Lupe's Burritos
Mexican restaurant · Belvedere
4642 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Highlights
Iconic walk-up serving hearty burritos, tacos, hot dogs
Iconic walk-up serving hearty burritos, tacos, hot dogs
"If you’re trying to find Lupe’s #2 in East LA, just look for the double-parked cars and red picnic tables packed with families and city workers most afternoons. Founded in 1972, Lupe’s is an old-school Chicano lunch counter (and Al & Bea’s rival) where the combo burrito with shredded beef, shredded cheddar, refried beans, and stewed green chiles is king. The blistered tortilla is elastic and nearly translucent, with beans glowing through the folds and fillings erupting like lava from every seam. Make sure to drip a little of their orange salsa on every bite—the spice flares up right away, but then mellows out before you start to sweat." - sylvio martins, cathy park, garrett snyder
"If you’re trying to find Lupe’s #2 in East LA, just look for the double-parked cars and red picnic tables packed with families and city workers most afternoons. Founded in 1972, Lupe’s is an old-school Chicano lunch counter (and Al & Bea’s rival) where the combo burrito with shredded beef, shredded cheddar, refried beans, and stewed green chiles is king. The blistered tortilla is elastic and nearly translucent, with beans glowing through the folds and fillings erupting like lava from every seam. Make sure to drip a little of their orange salsa on every bite—the spice flares up right away, but then mellows out before you start to sweat. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park
"It is well documented in Mexico that burritos are tacos (tacos de harina, or tacos norteños) and since 1972, Manuela and Adeline Portillo’s East LA burrito stand has been a local favorite. Inside the classic ‘50s-era burger stand, now run by grandson John Anthony, Mexican Americans queue up for LA-style combo burritos packed with refried beans, melted cheese, beef, and either a mild green salsa or a spicy red salsa. It all gets folded together inside of a large flour tortilla warmed on a steel top." - Bill Esparza
"Lupe’s serves California-style Mexican food, which means burritos, enchiladas, and taquitos. It isn’t the fanciest place, and it isn’t really the best Mexican food in the city - but it’s affordable, and you definitely like taquitos. This place is on the southwest end of Soho, and it feels sort of like a fun diner. Have a weeknight dinner here, or bring a few friends on a weekend when all you want is margaritas and things wrapped in tortillas. photo credit: Lupe's East LA Kitchen" - Bryan Kim
"Fans like the late Jonathan Gold have been loving Lupe’s for decades thanks to the small stand’s easy-eating menu of favorites. The bean and cheese is a must, especially when it’s kicked up a notch with some spice, though longtime locals also like the steak burritos and loaded specials. The best part, though, has to be the lightly griddled tortilla." - Rebecca Roland
