Highlights
This laid-back Mexican eatery is a go-to for huaraches, fajitas, and refreshing aguas frescas, serving up hearty portions and friendly vibes.
"Try a classic Mexican Huarache, it's really really good! A Huarache is like a flatbread made from fried Masa that is topped with all the good stuff from Mexico. This is a unique dish and Highland Park is where you should get it. The corn and mushroom and squash blossom toppings are some of our favorites." - Friend of a Friend
·
Jun 11, 2024
"The Mexico City-style antojitos or “little whims” served at this neighborhood gem are perfect for any meal of the day. The namesake huraches, deep-fried rafts made of masa dough and topped with things like huitlacoche (corn smut), head cheese, and chorizo, never fail to satisfy." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff
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Mar 13, 2024
"El Huarache Azteca, Highland Park. Try a classic Mexican Huarache, it's really really good! A Huarache is like a flatbread made from fried Masa that is topped with all the good stuff from Mexico. This is a unique dish and Highland Park is where you should get it. The corn and mushroom and squash blossom toppings are some of our favorites."
Los Angeles
·
Mar 16, 2022
"This decades-old Mexican spot on York Boulevard has a full antojito menu with everything from tortas to tostadas, but coming here without ordering one of their namesake huaraches would like going to the La Brea Tar Bits and not seeing the woolly mammoth. The sandal-sized strips of fried masa come with smooth refried beans in the middle and topped with crumbly cheese, a slightly bitter crema, and a choice of meat (we like the pleasantly greasy cabeza). Order it super-style and they'll pour on a big ladle of salsa verde or roja, too. photo credit: Jakob Layman" - Brant Cox
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Jan 13, 2022
Randi L Rubin
Google
The service was fantastic. We found indoor seating and were served fairly quick. They had delicious barbacoa and huithlacoche.
Luis Gonzalez
Google
Called for an order which took 50 mins to get done when the person told me 15.
Service needs to improve
Food is good but really need to work on service they can do much better and even make more money themselves
Chelsea Heptig
Google
10/10 Excellent food and service.
Ordered the Super Huarache with pastor and chorizo con papas, chips & salsa, and a regular huarache with pastor & asada.
I can't decide which I like best because it was all THAT GOOD.
Also, you must order the cucumber lime/pepino limon Agua Fresca. It's just the right amount of tart, sweet, and refreshing. (I'm getting another to-go.)
Rosemary Luviano
Google
I went out for a quick lunch and was extremely pleased with how fast the service was. The food was hot and made to order. I do wish the rice portion was bigger for its price.
Andrea
Google
I’ve been coming here as a kid. Although the area has been gentrified, the food here has not, it has stayed authentic and so delicious. The people that work here are friendly. We always come back here whenever I’m in town. You won’t regret coming.
Archie Campbell
Google
Nice spot. Very well priced. Great service and great for a quick stop.
The portions are massive and you definitely won’t leave hungry!
Would recommend the tacos (2 per person) and the quesadillas.
About 30$ for 2!
Cynthia Topete
Google
The food was delicious 😋. I had the Torta de Carne Asada and a side of taquitos de pollo. They were good. The only problem was that it smelled like sewage. There were towels underneath the counter. I wonder if they had a back. Other than that, the servers were nice and friendly.
Sheyla Martinez
Google
First time coming to this place. We were a large party (11 people) and luckily the bathroom was empty and we were able to set all the tables together make a long table. They do have an outside sitting are. In front of the restaurant on the sidewalk and a back sitting area (outside all the way to the back of the restaurant). It’s a little hard for large parties since it’s a first come first serve type of place but like I said we got lucky. I obviously had to try the huarache con salsa roja de asada and it did not disappoint. The meat was flavorful and freshly made. We did however keep getting our food by 3s so by the time the first group was done eating, the last group was just getting their food. Overall everything we ordered was delicious. Great flavors, freshly made and lots of options for everyone. A great place to share with friends to try a little of everything or a great place to not share and be selfish and enjoy your own plate. Lol.
Brian D.
Yelp
This is the best place to eat huaraches there Amazing highly recommend this place always have a good experience here
Alex ..
Yelp
Dross.
I ordered the Green Sauce Beef Wet Burrito.
The green sauce was bitter and nasty.
The meat quality was awful, with a significant portion being inedible (like almost half). Tough and Chewy...had to toss it in the trash.
Not a one time situation.
It's always bad so that is why I am writing this review.
Demetrio A.
Yelp
Demasiado ruda la persona de la caja ne me explicó la forma de hacer el pago con Apple pay. Y cuando le preguntó. Me ignoran. Mostró muy mala educación
Brenda R.
Yelp
Not only did the cost of food went up but they also started getting stingy with the amount of meat they throw in. Almost $8 for this huarache so that I can eat just masa??? Ridiculous. On top of that their meat is no longer tasty, just dry.
Amanda C.
Yelp
Tasty huaraches and agua frescas!
This is a must stop in Highland Park. It is a cute restaurant.
A huarache is a traditional Mexican dish that is fried masa with beans inside. The toppings in include your choose of meat - carne asada, chicken, chicharrones, etc. You can pick your type of veggies. If you have picky eaters, you can order everything on the side. It's very affordable and worth a try since it is a traditional Mexican dish.
The agua fresca was very refreshing. It was authentic (not made with powder). It was not overly sweet. I tried the sandia (watermelon) and it was so good.
Parking is street parking. It can be a challenge, but it's worth it if you're looking for authentic Mexican food.
The customer service was so-so.
David H.
Yelp
Very disappointing. The carne asada meat was very tough and full of gristle - much of it was inedible. The flavor was OK and if the meat were better, it could have been a pretty good burrito. Won't be back.
Brenda C.
Yelp
A hidden Gem in highland park! A must try in the neighborhood.
Lost of seating available.
Parking: street parking available.
I ordered the Popular Huarache de Asada - it's so damn good i had to come back for seconds .
Their michelada is also really bomb!
Edgar T.
Yelp
Good food and friendly service. Good price as well. The huaraches are nice and crispy !
Danny Y.
Yelp
Street parking shouldn't be too bad. Pricing and portions are as expected. Staff is nice. Got a variety of items all of which were solid. This was my first huarache experiment that is like a bean stuffed tortilla in a surf board shape treated like a taco. Fast casual kind of vibes. 3.5 stars that I will round up cause why not.
Maria B.
Yelp
Love this place it feels very very homey. The food, coffee and agua Fresca is amazing. .
The people that work here are very friendly
Liam R.
Yelp
Large portions with plenty of toppings but dry and not the most flavorful and combination of ingredients didn't seem to mesh seamlessly. While large, it is also pricey at $20 per huarache. There was a bit of a wait for the dish to be prepared. Located at the El Gato Night Market, the ambiance was festive.
Christina P.
Yelp
We e ordered from them several times with no issues. Tonight I just left it outside for the coyotes.
We could never figure out if it was meat or car tire. I hope the coyotes survive.
Totally un eatable.
Ronald L.
Yelp
Save your money and avoid dining here! Opt out from getting a torta. The chicken was dry and unappetizing, emphasizing the need for better quality in their offerings. The owners' should focus on food quality rather than their excessive jewelry. Don't settle for dry, burnt bread and tasteless chicken! This place needs to be SHUT DOWN!!!
Daniel D.
Yelp
Ordered tacos de asada, pollo, and al pastor for years from here. Each taco was tasty as are the huaraches. The establishment can get crowded at times but that's just a testament to how good the food really is. Pricing for the food is fair, I can't wait to bring my family here when they arrive. Highly recommended to anyone who loves good Mexican food.
Mikey W.
Yelp
This is truly a LA gem and a local favorite. One of the best taco spots in Highland park for sure. Super affordable tacos, great drinks, and an easy going and comfortable spot to eat. Food came out quickly and was exactly all I could've ever wanted. Getting hungry just thinking about it!
Andrea A.
Yelp
I've ordered from here twice, first time I got a burrito and horchata. The burrito was lacking flavor, everything the meat, the sauce, the rice, the beans. The salsa was ok, also lacking flavor. The horchata was actually good, if they wouldn't have served me half a cup of ice and watered it down s
Second time I got a torta de milanesa, I don't understand how you can mess that up. There was a tiny peace of meat (soggy) and more lettuce than anything. Meat was lacking flavor, no jalapeños, no queso panela? That's what makes or breaks a torta. Also the bread was not that good. Again, I was trying to make it decent by adding salsa but the salsa has no flavor.
I am a tough critic but this place is on the infatuation. I'm not impressed, would I eat this if I've been out drinking? Maybe, is it my first choice...No.
Careen I.
Yelp
Best burritos I've ever had! One of the few places in the area where you can get huitlacoche (sort of like a corn truffle). Every time I go it's a real treat!
Lilia V.
Yelp
Nasty food, super greasy and not appetizing or appealing to the eye.
I won't eat there anymore. There are lot more and better places
Ramon M.
Yelp
1st thing 1st very welcoming n great customer service, the food sorry forgot to take a pic but was beyond outstanding texture n taste wise 10/10 I got the costillas with salsa verde double rice presentation was amazing come with a grilled nopal n the meat was tasteful fall off the bone with great taste perfect no more seasoning needed, their aguua de pepino con limon is bomb asf. I high recommend it to anyone in Highland Park or NELA in general across the street from Super A can't miss it definitely coming back
Paula A.
Yelp
Ordered for pickup through their website today which directed me to simplemenu.com. Went to go pick up and the cashier said she didn't have my order. I showed her the email I received saying my order was sent to the kitchen and included my order ID number. Cashier was rude and unwilling to help. She said "no" that email isn't good enough, cancel it and reorder and you have to wait. Horrible customer service. The order eventually came through and we decided to wait for our order. While waiting I noticed how chaotic it was in there. No sense of structure, no communication skills and lots of confused customers and employees. We ordered a carne asada burrito and chilaquiles. The carne asada was chopped so small I thought I was chorizo and they gave me my food in a bag with salsa spilled all over. I don't think I'd return.
Jessica P.
Yelp
The food sold here is pretty mid. I got the mole enchiladas and the tortillas were drenched in oil, making it inedible. I just ended up eating the chicken. The rice also did not taste fresh. There is also a funky nasty smell inside the restaurant. I do not recommend anyone wasting their money here. The mexican place right down the street offers much better quality and food options.
M A.
Yelp
We have loved their Huraches since moving to highland park over 20 years ago.. lived off them in the early aughts..
The prices have gone up exponentially but my real issue is the service.. it has felt very cold and unwelcoming since around the time the restaurant got their facelift. not sure if they just got overwhelmed with how fast the neighborhood changed or what.. but its a been a bummer and I think the last time we went will be the last time for real :(..
Petula C.
Yelp
The Huevos rancheros with red sauce are amazing, café de La olla, and Michelada we're all fantastic!! I hate Michelada and never drink them, but from here it was outstanding and very filling. This place is small, but very busy. Not sure why it felt like we were being discriminated against because of the color of our skin. There were people coming into the restaurant after us and they were being tended to faster and sooner they also got their food before us. It was outrageous honestly! If it wasn't for that, I would've given 5 stars.
Brax K.
Yelp
Side of Flautas went from being $7.99 to $13.99, what a joke. This place is taking advantage of the price hikes. I guess it's their right but This will be my last update as I plan to never go back.
Cindy M.
Yelp
Omg ill give 5 star if it is just for their specialty. But overall food was good. They have chicken soup! Super awesome for the asian kids!
Juan V.
Yelp
More like 3.5 stars.
I've been coming here for years and it's pretty good, although the prices have gone up recently. The tacos, huaraches, and tostadas are good and the salsa that comes with the chips is quite tasty as well. I wish they'd make the (purple) onions on the tacos smaller; they're these big sloppy pieces that make the tacos difficult to eat. They have a pretty big menu, including a "Cuban" sandwich that has a hot dog in it, wtf???
Service is OK but the food can be slow coming to the table. There's an eating area in the front, another in the back and down a hall, and an outdoor patio at the end of the driveway. They've been around for a while and manage to hang on so obviously people like their food. If you're looking for pretty good Mex in HLP hit 'em up.
Jin Y.
Yelp
I feel like you can eat a lot of Mexican food in LA and still not know what is a huarache. Thankfully when you dine at el huarache Azteca, the huarache is just the beginning of expanding your palate. Today we got the suadero Huarache, menudo (sat special) and the barbacoa de borrego. I hope this place never closes down amidst the gentrification of this area and every time I go I'm glad to see that business is always good, locals and hipsters alike gather here and honor the menu and the people.
Jo E.
Yelp
HLP original! Always hits the spot. Love how the driveway is now decorated and have outdoor seating. Ordered for the first time a burrito de asada and can never go wrong with the Agua de piña! Always get a guarache.
Enrique C.
Yelp
First time being there, I order myself a fajita Steak the only fact thing the beans it was cold and the rice. The service was OK, but it took so long to get my food when I was ready to pay. It is recommend to give a tip because if you don't give a tip, your card will not go through.
John G.
Yelp
Consistently great food, super reasonable prices. Their potato jalapeño huarache is fire.
Betty M.
Yelp
Not sure what the hype is all about. Read that their specialty is the Huarache, so we wanted to try. We ordered the de Asada, the chicken Mole enchiladas and the Pambazo. The only thing that taste decent is the Huraches. The chicken Mole tasted really odd. Not a hint of chocolate taste at all. The Pamabazo is just a big bun dipped in a consommé and filled with chorizo with smashed potatoes with lettuce and some cheese crumbs.
JJ D.
Yelp
This salsa verde wet burrito has too many onions. The green sauce doesn't complement the burrito at all. It's a task to eat the thing.
Andrew C.
Yelp
Very great spot in a popular street with many other food places to pick from. I'm glad we decided to come here. The restaurant was super busy, not much room for larger parties. It was well worth the wait! Can't wait to come back for more!
Sheyla M.
Yelp
It's looks like a tiny spot, especially if you are trying to eat there but they do have 2 outdoor eating areas and 3 small indoor sections to eat. We walked in and asked if we needed to write our name down on a list (since we were a party of 11) and the guy said to sit anywhere we wanted. I will say he was kinda rude about it as we asked since it was our first time there. Lucky all the way to the back last indoor room, we found enough individual tables to put together to make one long table. Side note: tables there are mostly for 2 or 4 people. Once we did that our waitress was super friendly and nice and let us take our time in order for everyone to figure out what we wanted. We kept getting our food in sections which is understandable since we were a large party. I had to try the Huarache Regular de carne asada with salsa roja. Let me tell you, that it did not disappoint. It was flavorful and delicious and the huarache itself tasted so great. You can tell it was made by angelic and professional hands. Bomb. We all got different things to try and everything was great. You really can't go wrong ordering anything of the menu. The tinga tostada and sopes were another hit. Looking forward to my next visit here.
Alexander O.
Yelp
Great service great menudo. I live in old town and there isn't really authentic Mexican food like this place. Family based and food tastes like it does at home. Thank you
Katy N.
Yelp
Delicious but slow. So call well ahead if you're picking up, and relax and get comfortable if you're eating in.
Erin H.
Yelp
This food is so amazingly delicious. I love the huitlacoche huarache, I crave it about once a week. The staff are kind and the back patio is fine.
Isaac D.
Yelp
Food is good. Service is AWFUL. You'd think for being in business for so many years there would be some sense of organization. When servers don't attend to your food order you start to notice other things like workers arguing, standing around, and being oblivious to the customers.
Daisy J.
Yelp
I was so excited to try this popular spot, we ordered a super huarache and it was hella skimpy. We also ordered an alambre which was idk $16? $17? But it looked like it was worth maybe $8 at the most! The service was HORRIBLE. Cashier blamed it on the cook being new, my fiancé finished his food wayyyy before I got mine and he was eating in the slowest possible manner. Once I finally got my food i was super disappointed. I don't mind paying the price but this was NOT WORTH IT AT ALL I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER GO BACK!!!! What a waste of time and money!!!! Save your coins, do yourselves a favor and do not eat here
Samantha G.
Yelp
Food is amazing!!! Please note all sauces are spicy, I am not a person who eats any spice so just beware if you are like me, get it in the side :) I eat here as often as I can
Tony A.
Yelp
I am Mexican I would not recommend this place second class meats their main ingredient MASA corn to make there foundation tacos huaraches etc flavor hum and the price never eat here come on show some real Mex food respect Mexico.
Trent C.
Yelp
$8 for practically nothing on or in my huarache is ridiculous we used to come all the time
Roxana C.
Yelp
I came about 10 years ago and the meal tasted home-cooked. Last week, my husband and I ordered a "sandwich cubano". My hubby loved it even thought it was a Mexican-style Cuban sandwich.
I , on the other hand, ordered a mole enchilada. It was worse than disappointing. It was swimming in orange grease and the mole tasted quite bad. I have had 10 varieties of mole in the US and Mexico. The pipián mole I had here about 9 years ago or longer was spot on homemade delicious. I was so disappointed and grossed out that I threw it away.
Aly R.
Yelp
I'm very disappointed with this place I was charged $5 for each dry carnitas taco and immediately my stomach hurt. Poor quality food for a rip off price.
Hilda R.
Yelp
Delicious! I ordered a large agua de piña and two huaraches de asada. Loved that they were crispy. Wish it had a bit more cream. The beans are inside the huarache. My favorite sauce is the red one. The green was is tasty as well I just live the spicy one better.
Covid precautions:Carne Asada Huarache
Stickers on the bag to know if they've been tampered with.
Cups have stickers where the straw goes as well.
Lisa M.
Yelp
Best Flavor ! Every time I come to Eagle Rock , I'm ordering food from here .
It's fun for the family to try .
Miguel F.
Yelp
This place sucks now, the food used to be better . Gave it another try today and the flavor was not there either.
Don't waste your money
Grace M.
Yelp
Still love going to this place... and I order my usual... al pastor huarache, chicharon tacos and a cucumber drink
Samantha U.
Yelp
If I can put 0 I would.
My sister literally got off the car to come get a table she said the girl walked her over to the table and said I'll be back and never came back, if they want people to order first and then sit down then they should say that. We saw a dad and daughter come and sit, and they had chips and salsa with them and we were already sitting here for about 15 minutes before, and to top it off my mom got up and went and asked what was going on and they just said sorry, the fact that my sister can describe her time here a couple weeks ago as great and everything is awesome. I wish I can say the same. My moms food came out cold and it looks like the server just doesn't seem to care not one bit at the fact that they took so long.