tepeyac, and probably try dining in. -
Review from Melissa S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2012 1 photo
I had a chicken salad at El Tepeyac. I know. I'm probably the only customer that has ever walked through their doors and ordered, of all things, a salad.
El Tepeyac is famous and beloved for their burritos of enormous proportions. The burritos have been well-reviewed by other Yelpers already, so I'll keep this brief. I've had the Hollenbeck a couple times and the Okie, and preferred the original Hollenbeck. Yes, the first time I came here, I ate the whole burrito for lunch... and then I didn't eat dinner. Never again. After that, I always cut half or 1/3 of it to set aside and take home for later. The burritos don't really taste that special to me... I think it's moreso that the ridiculous size is the huge draw.
And now... the review you've all been waiting for... the chicken salad.
El Tepeyac, or any Mexican joint, really isn't a good place to go to if you're trying to watch your diet. However, I came for a birthday lunch today, and was determined to stay my ground. Mission: To order something a little less heavy... so, the salad.
The chicken salad costs $9.50, and comes with grilled chicken, iceberg lettuce, jack cheese, grilled onions, avocado slices, tomato slices, tortilla chip strips, cilantro, and bacon. I requested no bacon and dressing on the side. The menu advises that it takes 15 minutes to prepare.
I really should have used the burritos to guide my expectations, however... because the plate came, and the portion was ENORMOUS. It's piled high, covers the entire plate, and is larger than any of the regular burritos. This thing would easily feed two, and possibly three people. So much for going light!
Consistent with their apparent mantra of "bigger is better," they gave a plate of two huge containers of salad dressing, which looked like thousand island and some other kind of viscous clear stuff with red flakes... Italian? The plate also had a container of several lemon wedges, which I opted to squeeze over my salad instead.
The salad was... a little ordinary. I'm not much of a fan of iceberg lettuce, although there really wasn't much of it under the huge pile of ingredients. I thought the onions were tasty, and the chicken was good at first... and then it started to taste dry. If I were to go back, I probably wouldn't order this, though it was kinda fun... which lends credence to my theory that at this place, it's moreso that the ridiculous size is the huge draw.
This totally isn't the point of Yelp, but I did take all my leftovers home, and had it for dinner after adding spinach, kale, quinoa, chickpeas, and some of El Tepeyac's guacamole... and wow, I thought it tasted a lot better. But, personal preferences.
Service today was great. We came in a large party of 11 at lunch and were seated outdoors, which I actually preferred to the inside. We were also treated to beer, tequila, or brandy! If I wasn't trying to be health-conscious, and it wasn't in the middle of a work day, I would have been tempted to imbibe... -
Review from Paul O.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012
Haven't been back here in years but I still have memories of how good it is! I spent half my childhood in Los Angeles & its always felt like a second home to me. El Tepeyac was like the kitchen of my second home! Huge portions of food, if you can finish some dishes without taking it as leftovers then I salute you!
Its not the best Mexican restaurant I've been to but the portions are VERY generous & I think its still reasonably priced. Try not to order too much food because as I said before, its hard not to leave this place without something to take back to your fridge.
As I remember its not a huge restaurant which is ironic given how huge their food is! It was pretty packed every time we ate here. But with over 800 Yelp reviews I think that speaks for itself as to how much business they do at Tepeyac!
East LA was a second home to me & although I do not come out there as much as I used to, El Tepeyac will still be on my list for restaurants to stop by at next time I'm in the area! -
Review from Daniela A.
Los Angeles, CA
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Meh. I've experienced better.
Totally overrated and not worth standing in line for.
The chile verde was meh, the pork had a odd taste like if it's been sitting in the fridge. The huge burritos are gimmicky but I say try the guacamole and taco dorados. -
Review from Soren O.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2012
This is the place to go to get the perfect original authentic twist on a typical mexican burrito. Whip out the fork, this sucker cant be held... worth it.
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Review from Darth V.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 4/20/2012
This place is bomb all you asians who talk shit go eat your stinky as Chinese or Japanese food u dumbasses don't even belong in east l.a
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2012
I gave this place 4 Cus the parking sucks , the burritos are fkn bomb and delicious if u aren't… Read more »
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Review from Jesse T.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really like their burritos. They are a tad big though. I got a Hollenbeck chile verde. This was easily big enough for two. Instead, I saved half for lunch the next day. Even as left overs this thing rocked.
Get the guacamole too, cant go wrong there.
If you have more than 3 in your party, go to the el tapeyac in city of industry, this site is small. -
Review from Jasmin L.
Pasadena, CA
4/29/2012
Over rated and over priced! Not good at all! yeah the burritos are huge but as huge as they are they are also tasteless. Discusting mexican fast food. Im never going back.
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Review from Sean H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/25/2012
The Hollenbeck burrito is quite the beast. I was sent here by Jonathan Gold and his "99 Things To Eat in LA Before You Die" list. Came with a party of about 12, for dinner on a weeknight (so it wasn't too crowded). We all pretty much got that burrito. And we all thought it was pretty mediocre.
This really is a Quantity over Quality type place. The economics of a burrito that large make you understand that they can't be using great ingredients if they are selling it for that cheap. Everything stuffed inside of it reminded me of the burritos at Cafe 84 at USC when I was a freshman in 2003/2004. So basically what I am saying is that this is a larger version of dorm food.
If you are in the neighborhood, then sure stop by. But don't bother making a trek all the way out here from Silver Lake like I did. There are far superior burritos around where you live. -
Review from Gary M.
La Habra, CA
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite restaurants. I always look forward to eating here.
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Review from Randi B.
My dad was super excited to bring me here for lunch. He has been eating here since he was in high school and he raved about how great it was.
We arrived at a good time and there was barely anybody here, no wait. The waitress was very nice and attentive and helped us right away.
I decided to get a burrito even though I knew there was no way I would finish it. I went with the Hollenbeck de Machaca - typical Machaca burrito, but also with rice, beans, and guacamole inside.
My dad ordered a shredded beef enchilada and a cheese quesadilla.
The food didn't take long to arrive. My burrito was massive, as big as my freakin head. It was delicious!! I ate half of it and took the other half home for my boyfriend. The meat was juicy and flavorful, the guacamole was fresh. Very, very good.
My dad's enchilada tasted like it was made with Las Palmas sauce, which is good, but definitely not homemade.
His quesadilla was really good, super cheesy and kind of burnt on the bottom. I love burnt cheese :) I ate one piece of that with the green salsa they give you.
Very cheap meal, about $20 for lots of food and two drinks. I would definitely come here again.Listed in: Delicioso!
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Review from Wyatt H.
Ventura, CA
4/22/2012
This place won me over with their gargantuan portions & excellent service. They gave our group 4 double tequila shots on the house during lunch, who does that ? The burritos are the size of a small house cat, & they must own their own avocado orchard cause they don't skimp on the guacamole. The food probably won't blow your mind, but it is better than average, be prepared to wait in a line if you want to dine inside-
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Review from Jerry M.
Jersey City, NJ
1/31/2012
If you live in LA, check this place out FOR SURE.
I had a road trip through Cali last October, and this place was a definite pit stop, after seeing it on Man Vs Food. On television the portions looked huge and delicious -- and the owner seemed like a very nice guy.
First attempt:
We drove through east LA on a weekday night, and realized that we were near the restaurant. The restaurant is in an area that looks a little sketch, particularly at nighttime, but that doesn't bother me. In fact, it probably adds to its appeal.
As I approach the restaurant, I notice a lone car parked in front of the restaurant. I pass by the car, and I hear "psst, hey man." I turn, and quickly try to remember all my very useful tae kwon do moves I learned when I was 11. Lucky him -- I didn't need them.
He explains that the restaurant just closed, and that it will be open tomorrow morning. He proceeds to tell me that if I come in the morning, before 12 I can meet the owner, Manuel. Thanks, random sketchy guy. Just the info I was looking for.
Next Morning:
The neighborhood looks a lot nicer in the LA sun and smog. We approach the restaurant, and I notice the dark silhouette of an older man standing outside, enjoying the first rays of morning pollution. It's Manuel.
I recognize Manuel, and when I say, "Hi Manuel" to him, he greets me as though I thought I just saw a family member I haven't seen in a while (ie, a positive response). He wasn't fake at all. He genuinely likes people.
My friend and I talk to him for a bit, and after he realizes I'm visiting for my birthday he has us sit down at the counter in the front and gets us free shots, and later comes around and tells us we should drink more so he gives us some beer. He stops by and checks on us throughout the meal to tell us interesting stories.
We ate the hollenbeck burritos which were large, and I thought quite tasty as well. Everyone who works there is either family or close friends of the family. The waitress came around later, after we were full, and forced us to eat some machaca (sp?). It was some type of beef/egg/cheese medley. It was so good, I cried.
Overall:
Everything contributed to this experience to make it perfect, but for me this was the best restaurant experience I have had to date. Your experience may be different, but at the very least, go to this restaurant and visit these people. -
Review from Christine O.
Van Nuys, CA
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One day I'm going to do the Manny's Special Challenge and one day my picture will be on their wall with me wearing their t-shirt.
Until then, I'll just stick to sharing the Manny's Special with three other people
MAN THIS PLACE IS GOOD.
(definitely worth the wait)
My mouth is watering just thinking about it and their guac. yummm. -
Review from Jon F.
Northridge, CA
4/23/2012
The burrito was amazing. It was big enough to share while still having quality. I came because of Man vs Food, but was impressed that this got #23 on Travel Channels 101 Countdown Chowdown.
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Review from Salute U.
PACIFIC PLSDS, CA
4/25/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I first came here in the 70's and was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed my time there. Known for the Manuel's Special, gigantic burrito. Not much has changed. I haven't been here in a long time. The majority of their burritos are extra large and made to be shared by several people. I offered a suggestion for them to make a single person version of the various burritos for people that don't want or need the extra sized burrito. That would work well for them and give them added business but I have yet to see it. Their burritos have more beans than necessary and less of the other ingredients. They don't give you chips and salsa like other places with your order, not good. I hoped they would have progressed and made things better in time.
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Review from Julie L.
Rosemead, CA
3/1/2012
Came in on a lovely Wed. at 11:00 am & this restaurant was already fully packed! Luckily, I had already called in to order, so there was no need for me to wait. I bought a carne asada hollenbeck burrito, split for 2, and it was more than enough for my brother and I.
By far theeee best burrito that I've had in California, and I'm not from around here. The only ones I've tried before were: King Taco, Alfredos, & Albertos??? And they're all hmm...not as good as Manny's. Maybe it's because they add the guacamole inside the burrito that makes it all gooey and yummy? Since the texture wouldn't be as thick as beans? I don't know what it is exactly but it's a lot of goodness up in that burrito. I will definitely come back for more! :-) -
Review from Rick A.
Alhambra, CA
4/18/2012
Alright , this place is a cultural institution. The line on winds can be very long 45 min wait long. The burritos are massive. The food is alright. I mean c'mon peeps it's just ok. This place is successful due to their portions. Frankly, just have your aguela make a burrito it will taste better and you'll save 12.95.
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Review from Jenn T.
Alhambra, CA
1/20/2012 2 photos
Manuel's Tepeyac is an East L.A. classic! I've tried many items from the menu and there's never been a letdown. My favorite is the Huevos Rancheros plate for breakfast! I'm also a fan of the famous Hollenbeck burrito.
It's a tiny place so if you want to eat inside plan on waiting in a long line. We mostly eat outside in the patio area. Visit this place if you haven't already, it's authentic mexican food and super yummy! -
Review from Ty C.
Glendale, CA
3/26/2012
This was the best authentic Mexican food ever. Great prices biggest portions. Then you get Manuel himself asst your table telling jokes and handing candy out to your kids. loved it
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Review from Bianca A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been wanting to try out this place ever since I saw man vs food where Adam chowed down a 5 lbs burrito ... went on a Sunday around like 2pm waited in line outside to be seated for maybe like 15minutes and went I got inside i was shocked to see how small the place is. I ordered the carne asada burrito while my partner ordered the wet carne asada burrito . we ordered some chips and salsa also and I really enjoyed the chips it was fresh and the salsa was really good too !
when the burritos came, I was shocked to see how big it was ! their very generous w/ the guacamole on the side too ! when I took a bite of my burrito, I was immediately disappointed as to the quality of the carne asada was not not very good at all... you can just tell they did not use charcoal or grill it and they also didn't use ranchera meat whatever meat they use was chewy, hard and mostly fat it's so disgusting! I hate poor quality and tasting meat... my burrito was $9 and yea sure it was good value but I rather take quality over quantity any day !
my partner and I both agreed we rather have gone to chioptle and got a barbacoa burrito where we know the meat quality and taste is much better ! I had way better carne asada burrito from other mexican restaurants this place was a disappointment sorry to say ! -
Review from Ron O.
Torrance, CA
1/21/2012
Yep, gonna start this with... "I've been eating here since I was a kid." I still remember when the Hollenbecks were shy of $3. A testament to how long I've been gorging myself here. I miss the window server with a very distinctive voice - c'mon y'all know who I'm writing about! But, I miss the flavor of the Hollenbeck from "back in the day" even more.
Met a couple of my old friends from Evergreen Elementary and Hollenbeck Junior High the other day for lunch, and was anxiously awaiting to sink "los dientes" into a savory Hollenbeck. WTH, the chile verde was tomatoey and there was too much of the chewy meat! Granted, the meat has always been somewhat chewy, but in small quantities I was able get it down. And, they forgot my lechuga y tomates a lado!!!
One buddy ordered a Hollenbeck w/ Machaca and was very disappointed in the lack of eggs, onions, jalapenos, and flavor. Mostly dry shredded beef. He said that the last few times he's been here, the quality has been on the decline. However, that did not stop him from devouring the entire burro!
My other buddy ordered the Hollenbeck and seemed to think it tasted the same. Sorry dude, I think you left your tastebuds behind when you departed "da hood."
Perhaps, Manuel should exercise a little QC on his menu items and bring back the wonderful flavors from my memories.
On a side note, enjoyed my ghetto soda de fresa y chile roja con chips - glad to see some things haven't changed. -
Review from David W.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place. It is so cozy!
I admit I was really scared coming here in the evening. There were guys standing around suspiciously in the parking lot, but it turns out they were just helping their friend into a wheelchair. Talk about not judging on first impressions!
Once you're inside, everyone is so nice. You feel like you're taken back in time when things were more simpler. People next to us just made small talk with with no reservations.
We ordered for the Manuel's Pork Special for $19.50.
It was HUGE!!!
For first timers, this is a sight to see and try! =)
The pork however was too thick and flavorless. I would recommend paying a few extra bucks and getting a better meat.
I will definitely come back and try their other items! =) -
Review from Rachel H.
1/1/2012
All I will say is Hollenbeck burrito! It is huge and flavorful. The beef is so damn tender. Definitely a knife & fork burrito which can be shared by 2 to 3 people.
This place is small, holds no more then about 15 people. A lot of people just order takeout on the side because I heard this place can get super busy. I went on a week day around 11am so it wasn't to bad.
My coworker and I went as she had been bragging about their burritos And oh boy she was not lying !
Customer service was excellent. Luckily when we went they had just celebrated an anniversary the owner gave us free tequila shots.
