Welcome to Native gem stones, our new month-to-month restaurant column offered by White Claw, the official Exhausting Seltzer of LA TACO. Every month we honor neighborhood institutions that make scrumptious meals and have confirmed themselves throughout Los Angeles. Learn, order, share and do not be afraid to symbolize your neighborhood’s native gem within the feedback.
The preparation to your first go to to La Azteca Tortillería takes till the primary chew. Lengthy-established in East Los, the small eatery has been acknowledged on the streets and on Yelp for serving a few of the greatest burritos on the town. Non-locals might have been tipped via Jonathan Gold, who was identified to “enhance their”horrible”Burritos, or from nationwide burrito tournaments.
The shortage of parking or the gang outdoors of La Azteca Tortillería as you drive previous is maybe your second clue to its recognition. As soon as inside you’ll be able to see the partitions are gilded with plaques of rave opinions. The view from the counter additionally reveals how the kitchen workers put together handmade tortillas. The identical scrumptious chewy tortillas have been made because the restaurant opened in 1945.
The stress builds for that first hefty chew as you untangle the intense yellow paper that reveals the restaurant’s iconic chilli relleno burrito. The Carne Asada dripping with cheese and fried Poblano chilli produce an indescribable aroma and a hyper-photogenic cross-section.
La Azteca signage. Picture by Daniel Suarez for LA TACO.
Regardless of all of the rave and testimony, it looks like lastly sinking your enamel into that melted cheese and poblano luck. The entire and flaky handmade flour tortilla fantastically wraps the Poblano with a fair crispier coating. You might have to be reminded to cease and take a deep breath or wash it down with one in every of their aguas frescas of the home.
“My dad and mom got here right here after I was a little bit lady, now they maintain my youngsters and we come down and decide up meals for our household,” mentioned buyer and resident Cristina. She says that whereas it is nice to see a small enterprise develop so well-liked, she longs for days with smaller crowds.
“It has been a hidden secret for a very long time, and whereas we’re tremendous pleased that folks like it, we locals assume it is silly. Now it is a miracle when yow will discover a parking area, ”mentioned Christina. There is not a lot on-street parking close to the restaurant, however La Azteca is at present taking phone-call takeaway orders if you cannot queue. For patrons there’s a masks requirement and there’s no seating.
Masa in Tortillería Azteca. Picture by Daniel Suarez for LA TACO.
The restaurant’s repute even attracts burrito lovers throughout nationwide borders. Purchasers like Penn from Portland who mentioned he takes a visit to La Azteca each time he involves LA. “That is all the time a stopover. Coming from Portland there’s nowhere like this to eat, ”he mentioned as he grabbed his to-go order. “Briefly, it is the tortillas that convey me again.”
Regardless of the quite a few opinions, their collection of breakfast burritos and tacos are nonetheless attracting new prospects, like Norma from Chino Hills, who discovered this spot because of a colleague, or Dylan from Glendale, who’s returning for the third time. “Right this moment I assumed, ‘I’ve to get La Azteca.’ The chilli relleno burrito is my favourite, ”mentioned Dylan.
Regardless of the scramble for parking, the crowds, and the searing warmth of LA, it is properly price delving into the folds of this heavenly chilli relleno burrito.
