Cielito Lindo — Restaurant in Los Angeles

The basic reason to visit Cielito Lindo is that it is a very old family-owned restaurant that makes taquitos the same way today as when it opened in 1934. There is no other restaurant in the world that has done more to popularize the "taquito" than Cielito Lindo. Yes, what would become San Diego's El Indio restaurant gave the taquito its name in 1945, but Cielito Lindo had already been very well-known in L.A. for serving these cylindrical "taco dorados" for over 10 years by that time.

The sad backstory to this restaurant's origins begins with a mother crossing the border with her three small children to follow her husband who had settled in Los Angeles 3 years earlier. She never did find her husband. Instead, the single-parent family was met with poverty immediately upon their arrival to L.A. in the late 1920s. Some very hard work and a $300 loan later, Ms. Aurora Guerrero opened Cielito Lindo on the historic northern end of Olvera Street, where her specialty of rolled taco dorados doused in salsa de aguacate would become iconic.

Cielito Lindo's taquitos aren't going to change your life, but they are useful for understanding what a taquito should look and taste like in these modern times where most taquitos (even the ones sold at restaurants) are made at a factory, flash-frozen, and reheated before being served.

Here at Cielito Lindo, the taquitos are stuffed with carne deshebrada braised on-premises -- essentially, beef chuck stewed for 8 hours with salt, black pepper, garlic, and bay leaves. The stuffed taquitos are deep-fried in lard and then smothered in a spicy avocado sauce consisting of chile güeros, tomatillo, cilantro, and garlic. The sauce is what has kept these famous and relevant for all these decades. It's creamy, tangy, piquant, and familiar -- as it has been plagiarized by many restaurants around...

Let's see what can someone like me possibly say, hmm... Okay . So about a year n half ago , came here with some Jr high school friends n we have always heard about these place from other, n also we are like food critic's. So we came to Cielito Lindo. Now I luv being around the Hispanic community, something about the authenticity of their tradition. Taquitos are wonderful .. yes even the box ones from the grocery store... But to eat them wet with their a avacado (Guacamole) Sauce . Wow ... So I offer there #2 which looking at the menu you might state 3 is not enough. Cheese beans _ alll that green sauce. So I ended up ordering 1 extra. Let me just say , these people knew what to offer to fulfill the soul of the everyday traffic.. with the right amount. I should of had stayed with the 3 Taquitos beans & cheese, all that Guacamole sauce .just set our belly & fulfill our soul. This place has been around since the early 30s n to still be in business , n the alley way with the stands gives it a great pleasure to say that this place is peaceful , great service its a wonderful place . the whole surrounding is very aunthentic and very wonderful place. The whole 2 hour drive very from Bakersfield , it's very well worth traveling for a the food and drive. . Thank You...

Cielito Lindo in downtown Los Angeles offers a solid taste of classic Mexican comfort food, and our recent takeout experience through Grubhub didn’t disappoint. We ordered a bean and cheese burrito, Chile verde burrito, a taquitos plate, and a pork tamale. Everything was flavorful and arrived hot and ready when we got there—definitely a plus for anyone grabbing food on the go.

The bean and cheese burrito was simple but satisfying, with a creamy texture and rich, savory flavor. The Chile verde burrito stood out with its tender chunks of pork and zesty green sauce—it had just the right balance of tang and spice. The taquitos were crispy, generously filled, and came with a tasty side of guacamole that tied everything together.

The pork tamale had a bold, spicy kick—more than expected—which might be a bonus for heat lovers. Personally, I don’t enjoy spicy food, so it was a bit much for me, but the overall flavor and texture were still enjoyable.

Cielito Lindo proves why it’s a staple in LA’s Mexican food scene. If you’re craving authentic, no-frills Mexican dishes that deliver on taste and portion size, this spot is worth...