Whenever we're in LA, this place is a guaranteed stop. Whether you're grabbing a quick taquito snack or settling in for a full meal, you can't miss -- everything hits. My parents introduced us to this spot, and now I've passed it down to my kids. It's become one of those rare places where the food is great, but the memories are even better. For both, I'm genuinely grateful. read more

Management has changed over the years: Service deteriorated extremely : the quality of the food is bland and extremely oily. You can taste the oil each time that you eat the food. The oil feels dark and tasty strange. The taquitos are overpriced and too fried. The area is very bad and there's no parking anywhere. It's in my opinion after going there a million times in the past ... at this point in the year 2026 you can find better quality food better quality tacos, better prices in 1 million different areas of the city, county and state. I say skip this one and go somewhere else. read more

This place is just okay! My family (9 of us) took the train out to LA and wanted to have lunch on Olvera Street. Walking over from Union Station is super easy, it's maybe a 5 minute walk. A few of us had heard amazing things about Cielito Lindo and how they have the BEST taquitos, so we were all excited. Luckily we got there right before the lunch rush so there was no line. They have a tiny alcove of an outdoor dining room, and we were able to snag enough tables and chairs (took up half the room) for all of us. They cook the taquitos to order so it took quite awhile for all of us to get our food. We all got the famous taquitos and some of us also got the combo with tamales. I was a tamale girl. My spinach tamale was pure mush, was it even cooked? I didn't see or taste spinach, I honestly don't know what was in it. The others who got tamales all hated them and commented that they just just wet messes. Literally none of us were wowed by the taquitos. They were very crispy and covered in the green avocado sauce, which I thought was decent, but the shredded beef inside had no seasoning and was dry. The combos come with refried beans and we all agreed the beans were the best part of the meal. The food here is pretty cheap, and I appreciate the historical aspect of it - slinging those taquitos since 1934! But it just wasn't good enough for me to ever go back, and I have definitely had better taquitos. read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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For as long as I have been going here it has always been the same and is exactly what expect every time. I always get the taquitos with avocado sauce on the side, because I don't like soft/soggy taquitos. I've have had some of their other options but taquitos are my go to. You never have to wait long for your food and for the most part the staff is nice even when they get really busy. Not much seating so you'll have to find a bench somewhere outside but it's good for people watching. read more

Cielito Lindo - Taquitos with avocado sauce - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went here for the 1st time today. Had to go visit Olvera St. (a day late) for Mexican Independence Day! Taquitos were Had the #2 (so i could try the tamale ), i'll JUST get the #1 next time, stick to what they're famous for..‍ But, glad i went. read more

Cielito Lindo - ##2 Combo* - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

When visiting the iconic Olvera Street, why not try original things. Serving El Lay since 1934, Cielito Lindo brings to you their famous taquitos and avocado sauce. AMBIANCE Parking: Welcome to El Lay, it gets packed. Your best bets are street parking some metered parking but definitely do public transit if it's offered. Seating: They have some tables for you to chill but other than that, it's a good grab and go spot to just enjoy the Olvera Street atmosphere. Vibes: Los Angeles is very unique as no parts of the city are the same. This pays roots to the Hispanic roots. Eating here feels like eating a piece of Los Angeles history. You're surrounded by colorful market stalls, mariachi music, and the energy of Olvera Street, the experience is about more than just the food. This isn't a flashy restaurant--it's a historic food stand that has earned its reputation through consistency, tradition, and community. Great place for a quick food adventure - fulfilling an appetite or taking a bite out of history. FOOD Original Taquitos & Avocado Sauce (Recommend) You got to explore the hype while you're here right? The taquitos had a good crisp on the outside while the shredded beef inside remained tender and flavorful. The sauce was nothing too flashy but I guess it was ahead of it's time. A mix of guac and soothing creamy avocado flavors. It helps bring a tangy yet packed bite in your tortillas. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and awesome! Straight business and good service. TL;DR OVERALL 4 Stars. Good selections, reasonable prices, and a pleasant experience. As a long term resident in the City of Angels, it's an honor to try a part of history. Nothing too flashy but a great place to experience. till next time, Cielito Lindo! TIPS * Visit while exploring Olvera Street so you can enjoy the surrounding shops and history. read more

Cielito Lindo - Wooooo!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you're looking for authentic taquitos then look no further than Cielito. There's a reason why there's always a long line of locals waiting to eat order. $6.50 gets you two delicious hot taquitos covered in their homemade avocado sauce...let's just say that you'll wish you'd ordered more once you taste them. It's a small but cute restaurant with limited seating. However, there are places to sit outside near the restaurant. FYI...service can be a little slow as each order is freshly cooked. Friendly staff read more

The taquitos never disappoint. Especially the avocado sauce. Whenever I come here I always get a bunch of taquitos and the Avocado sauce to go. So I can have to eat it later! I would recommend coming here! read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Happy to hear they are open again. Stopped by today after going to the FIFA Fan Zone at Union Station to pick some of their famous taquitos -- just as good as I remember them. Staff is efficient and always friendly. Was also pleased to see a line of folks with me and full tables enjoying their burritos and taquitos. read more

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*** Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants: Hall of Fame *** Featured on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, Cielito Lindo is a historic eatery on Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Famous for their taquitos since 1934, and currently being carried forward by its fourth generation (great grandchildren), I was pretty excited to finally give this place a try. As we had already eaten lunch, the two of us just split an order of taquitos, priced at $6.50. It did not disappoint. If looking for a perfect taquito with a nice crunch and flavorful sauce, definitely stop in here. Affordable price point, quick service, and delicious food. read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The taquitos were just ok. The tortilla on the only two taquitos I ate was soft, as though they had not been cooked long enough. I was disappointed as the taquitos were nothing special; however, they are priced on the higher end ($3.25 per taquito). I ended up purchasing a dozen for my family for $39.00. Service was good and quick, as this is a very popular place to dine, and the line was long during my visit. I really wanted to like this place, as it is located in historic Olvera Street in DTLA, and many people love it, but for me, this one visit was enough. read more

Cielito Lindo - The front of the restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The taquitos are simply delicious! The sauce is yummy! It's worth the stop, this is a must try!! read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I live just two blocks from here and visit regularly. Easily one of the best authentic Mexican spots in LA. It's always amazing and hits the spot when you really need some comfort. read more

OMG!!! I have been a customer of Cielito Lindo for over twenty years and I have to say today's so called food was HORRIBLE/DISGUSTING. The staff has changed to just worker bees... so sad AVOID if you are not interested in wasting your hard earned read more

Scammers. The cashier thinks she's slick by selecting tips automatically for customers, and contorting the tablet into a way you can't see, then using her goons to intimidate customers if they complain. Currently in line with my card company disputing the 20% added tip charge. Disgusting practice. I see there are other reviews complaining about the same thing. They've been doing this for a while. read more

It kills me to leave this review because I've always loved the food here. But since they re-opened they are definitely not the same. Not sure if the business was sold or if the original cooks/employees left but it's not close to being as good as it used to be. Got a bean and cheese burrito and a chili relleno burrito, They were horrible, the beans are clumpy and seem old, the cheese was cold and not melted. The taquitos are still good but the sauce is different. Had a kick to it and tastes a tad different. I've been going there for over 40 years so to feel as if I would never go back is rather disappointing. read more

I've been here a few times in the past, and the most recent is after I ran the Los Muertos 5K. Oh time has changed, and the prices have gone up. But at least the taquitos and the green sauce are still delicious. I'll always grab taquitos here whenever I'm on Olvera St. just for a snack. Their ordering system doesn't seem efficient. Lines could be a bit long and there might be a bit of wait because of other customers ahead ordering other items besides the taquitos. If they did a separate taquitos-only line, the wait would've been so much faster. read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great and authentic Mexican food located in Downtown LA! I visited this spot on a Saturday for lunch and my experience here was pretty good. I ordered the #2 Combination which came with 2 Beef Taquitos, a Tamale with your filling of choice, and refried beans with cheese. For the tamale, I ordered the chicken one. Everything was good and tasty! The taquitos were crispy and crunchy and the tamales were cooked well. The star of the show were the sauces that covered the food which were just so flavorful. The taquitos were covered in this green sauce and the tamale in a red one and both of them were so good. Also, the cheese atop the refried beans was a good touch since the warm beans made the cheese all melty and stretchy. I also added an additional $1.50 for rice which was also tasty. The food is a bit ion the pricier side relative to other Mexican spots, but the food is still good nonetheless. For the drink, I got a horchata and it was solid. A good cinnamon flavor, milky, and refreshing. This spot seemed like a food stall/restaurant hybrid. As soon as I ordered, my food was ready right away. Even though the food wasn't freshly prepared on the spot, it was still pretty good. They have some covered seating spots with some tables which was nice. Overall, I enjoyed the food here and the area is also a cool place to explore for Mexican culture. read more

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Cielito Lindo is located in Olvera Street, which is a quick walk from Union Station. When my boyfriend and I were exploring the area, we saw a line here. Without even knowing what it was, I wanted to checked it out. As we got closer we saw that they specialized in taquitos. All of the folks in line were talking about how this is a beloved spot for their family. We had just eaten lunch so we only had stomach space for a snack. My boyfriend and I shared the 2 Beef Taquitos w their famous Avocado Sauce ($6.50) and a Horchata ($3.95). They were quick and my order was handed to me by the time I was done paying. They have limited tables next to the counter, and a few ledges and benches nearby. It's a snack so we didn't mind eating it real quick. The taquitos were super crispy and the tortilla tastes freshly made. The filling was sufficient but nothing too special. The avocado sauce didn't really have an avocado taste, just like an average salsa. The HORCHATA is the MUST ORDER item. Yummm... One of the best horchatas I have had. A fun stop while in Olvera street. Definite come with a patient mind for their line if you want to check it out. read more

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always 10/10 in my opinion. i could drink the green sauce that comes on the taquitos. the chile con carne burrito is a newer addition to the table every time we go. so worth it. workers are always super nice. sometimes it's hard to find seating but usually you can find a table. read more

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I tried the 3 beef deal and it was gross. I can't lie. I really didn't like the bland taste even with some sauces. I sat in the little shack to the right of the take out and I saw one lady order 8 taquitos and I was even more disgusted. I can't imagine eating another one. read more

*** They accept credit cards *** Cielito Lindo is one of the most iconic eateries in Los Angeles. They have been serving taquitos since 1934 and is the 1st stand visitors will see upon entering the historic Olvera Street. [Parking]: While there's a tiny private lot right next to Cielito Lindo (El Pueblo Lot #3), it is not cheap (20 mins $2.75 & max = $16.50). Your best shot is finding street metered parking near N Spring St & Ord St (approximately 2 to 3 blocks away). [Atmosphere]: Grab-and-go only and there's a small seating area right next to the ordering counter. I just stood under this giant tree and enjoyed my taquitos. [Menu]: The signature combo is 2 beef taquitos w/ famous avocado sauce for $6.50. However customers can also order 1 beef taquito for $3.25 instead and that's exactly what I did. They also sell burritos, tamales, and beverages like horchata. *** One taquito with avocado sauce ($3.25): Good avocado sauce, but taquito itself was just alright. Horchata ($3.95): Subpar drink - tasted a bit too sweet. *** I think Cielito Lindo's taquitos are slightly overhyped and visitors can actually find other vendors that sell cheaper taquitos on Olvera Street if they don't care about name recognition & historical significance. read more

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Old school since 1934. If you are looking for a quick fix because you have the munchies then stop by here to grab two taquitos for around six bucks. They come drenched in their famous green sauce and are the perfect Mexican treat. I heard the bean & cheese burritos are delicious and I will have to try them on my next visit. read more

Cielito Lindo - Old school since 1934 - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious! Always a must when we come down to the area the taquitos are made well the sauce is very flavor The horchata is perfect Sit down and enjoy the atmosphere and people watch so much history in one place Great vibe read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I stumbled upon this place by chance and later came to know they have been featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown! We got the Beef taquitos with Avocado Sauce and they were made right then and there. Loved the avocado sauce though I would have liked a teeny tiny bit more filling. But for that price, I am not complaining! read more

Cielito Lindo - Beef taquitos with Avocado Sauce - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is a difficult review to write because the food at Cielito Lindo has always been fantastic. If I were rating the food alone, it would easily earn 5 stars. The taquitos are iconic, the avocado sauce is legendary, and it's one of those classic Los Angeles spots that has built its reputation for a reason. Unfortunately, I'm leaving a 1-star review because you can't eat food from a restaurant that isn't open. As of June 16, 2026, this location has appeared to be closed for approximately the last month. Google, Yelp, and other online sources continue to show operating hours, yet every time I've stopped by, the restaurant has been closed. There are construction barriers and no clear explanation posted regarding when or if it will reopen. The most frustrating part is the lack of communication. If the business is temporarily closed for construction, renovations, permitting issues, or any other reason, customers deserve accurate information. Updating business hours online or posting a notice would save people unnecessary trips. So, to anyone reading this: the food deserves 5 stars, but I would strongly recommend calling ahead before making a special trip. Based on my experience over the past month, do not rely on the posted hours. I genuinely hope they reopen soon because Los Angeles would be better for it. Until then, potential customers should know that the information currently listed online does not appear to reflect reality. read more

tl;dr the frozen taquitos may not be much fresher than the historic restaurant itself, but the vibrant avocado sauce is alone worth a visit The historic Olvera Street is a popular Los Angeles tourist destination, and its most famous restaurant is an open-air taquito shack: Cielito Lindo. Established in 1934, this taqueria is nearly as old as the street itself, yet the signature taquitos remain an Angeleno staple. At the north end of the block, Cielito Lindo fits right in with all of Olvera Street's other colorful stalls. Faux-flame lanterns light the red-and-yellow pastel walls. Enter the queue and watch as frozen taquitos are fried to order in a dryer door-sized wok. The open kitchen is flanked on either side by separate seating areas. A tiled half-booth wraps around the room, paired with stainless steel tables and cushioned wooden chairs. The walls and ceiling are personalized with a sun-and-moon mural with floral accents. The sizzle of oil mixes with Spanish-language acoustic music. During both of my visits, the laser fast service has been equally friendly, with the ingredients pre-prepared to quickly churn through customers if need be. Cielito Lindo's famous taquito was fairly standard, most notably maintaining its crispy texture in the face of the heavy helping of avocado sauce. That sauce was the highlight of each bite, achieving a complex balance of slightly sweet acidity and mild, lingering spice. Meanwhile, the tamale was dry, but its rich mole sauce was packed with flavor. Lastly, the hit-or-miss horchata ranged from bland and watery during one visit, to intensely sweet and cinnamony the next. Nowadays, the classic two-taquito combo runs for $5, and an agua fresca is another $4. While most of the menu items are nothing to write home about, the signature sauce (which even is sold in bulk!) is well worth a quick visit if already in the neighborhood for an inexpensive bite of Los Angeles history. read more

Cielito Lindo - Beef Taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had been to Olvera Street many times throughout my life and I always took pictures of this place, but never ate here. But I did recently, and let me tell you, I'm kicking myself for not eating here sooner! The ambience of the main little eating area is so adorable and clean! The food was very good! I was worried the sauce would be sticky on my fingers, nope! Perfect portion size, plenty of sauce. I don't think I have a single bad thing to say about this place...give me a moment. Nope! Can't think of a single reason why anyone shouldn't get some taquitos here! read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Messed up my order. Rushed service that doesn't listen. Horrible vibes and mid food. The perfect recipe for a 1 star review. And I don't give these out lightly. They deal with tourists so customer service sucked. Messed up 2 of our orders. Ordered a chile relleno burrito. Got chili verde. My coworker asked for taquitos with a side of rice and beans. No rice. Food was not good. Not going back. This is why Olvera st is dying. Quality sucks. read more

This place sucks we smelled like a rat and we were not wrong when we saw a rat cross in the kitchen the very hard tacos hurt my teeth at the first bite the beans tasted burnt read more

If you are looking for a fancy, posh place...this is not it! But what I will tell you is that when in town stopping by for a couple of those Beef taquitos drenched in green salsa will blow your mind. Some of our group definitely went for seconds. Service is quick and soon as I paid, the taquitos were on the counter. Ask for salsa on the side if need be but once you try it, you might ask for some more. I'd skip the horchata which sadly tasted a bit artificial but the taquitos is where is at!!!! We will meet again sometime in the future!!! read more

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Ayoooo! Been wanting to try this place out for the longest as the restaurant has been here for a long time in this Historic Landmark area in Los Angeles. They are known for their Taquitos so I ordered the combo with a beef Tamale and Beans. Sadly they ran out of rice. The Food was deelish, I would def return how ever parking is hard and you would have to pay for it. Cards are accepted and few seating options. read more

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Cielito lindo is a place close to our los angelino hearts. On the entry way to the famous Olvera street you will find this small spot. No frill, no thrills, just a handful of small table and chairs. But you sit down with their taquitos and green sauce and you can't help but feel comfortably at home. I doubt their is any generation alive today that is older than this spot, and after decades many flock to this spot just to grab food to go. Comparable to Mario's Tacos in pico rivera, you have got to try this place at least once...even if just to say you have been there. read more

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My son and I enjoyed a quintessential Los Angeles experience that makes this City unique and great: we started by driving around Echo Park en route to one of my Christmas and Chanukah gifts, a tour of Dodger Stadium and pictures with the 2024 and 2000 World Series trophies. After this event we later had reservations at a beautiful innovative restaurant called The Girl & The Goat in a formerly run down section of the Downtown Arts District now vibrant with cafes, coffee houses, art galleries and great street art. In between driving around Echo Park and what is left of Elysian Park and walking around the DTLA arts district, we had time to walk through the reinvigorating and crowded Little Tokyo. Every small restaurant serving a different type of Japanese cuisine was packed. The Japanese American Museum is a treasure and an important part of LA and California history. From there we made a short hop over to Olvera Street where with all our walking we did succumb to having taquitos from the outstanding walk up and sit down World Famous Cielito Lindo and their taquitos with avocado sauce they have been serving since 1934. The second we finished our order these superb hot beef tacquito's swimming in a pool of avocado sauce were in our hands ready to squelch our hunger before dinner. There were couples dancing in the plaza gazebo to a Mexican band, mariachis roamed the Street and it was relatively quiet enabling me to take in this taste of early LA Mexican culture with the art, crafts, food and architecture including the oldest existing house in the City. From Cielito Lindo across the street is the equestrian statue of Antonio Aguilar, who was known as the "El Charro de Mexico" (The Horseman of Mexico). He is credited to have recorded over 150 albums, which sold 25 million copies, and performed in more than 120 films. Aguilar was best known for his love for singing traditional Mexican folk songs known as rancheras and ballads. From the oldest existing home on Olvera Street we walked across Alameda and entered another landmark built in 1933, one year before Cielito Lindo, the Los Angeles Union Station. Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States and is widely regarded as "the last of the great train stations." The Station was commissioned in 1933 as a joint venture between the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads and was intended to consolidate the three local railroad terminals. While the dining experience at Cielito Lindo was brief, strolling on Olvera Street and ending with the delicious taquitos was perfect. read more

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I just went today 7/5/2026 and ordered #1 combo, it was not good. I had not been there in a long time but the quality of food has gone way down. I will not be returning. read more

Famous for their beef taquitos and I can see why. I am well aware that taquitos are pretty "basic" but they make them fresh and the avocado sauce compliments it so well! Food is pippin hot, which I loveeeeee. I ordered a combination plate #1: three beef taquitos and comes with beans & cheese. $12.50. My friend ordered a #3 which is the two taquitos and a chile rellano also with beans & cheese $13.50. If you want rice with that, it'll cost an additional $1.75. They allow credit cards here with no credit card fee (at least I don't think so. I'll have to check and update accordingly if anything). There's always a line. Great for an afternoon snack after walking around Olvera Street or still a great choice for lunch/dinner. Seating area can be hit or miss. We came during non-peak lunch hours so we were able to find a table. It's a small area...no frills, no trills. Please be considerate...eat & go as others can be waiting for a spot. read more

Cielito Lindo - Top: Combination #3. Bottom: combination #1 - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I work across the street and it was a beautiful day outside, so I decided to take a walk through Olvera Street to try some taquitos. I haven't been here in years, so it was nice to bring a friend to visit. I loved that during the week, it was a quick order and I got my food within one minute. That was the most amazing part. I ordered 3 taquitos with beans and cheese. The taquitos were good, not excellent, but good as were the beans. The taquitos were in the beans and cheese and I wish that weren't the case but it was still OK. I wish I'd gotten some chips to go with the beans and cheese because that would have been really good with the avocado salsa they offer. Overall, a nice field trip during lunch and glad I stopped by. Nice to do something other than working through lunch. read more

Cielito Lindo - Waiting to order - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This restaurant is synonymous with Olvera Street. When you think of Olvera Street, you think of these street taquitos. At least I always do. They still taste just as good as when I first tried them many years ago. Only thing is now an order of 2 taquitos will set you back $6.50. Fast service always. read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was eager to try this place that has so many good reviews, but was extremely disappointed in both the customer service and food quality. I was naive to think that a tip would ensure quality (time and time again I'm reminded this is not the case), the employees looked miserable to help me but were all smiles with their friends. I was so hungry I ordered a green chili pork burrito instead of taquitos, huge mistake! I was shocked when I received the smallest burrito- my phone is bigger, with only two small pieces of pork mostly beans and no flavor. They should've called a bean taquito. You're better off going to Taco Bell. read more

Me and my 11 year old son went because we saw the reviews on social media.... When me and my son arrived.... They will not take our order.... I waited about 10 minutes to get told that they would be with me in one moment from one employee.... And then 5 minutes later told the same thing from another employee.... Cool looking atmosphere horrible service.... I really feel that I was targeted for being a Caucasian mix.... I think they are highly racial.... And the owner needs to rethink their staff.... If you are Caucasian or Caucasian mix I would stay away from this place... read more