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Best Cheap Eats Burritos Restaurants in Los Angeles

50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

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Our Top Pick
Benny's Tacos & Rotisserie Chicken (Westchester)
Huge, reliably good burritos backed by thousands of loyal regulars.

Notable Picks

$ Westchester Mexican, Burritos
Benny’s is the high-volume burrito heavyweight of Westchester, drawing locals, students, and airport staff for hefty breakfast and California-style burritos wrapped in warm flour tortillas. Expect grilled meats, solid salsas, and rotisserie chicken in a casual counter-service setting with a busy patio that stays humming from morning through early evening.
Must-Try Dishes: Steak & Egg Breakfast Burrito, Surf & Turf Burrito, California Burrito
What Makes it Special: Huge, reliably good burritos backed by thousands of loyal regulars.
$ Highland Park Mexican, Burritos
Chef Victor Villa’s Highland Park flagship turns handmade blue-corn tortillas into overloaded tacos layered with grilled meats, melted cheese, and bright salsas that regulars line up for. Recognized with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, it blends street-taco roots with destination-level execution while still feeling very neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes: Blue corn carne asada taco, Queso taco with asada or al pastor, Papa con chorizo taco
What Makes it Special: Hand-pressed blue corn tortillas with MICHELIN-recognized toppings.
$ Fairfax Mexican, Burritos
Benito’s Taco Shop is a classic Beverly Grove counter-service institution, turning out rolled tacos, burritos, and late-night combo plates to a massive, devoted following. It’s where locals go for reliably hot, comforting Mexican-American staples at almost any hour without spending much.
Must-Try Dishes: Rolled tacos with guacamole, California burrito, Carne asada tacos
What Makes it Special: High-volume, late-night shop serving classic burritos, taquitos, and tacos.
$ Fairfax Mexican, Burritos
Cofax is a compact Fairfax coffee bar best known for its smoked potato breakfast burritos, made-to-order and wrapped in griddled tortillas. Lines form early with locals picking up burritos and strong coffee before work or a morning at The Grove and Farmers Market.
Must-Try Dishes: Smoked Potato Bacon Breakfast Burrito, Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Serious, smoky breakfast burritos treated with specialty-coffee-level care.
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
A late-night Little Tokyo parking-lot taquería that wins on sheer repetition: buttery handmade tortillas, properly charred meats, and a salsa bar that keeps regulars rotating through. The line moves fast and the flavors stay direct and satisfying, especially for classic street tacos and mulitas.
Must-Try Dishes: Al pastor tacos, Asada mulitas, Cabeza tacos
What Makes it Special: High-volume street tacos with standout handmade tortillas.
$ Cypress Park Mexican, Burritos
A long-running Cypress Park institution where burritos are built for maximum comfort: warm tortillas, well-seasoned meats, and a salsa program that locals swear by. The carne asada and al pastor hit with reliable char and juiciness, and portions stay generous for the price. It’s fast, crowded at peaks, and trusted for a reason.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Al Pastor Burrito, Bean & Cheese Burrito
What Makes it Special: High-volume, decades-deep burrito shop with proven, no-drama execution.
$ Westchester Mexican, Burritos
Mariella’s is a late-night taco truck institution near LAX, incorporated in 2020 and now famous with locals for generously stuffed burritos and street-style tacos running until 3 a.m. Burrito supremes come loaded with meats like carne asada or marinated pork, plus rice, beans, and salsas that hit harder than the setting might suggest.
Must-Try Dishes: Burrito Supreme, Cabeza Burrito, Carne Asada Street Tacos
What Makes it Special: A late-night burrito truck with huge portions and a devoted airport-adjacent following.
$ Santa Monica Mexican, Tacos
Specializing in 16-hour cooked beef birria and wood-fired pollo asado, this street food specialist rose from the ashes of a fire to become a local phenomenon. Their made-from-scratch churros and rich consommé create an authentic Tijuana-style experience steps from the pier.
Must-Try Dishes: Birria Quesataco, OG Plate Combo, Dulce de Leche Churros
What Makes it Special: Authentic birria with 16-hour slow-cooked beef and handmade churros
$ Hollywood Brunch, Burritos
Wake and Late’s Hollywood outpost is a breakfast-burrito specialist turning Selma Avenue into an early-morning burrito run, with oversized wraps, tater tots, and strong coffee. Lines of locals, industry workers, and Pantages-bound crowds rotate through a small indoor counter and sidewalk seating, but food comes out quickly enough to work before a call time or matinee.
Must-Try Dishes: Juarez burrito, SoCal burrito, Steak & Egg burrito
What Makes it Special: Dedicated breakfast-burrito shop where the burritos are the headliner.
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Tacos
Four generations of the Flores family have run this Olvera Street counter since 1944, turning out handmade taquitos, tortas, and champurrado from recipes that predate most of the city's Mexican restaurant scene. It operates as a no-frills walk-up window where the food moves fast and the prices stay low—exactly the kind of place that rewards showing up hungry with cash in hand. The draw is generational consistency at a price point that makes it easy to order one of everything.
Must-Try Dishes: Beef Taquitos with Green Salsa, Torta de Chorizo, Chicken Enchilada & Taquitos Combo
What Makes it Special: Four generations of the Flores family have served handmade Mexican classics from this Olvera Street counter since 1944, using recipes passed down from founder Juana Guerrero.
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
A Grand Central Market veteran dating back to the early 1950s, Roast To Go focuses on roasted meats folded into tacos, plates, and big burritos. Regulars swear by the carnitas, al pastor, and cheek meats, making it a reliable counter when you want an old-school burrito more than the latest trend.
Must-Try Dishes: Carnitas Burrito, Al Pastor Burrito, Chicken Burrito
What Makes it Special: Legacy Grand Central stall serving roasted-meat burritos since the mid-century era.
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
Tucked inside a Fashion District food court, Cilantro Lime turns breakfast and lunch into a chilaquiles-and-burrito playground with big flavors and playful sauces. Loved for creative plates and carne asada fries, it delivers substantial portions at accessible prices for workers and shoppers nearby.
Must-Try Dishes: Chilaquiles divorciados plate, Wet DTLA burrito, Carne asada fries
What Makes it Special: Food-court counter turning classic Mexican plates into bold, creative comfort.
$ Palms Korean, Burritos
Roy Choi's Korean-Mexican fusion truck parks at a Palms strip mall lot and delivers the same double-caramelized short rib tacos that launched LA's food truck movement in 2008. The technique punches well above the format—CIA-trained chef, house-made salsas, griddled corn tortillas—at prices that keep most items under $15. Order at the window, grab a spot in the lot, and eat with your hands.
Must-Try Dishes: Korean BBQ Short Rib Taco, Spicy Pork Bowl, Kimchi Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: The original Kogi truck flavors in a fast-casual Palms home base.
$$ Cypress Park Mexican, Burritos
A compact, high-output spot that locals lean on for breakfast burritos and homestyle Mexican comfort. The menu stays focused on crowd favorites, and the kitchen’s strength is in bold seasoning and steady execution.
Must-Try Dishes: Breakfast burrito, Carnitas tacos, Chilaquiles
What Makes it Special: Breakfast burritos that hit hard on flavor and portion.
$ Torrance Mexican, Tacos
Rosa’s La Cabana is a longstanding, family-run Mexican restaurant on Hawthorne Boulevard known for its wet burritos, rice and beans, and chile rellenos served in a mural-lined dining room. Regulars treat it as an everyday spot for comforting combination plates, friendly service, and prices that stay gentle even for big family dinners.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne asada burrito wet in green sauce, Red tamales with rice and beans, Cheese enchiladas with house salsa
What Makes it Special: Decades-old family spot for classic combo plates at friendly prices.
$ Marina del Rey Mexican, Burritos
Taqueria Chihuahua is a counter-service Mexican spot where an extensive burrito lineup runs from carne asada and California-style to veggie and fish options at wallet-friendly prices. Regulars praise the hot-off-the-grill tortillas, generous fillings, and quick service that make it a go-to burrito stop a few blocks from the beach.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Fish Burrito, Veggie Burrito
What Makes it Special: Broad, affordable burrito menu with made-to-order fillings and fast service.
$ Pico Union Mexican, Burritos
On the western edge of 90015, Sabor Mexicano serves homestyle Mexican breakfasts and combo plates that feel straight from a family kitchen. Locals come for hearty chilaquiles, huevos plates, and everyday staples at fair prices in a low-key dining room.
Must-Try Dishes: Chilaquiles with red or green salsa, Huevos rancheros breakfast plate, Quesadillas with house salsas
What Makes it Special: Casual neighborhood spot for classic Mexican breakfasts and daily plates.
$ Florence-Firestone Mexican, Burritos
Parked along Aviation Boulevard, Tacos Escondidos is a green food truck touted as “LAX BEST” by regulars, serving stewed-steak burritos, birria, and tacos to airport workers and nearby offices. Portions are substantial for the price, and the burritos balance slow-cooked meats with well-seasoned rice, beans, and salsa.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Birria Burrito, Steak Lunch Burrito Combo
What Makes it Special: A daytime burrito-and-taco truck beloved by airport staff for flavorful, filling plates.
$$ Downtown LA Mexican, Tacos
A cash-only taco truck that has held its spot on Mateo St since 2008, grilling fish, al pastor, and asada to order at prices that keep the whole meal under $20. The Arts District regulars treat it like a fixed address rather than a pop-up, and the 18-year run speaks to a kitchen that doesn't drift. Show up knowing what you want, bring cash, and eat standing up—that's the format, and it delivers.
Must-Try Dishes: Fish Tacos, Al Pastor Tacos, Carne Asada Tacos
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Arts District taco truck parked on Mateo since 2008, grilling fish, al pastor, and asada to order at under $20 a plate.
$ Montebello Mexican, Burritos
Alfredo's Mexican Food is a drive-thru and walk-up staple where oversize burritos and late-night plates have fed Bell Gardens for years. The menu leans heavy on California-style carne asada, breakfast, and combo burritos that arrive sauced, stuffed, and built to travel.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, California Burrito, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: 24-hour-style Mexican window slinging massive burritos and combo plates.
Fairfax Mexican, Burritos
The West Hollywood/Beverly Grove outpost of Benny’s serves a broad Mexican menu where tacos share space with rotisserie chicken, burritos, and breakfast plates. It’s a colorful, fast-casual spot that works for everything from quick tacos to family takeout and catered platters.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne asada tacos, Chicken taco plate, California burrito
What Makes it Special: Mixes solid tacos with popular rotisserie chicken and big portions.
$ Montebello Burgers, Burritos
Boys Burgers #7 is a fast-moving Bell Gardens burger shack on Garfield Avenue known for hefty 1/2 lb burgers, drive-thru convenience, and a broad menu that stretches from flautas to shrimp baskets. High repeat traffic and solid ratings make it a dependable stop for big, quick burger meals.
Must-Try Dishes: 1/2 lb Double Burger, Cheeseburger Combo, Shrimp Basket with Fries
What Makes it Special: Drive-thru burger spot turning out big patties and Mexican-influenced plates.
$$ Westchester Mexican, Burritos
Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill is a low-key neighborhood counter spot where build-your-own burritos and hearty breakfast burritos anchor the menu. It’s a reliable option for quick takeout on the quieter residential side of Westchester, with generous fillings and a focus on familiar, comforting combinations.
Must-Try Dishes: Breakfast Burrito, Chicken Burrito, 800 lb Gorilla Burrito
What Makes it Special: Customizable burritos and big breakfast wraps from a small, straightforward grill.
$ Marina del Rey Mexican, Burritos
El Tarasco is a compact, old-school Mexican counter known for belly-filling burritos built on beans, rice, and grilled meats. Crowds cycle through from day to night for no-frills plates and tightly wrapped burritos that emphasize portion size and classic flavors over modern presentation.
Must-Try Dishes: El Tarasco Burrito, Carne Asada Burrito, Shrimp Burrito
What Makes it Special: Classic counter joint where hefty, no-nonsense burritos have fed locals for years.
$$ Venice Mexican, Tacos
Seafood-focused truck parked on Rose by 4th turning out ceviche tostadas, fish tacos, and cocteles at daytime hours. Lines move quickly and prices are notably friendly for the quality.
Must-Try Dishes: Ceviche tostada, Baja fish taco, Shrimp coctel
What Makes it Special: Daytime mariscos truck with crisp tostadas and fair prices.
$ Cypress Park Mexican, Burritos
A long-standing Idell Street classic where burritos skew breakfast-friendly and comfort-heavy, with homestyle beans and tender meats. The flavors stay traditional, and portions feel built for locals who want a full meal. It’s casual, early-hours focused, and reliably satisfying.
Must-Try Dishes: Machaca Burrito, Chorizo & Egg Burrito, Chile Relleno Burrito
What Makes it Special: Old-school neighborhood burritos with breakfast strength.
$ Highland Park American, Burritos
Family-owned since 1969, Penny’s Burgers is a corner standby for charbroiled burgers, breakfast burritos, and old-school plates that cross between diner and fast food. It’s the kind of place where portions are generous, prices stay modest, and the menu quietly covers both American and Mexican comfort staples.
Must-Try Dishes: Charbroiled cheeseburger with fries, Breakfast burrito with eggs, bacon, and hash browns, Carne asada fries or plate with rice and beans
What Makes it Special: A 1960s-era neighborhood counter slinging burgers, burritos, and plates all day.
$ Westwood Mexican, Tacos
Tucked just off the main Westwood drag, Pinches Tacos runs a casual counter-and-patio setup where combo plates of tacos, rice, and beans fuel long study nights. It leans into straightforward fillings and generous portions, making it a go-to for students and staff looking for a sit-down alternative to late-night chains.
Must-Try Dishes: Shrimp Taco, Al Pastor Taco, Taco Pinche Combination Plate
What Makes it Special: A family-run taqueria with student-friendly combo plates and a relaxed patio.
$$ Sawtelle Mexican, Burritos
A Sonoran-style taqueria on Sawtelle that treats flour tortillas as a delivery system for steakhouse-grade proteins—filet mignon, ribeye, surf-and-turf—at prices that read like a regular taco stand. The format is fast-casual counter service with solid outdoor seating, built for the crowd that wants serious meat quality without the serious price tag.
Must-Try Dishes: Surf and Turf Burrito, Filet Mignon Tacos, Ribeye Tacos
What Makes it Special: Sonoran-style taqueria using premium cuts like filet mignon and ribeye on some of the best flour tortillas in LA
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
A compact GCM taquería that hits hardest on slow-cooked meats and no-nonsense assembly. The tacos are clean, fatty in the right way, and built for quick repeat bites as you roam the market.
Must-Try Dishes: Carnitas tacos, Al pastor tacos, Lengua taco
What Makes it Special: Straight-ahead tacos with well-rendered, juicy meats.
$$ Northridge Mexican, Tacos
Michoacan-style Mexican from a crew that spent over a decade on the food truck circuit before planting a flag in a Northridge strip mall in 2024. The menu leans into regional comfort — carnitas, enchiladas suizas, a cheesecake flan that signals ambition beyond the typical taqueria — at prices that keep families coming back without thinking twice. A low-key neighborhood spot where the cooking carries more weight than the setting.
Must-Try Dishes: Carnitas, Carne Asada Burrito, Enchiladas Suizas
What Makes it Special: Michoacan-style cooking from a team that ran a beloved food truck for over a decade before opening their first restaurant in 2024.
$ Highland Park Mexican, Burritos
Operating out of a red truck tucked between a 7-Eleven and a car wash, Viva Taco Azteca stays open until midnight or 1am with a menu built for night-shift cravings. Since at least 2016 it’s been serving lengua, al pastor, and hefty two-meat quesadillas to a steady stream of late-night regulars along Figueroa.
Must-Try Dishes: Al pastor tacos, Two-meat quesadilla (asada and pollo), Carnitas mulita
What Makes it Special: True late-night truck with house-made tortillas, big portions, and steady 12am–1am service.

Worthy Picks

$ Northridge Mexican, Burritos
A strip-mall Mexican kitchen built around generous, no-frills plates—carne asada, menudo, and breakfast burritos sized to feed without fuss. The draw is the price-to-portion ratio that keeps Northridge regulars rotating through a short, traditional menu in a quiet booth-and-mural dining room. Come hungry, order big, and expect honest comfort food at prices that barely register.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada, Breakfast Burrito, Menudo
What Makes it Special: Northridge neighborhood staple where generous portions and wallet-friendly prices keep families coming back for traditional Mexican comfort food
$ Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
A 90-year-old taquito stand on Olvera Street where hand-rolled corn tortillas and a four-generation avocado-tomatillo sauce recipe draw both tourists and locals to the same walk-up window. The format is pure street food efficiency—order at the counter, grab a spot on the plaza, and work through crispy beef taquitos doused in that signature green sauce. Functions as an LA food landmark where the history is part of what you're paying for.
Must-Try Dishes: Beef Taquitos with Avocado Sauce, Combo #2 (Taquitos & Tamale), Beef Tamale
What Makes it Special: LA's oldest taquito stand since 1934, still hand-rolling corn tortillas and making the signature avocado-tomatillo sauce from a four-generation family recipe
$ Fairfax Mexican, Burritos
Frank’s is an old-school Fairfax counter spot where breakfast plates, burgers, and generously stuffed burritos share space with Mexican combo platters. Regulars lean on it as an affordable everyday stop, especially for carne asada and breakfast burritos that land well below typical neighborhood prices.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Breakfast Burrito, Chicken Enchilada Plate
What Makes it Special: Classic counter-service charbroiler where hefty burritos stay truly affordable.
$ Montebello Burgers, Burritos
J B Burgers is a Bell Gardens staple on Gage Avenue serving flat-top burgers, breakfast burritos, and griddle classics from morning through night. It’s a go-to for locals who want straightforward burgers, thick shakes, and value-minded plates without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes: Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger Special, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Classic Gage Avenue burger stand with big portions and low prices.
$$ Sawtelle Mexican, Burritos
A family-run Oaxacan kitchen where the draw is a slow-cooked mole negro refined over decades by a Santiago Matatlan native—dark, layered, and applied generously across burritos, enchiladas, and tlayudas sized to split. The casual strip-mall setting and large portions make it a reliable group dinner spot on the Sawtelle corridor, though recent price creep has narrowed the gap between what you pay here and what you'd spend at sit-down competitors.
Must-Try Dishes: Mole Negro, Juquila Burrito, Tlayuda con Asada
What Makes it Special: Family-run Oaxacan kitchen from a Santiago Matatlan native, known for slow-cooked mole negro with dark chocolate, chiles, raisins, and cinnamon developed over 12+ years from food truck to brick-and-mortar.
$ Chinatown Mexican, Tacos
A Northern Baja California-style taco shop where every protein hits a charcoal grill to order, producing a smoky char that separates it from steam-table competitors—the garlic-laced vampiro alone earned its own LA Weekly write-up. It runs as a quick-service counter with outdoor seating on Figueroa, priced for a weekday lunch habit rather than a special occasion. The move is to treat it like a Baja street stand: order two or three tacos, eat them standing, and get back to your day.
Must-Try Dishes: Al Pastor Taco, Taco de Camarón, Battered Fish Taco
What Makes it Special: Northern Baja California-style taco shop where every meat is charcoal-grilled to order and the signature garlic-laced vampiro has drawn its own LA Weekly feature.
$ Studio City Mexican, Burritos
Original Baja-style taco stand serving fresh Mexican food since 1984. Fresh-made tortillas, simmered chicken, and the Tacos San Felipe deliver consistent quality across decades, while the shaded patio offers respite in a convenient Cahuenga location despite challenging parking.
Must-Try Dishes: Simmered Chicken Burrito, Tacos San Felipe, Fresh Ahi Tuna Taco
What Makes it Special: Over 40 years perfecting Baja-style fresh Mexican with handmade tortillas daily
7.9
$ Westwood Mexican, Tacos
The Westwood Village location of Tacos 1986 brings Tijuana-style adobada tacos, mulitas, and quesadillas to a casual counter with sidewalk seating. Late student crowds and a constant line at the window turn the Kinross patio tables into one of the neighborhood’s most reliable cheap outdoor meals.
Must-Try Dishes: Adobada Taco, Mushroom Mulita, Carne Asada Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: Tijuana-style tacos from a cult-loved stand with busy sidewalk seating.
$ Northridge Mexican, Tacos
A Tijuana-style taqueria that built its Valley following on slow-cooked birria and generously loaded asada—the kind of place where regulars order the same torta for years and still find it reliable. Works best for quick counter service when you want proper street tacos without the gimmicks, though peak hours test your patience.
Must-Try Dishes: Birria, Asada, Al Pastor
What Makes it Special: Northridge taqueria known for birria that draws crowds from across the Valley
$ Venice Mexican, Tacos
Counter-service taqueria known for brisk pacing and generously stuffed burritos at fair prices. A reliable Westside staple for quick lunch or post-beach refuel.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Chile Verde Wet Burrito, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Fast, no-nonsense burritos with breakfast options from morning on.
$ Studio City Mexican, Burritos
Family-run Michoacán-style counter spot opened in 2017 serving homestyle Mexican comfort food with handmade tortillas. Known for generous portions, authentic preparations, and weekday specials including Taco Tuesday deals that draw regulars for beer and wine happy hour.
Must-Try Dishes: Puerco con Chile Verde, Green Chilaquiles, Machaca Burrito
What Makes it Special: Homemade tortillas and authentic Michoacán family recipes from 2002 original location
$ Reynier Village Mexican, Burritos
A family-owned, old-school taqueria on Robertson where the self-serve salsa bar is the real headliner and plates come piled high enough to stretch into a second meal. It runs on generous portions and neighborhood loyalty rather than polish, making it the reliable weeknight default for Reynier Village locals who want straightforward Mexican comfort food without fuss or pretense.
Must-Try Dishes: Super Nachos with Meat, Carne Asada Plate, Menudo
What Makes it Special: Family-owned, old-school taqueria where the house salsa bar gets more praise than anything else on the menu, and portions are unapologetically oversized.
$ Studio City Mexican, Burritos
A cash-only taco stand that has held down the same Tujunga Avenue corner since 1961, turning out old-school hard shell tacos and ground beef burritos with zero pretense. The draw is the format itself—fast, cheap, and unchanged—which keeps Studio City regulars coming back for the same order they've been placing for years. Expect a counter window, a small parking lot, and food that tastes like Southern California street tacos did before anyone tried to reinvent them.
Must-Try Dishes: Burritos, Hard Shell Tacos, Tostada
What Makes it Special: Cash-only taco stand operating since 1961, serving old-school Southern California street tacos with no-frills counter service.
7.8
$ Palms Mexican, Burritos
A no-frills Venice Blvd taqueria that earns its following on house-made salsas and a tight menu of burritos and tacos built for repeat ordering. The weekly Taco Tuesday deal fills the place for a reason—straightforward execution at prices that make it an easy default lunch stop. Expect counter service in a strip-mall setting where the food does all the talking.
Must-Try Dishes: Carne Asada Burrito, Al Pastor Tacos, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: No-frills taqueria on Venice Blvd where the salsas are house-made and the Taco Tuesday deal packs the house every week
Downtown LA Mexican, Burritos
Tucked off Boyd Street, LA Halal Taco fuses halal meats with classic taco-truck style burritos, making it a useful option for diners who keep halal but still want California burrito flavors. Burritos are packed with rice, beans, and marinated meat, landing somewhere between neighborhood takeout joint and specialty fusion spot.
Must-Try Dishes: 6 Burritos w/ Fries Combo, California Burrito, Halal Carne Asada Burrito
What Makes it Special: Halal-certified Mexican-style burritos that cater to both flavor and dietary needs.
7.8
$ West Hollywood Mexican, Tacos
Los Tacos is a 90046 fixture for all-day, into-the-early-morning plates of tacos, burritos, and menudo on Santa Monica Boulevard. The menu feels more old-school diner-meets-taqueria than curated, but the homestyle stews and straightforward tacos keep regulars returning.
Must-Try Dishes: Beef taco, Al pastor taco, Carnitas taco
What Makes it Special: 24-hour-style Mexican spot with homestyle soups and tacos.
$ Sawtelle Mexican, Burritos
A no-frills Sawtelle counter operation built around oversized burritos and platters priced well below the neighborhood's Japanese-leaning average, with a self-serve salsa bar stocking five housemade options that regulars treat as the main event. It runs on volume and repeat visits from the weekday lunch crowd who know exactly what they want. Expect a wait for street parking and a fast turnaround once you order.
Must-Try Dishes: Breakfast Burrito, Fajita Burrito, Molcajete
What Makes it Special: No-frills Sawtelle counter spot turning out oversized, inexpensive burritos and platters with a self-serve salsa bar stocked with five housemade salsas.
$$ Mar Vista Mexican, Breakfast
A Mar Vista breakfast counter built around blue corn tortillas and house-made salsas, executing Mexican morning staples with enough technique to separate it from generic brunch spots. The sunny patio makes it a neighborhood default for early risers who want chilaquiles without the weekend wait of larger venues.
Must-Try Dishes: Breakfast Burrito, Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros
What Makes it Special: Mexican-inflected breakfast spot using blue corn tortillas and house-made salsas on a sunny Mar Vista patio