The Top Ten Restaurants In Boyle Heights Los Angeles

Boyle Heights is a predominantly Latinx neighborhood within East Los Angeles. This neighborhood has been a backdrop to several movies such as Real Women Have Curves, Mi Familia, Born in East L.A, and more. It’s also the L.A epicenter of Mexican, Mexican-American, and Latinx cuisine. Here are the top 10 restaurants to try in Boyle Heights.

Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Café

Cafe, Mexican

The original El Tepeyac on Evergreen Avenue

Family-owned and well-regarded as a local favorite, El Tepeyac, is the real deal. Manuel’s Special, a five-pound burrito full of their signature deep fried pork, onions, and green chiles, simmered in tomatoes, rice, beans, and guacamole, wrapped in two tortillas, well, many have tried, few have conquered. Come hungry, even their regular portions are enormous.

Un Solo Sol Kitchen

Small, cozy, and full of flavor, Un Solo Sol Kitchen serves up meatless options of traditional Latin-American food. Famous for their Mixed Veggie Tacos, which consist of sweet corn, delicious black and green beans, with red bell peppers, topped with homemade salsa and pico de gallo (juicy red tomatoes, onions, and cilantro mixed with lemon and salt). Take a seat outside and enjoy a wonderful view of downtown while chowing down on some tasty grub.

King Taco

With locations all over Los Angeles, King Taco is always crowded with people looking to indulge on tacos, beer, and a good time. A meat lover’s paradise, King Taco offers a wide variety of succulent meats like al pastor and carnitas. For the spicy connoisseurs, they offer red and green chile sauces. The red sauce is not for the faint of heart, so keep a glass of their tasty horchata handy in case you can’t handle the heat.

Jim’s Burgers

If you are having trouble deciding if you want a taco or a hamburger. Visit Jim’s Burgers for the epicenter of Mexican-American culture at its finest. Jim’s offers the best of both cultures. A succulent grilled burger, topped with shredded lettuce, circular cut tomatoes, onions, and smothered in their special house sauce, and equally enticing tacos with your choice of meat topped with cilantro, onions, and drizzled in salsa.

Ciro's Restaurant

Restaurant, Mexican

It may look small on the outside, but Ciro’s is full of tantalizing food. Their acclaimed flautas is a rolled up flour tortilla, with your choice of meat, topped with zesty guacamole and a small scoop of sour cream. Don’t be surprised if you order a second helping. Ciro’s offers its customers a jukebox to entertain themselves with corridos or banda. The choice is up to you.

Mexicanos 30-30

Restaurant, Mexican

Mexicanos 30-30 thrives on traditional recipes that make clients feel like they are eating a savory home-cooked meal. For breakfast, huevos rancheros is the best plate to kick off your day, with runny eggs over easy, finely chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, doused in salsa, with a side of beans and rice. Don’t forget to order a hot cup of champorado or coffee to go along with your breakfast.

Las Molenderas Restaurant

Restaurant, Mexican

Fairly new to Boyle Heights, Las Molenderas caters to mole lovers; every meal they serve is cloaked in rich mole sauce, even their fries. Mole is made with crushed chile peppers, spices, mixed with melted chocolate, and seasoned with secret ingredients the restaurant has yet to reveal. However, it’s no secret that the sauce is to die for.

Taqueria La Que T Dije

This outdoor venue knows how to make a taco. The Alambre taco is the signature taco to try. It has two tortillas wrapped around grilled beef, chopped bell peppers, topped with bacon, finely diced onions, and gooey cheese that will make your mouth water and go back for more. This place has a few outdoor seats, but be prepared to stand on sidelines as it gets packed at night.

Guisados

In the heart of Boyle Heights, on Cesar Chavez Ave, Guisados presents its food with style. They treat their plates like a work of art. The Chuleta en Verde is a single handmade corn tortilla that lies flat on the plate while diced pork sits on topped marinated in chile verde, mixed in with black beans, and sour cream that zigzags across the taco.

Los Cinco Puntos

Los Cinco Puntos makes it their mission to keep tacos authentic without Americanized ingredients. This place is for purists, who enjoy the meat of their choice simply wrapped in two small tortillas with a sprinkle of onions and cilantro. It includes a slice of lime for a citrusy kick and a jalapeño.

About the author

Cristina Gutierrez

Cristina is an LA native and freelance writer. She has two Bachelor degrees: one in English and the other in Chicano Studies. The majority of her writing centers on uplifting voices from marginalized communities in popular culture (books, movies, music, etc.).