Adventures LA: Pre-Game Mexican Food at El Tepeyac

As many of you know I love the Dodgers, so myself and Brian Han (one of our new contributors) try to head up to the Ravine at least a few times a month. But as with everything there is always a meal that has to ensue to make it a well rounded experience. Recently my good buddy Boobs was in town from Boston and wanted to catch a Dodgers game, so my brother Brett, Taylor (Padres Fan), Brian, Boobs, and I all piled into the SDL and headed up to the game. We usually hit Ciro’s Tacos on Evergreen in Boyle Heights before games, but decided to switch it up a little and go just up the street to Manuel’s Original El Tepeyac Cafe.

When you first drive up, go ahead and park in the lot if there is space and then prepare to get in line. The restaurant is not very big at all. They have maybe ten tables and room for another ten diners at the counter. If the place is full a line forms outside the door and sometimes past the driveway. Make sure that you let someone know how many are in your group and then just wait and take in what this part of LA has to offer. Once you do get seated take a look at the menu, but if it is your first time then all you need to order is the Hollenbeck.

El Tepeyac is known for many things, but the Original Hollenbeck is what I believe to be the flagship. It is a very large burrito filled with Chili Verde (funny that it is not actually green sauce), avocado, beans and rice with a large amount of the Chili Verde and pork chunks all over the top. It is a great burrito! For the first time ever, I strayed from the Original Hollenbeck and decided to try something new, going for the Machaca Hollenbeck, which was an easy choice as I love machaca. Machaca is shredded beef, onions, bell pepper, and egg all scrambled together. Like the orignal Hollenbeck, the machaca version came with beans, rice, and avocado. I think that I like it more then the Original and am happy that I decided to branch out. Brett, Taylor, and Boobs all got the original and all really enjoyed it. Brian, wanting to truly compare Ciros and El Tepeyac, got the tacos with rice and beans.

We all stuffed ourselves and had a great meal, but I would have to say that I like Ciros much better. Tepeyac is just too much of what I feel to be a tourist trap kind of place. They charge for everything including chips. When you walk into Ciros they put a big basket of chips on the table and then a bowl of diced avocado that is all gratis. I also have to say that I was unimpressed with the preparation of the burrito that I got. All of the meat was at one end, and the other fillings were at the other. I would just expect them to put a little more care into the food that they are making, but at the end of the day these are just little gripes of a foodie, as the overall experience is one that all Angelinos should have at least once.

Until Next Time, Keep Eating LA!

Cliv