El Tepeyac Café
812 N. Evergreen Ave.
L.A., CA
323-268-1960

So good, you'd think your abuelita made it herself.

Popular food: Hollenbeck Burrito (a rice, beans, pork, guacamole, tortilla and cheese masterpiece large enough to last you a week, named for the local police precinct), taquitos with guacamole plate, menudo on the weekends.

Drinks: Soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, horchata, tamarindo, jamaica, coffee.

Seating: Small tables, counter for six.

Ambience: Small, colorful and casual little room attracts the denizens of Boyle Heights, abuelitas with new gossip, office workers from downtown, families -- brown, white, black, purple and soon you, too.

Extras/Notes: The dishes are authentic, portions are huge, and the service is fast and friendly. Manuel cooks with fresh ingredients and love. Most patrons have been going to him since childhood, and now, as grownups with their own kids, they return. Take some time to check out the semi-altars to the Virgin of Guadalupe ("Tepeyac" refers to the name of the hill where the Virgin appeared to the Indian Juan Diego in Mexico City) and the awards and photos of local sports teams at Boyle Heights' Roosevelt High School.

Parking: Adjacent free lot.

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Hours: Sun.-Mon. and Wed.-Thu., 6 a.m.-9:45 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fax: 323-268-5310