Best Cheap Eats Burritos Restaurants in Sawtelle
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sonoritas Prime Tacos
Sonoran-style taqueria using premium cuts like filet mignon and ribeye on some of the best flour tortillas in LA
Notable Picks
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
Worthy Picks
7.9
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.
7.8
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.
A Poblano-style birria de res food truck parked on Santa Monica Blvd in Sawtelle, turning out slow-cooked beef birria across tacos, quesabirria, cemitas, and burritos at street-food prices. The focused menu rewards repeat visits to work through the variations, though the small review footprint means the kitchen is still building its track record in the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria Tacos, Quesabirria, Ham Cemitas
What Makes it Special: Poblano-style birria de res food truck on Santa Monica Blvd specializing in slow-cooked beef birria prepared across tacos, quesabirria, cemitas, and burritos.