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    Cocina Express

    3.8 (165 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Cocina Express Takeout or Delivery

    Cocina Express Photos

    COCINA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cocina Express

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    Reviews With Photos

    World famous Red Tacos
    Nelson L.

    These are the best birria tacos i've ever had in my life. They were so flavorful and juicy and packed with so much meat. The waitress was so kind and even let us wash our hands in the sink which was so kind. The restaurant has a nice seating area outside and I will definitely be back!!

    Proof of payment and receipts to show outrageous prices.
    Julia T.

    I had high hopes for this place but unfortunately, I was disappointed. Not only are they beyond overpriced (19$ for albondigas) but the food isn't worth it at all.. to spend 80$ here for two soups, one burrito, a juice and some guac.. is crazy. I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their money or their time. And honestly I have never went to a Mexican spot that didn't serve rice with their soup. That was the cherry on top. So make sure you pay extra for rice if you want it for your soup!

    Chile verde container not sturdy enough for the sauces.
    Maria S.

    Food containers were not sturdy enough to hold food with sauces. Torta cubana was not as expected as to what the image shows to what was received on white toast not a telera. Our employees were not too happy with the way the food was. And did not meet the expectations.

    World famous Birria Ramen combo
    May W.

    Parking: Can get pretty tricky to find parking near the restaurant because it is located IN a neighborhood. They do have small parking lot near the restaurant but it's usually full. I went on a weekday during lunch so the parking was already hard to find. Food: Holly Molly, the Birria Ramen was so good and so worth for it's price. I would DEFINITELY recommend coming back here on a non busy day to pick up the food. It's a little on the saltier side, so to balance it out dump all the condiments they give you (tapatio sauce, sliced white onions, lemons/limes). With the leftover consome, I like to take it home so I can drink it. Personally, I took it home to eat with more ramen or pair it up with some side dishes. Service: You would have to order at the cashier and tell them if you're picking up or dining in. We dined in so they came by to drop off our food. The lady at the cash register was so nice when we requested to-go containers since we wanted to keep our consome soup.

    Taquitos de pollo
    Tina D.

    Amazing food and service!!! Definetly a must try. The young lady is very nice and attentive

    December 2021 menu prices

    Recently came after not coming for a couple months and was shocked to see the price jump. I live a couple houses down so on the weekends we would just walk here and get some breakfast but we noticed it kept getting more and more expensive. Usually get the chilaquiles with egg and meat but the price jump being $23 for ALWAYS cold beans & potato or if I don't want potatoes it's always cold rice. Don't get me wrong it's good but the food is almost always cold. But for this recent price jump it has me evaluating coming here. I 100% get it it's gonna get pricer and I wish I had a pic of a menu price from just a couple months ago. But you can see the huge jump on some items from December 2021-March 2025. Like I said it's good, but for the cold food and sometimes you can taste that the food is old/reheated.. then when I first started coming I guess they were barley starting out their menu and it used to be potatoes in a red sauce and then it changed to potatoes with jalapeños. Also if you do come here try to eat it there, like I said it's usually cold so I can imagine taking it home. Also sometimes the way they package their food it gets all thrown so when you get home it's a mess usually my daughter gets a taco de asada and it would be in a huge box with the meat all over and the tortilla just on the side.

    Inside as you enter
    Fab G.

    The ambiance is nice. The food was ok. The beans needed more flavor. The chicken had no flavor. The rice was bland. It was ok. The service was quick. More salt ..bullon.. I said no cheese...they put cheese....will I go back ...no.

    Refried beans and season potatoes
    Sergio Z.

    This my first at the Cocina Express couple of my friends of mine recommend the restaurant to me. The restaurant is very close to my mom house I decided to try it out. I know the area and street especially this area to find is going to be hard but lucky I found park close to the restaurant. This restaurant reminds me tamales restaurant in the same location but I'm not sure. I walk in the restaurant and then I saw the menu on the wall literally I was looking what caught my eye I decided to order the Huevo Ranchero and a Mexican Orange Fanta the big bottle. They brought the food to me I open the container and smell was so good the Huevo Ranchero come with three hand made tortillas and two side refried beans and season potatoes and two type of sauces. I took bite of it wow amazing flavors in the red sauce including spice,chile,onion and red pepper and other ingredients in the sauce. It come two egg and a fried tortillas holding the eggs it was so good. The three tortillas comes in handy adding the red sauce was so addicting. The refried bean very good great flavor and season they good I really enjoy it. And orange Fanta was great.

    The front of the place! Easy packing when I got there in a Saturday morning!
    Andrew H.

    Not only does the place smell amazing when walking in... the service is fantastic!!! I went in a Saturday morning and the person helping at the register was super nice and helpful! The red cheese taco.... !! Woot woot!!!!! I also got the menudo here!!! Fantastic! This is definitely a place that I'll keep on a Normal rotation!

    Taquitos Dorados Combo
    Elisa S.

    Loved the food here! I ordered their carne Asada tacos and was pleased to see that they use homemade tortillas. I also ordered their tacos dorados plate which came with a side of beans and rice. The only thing I was really disappointed with was the horchata. I love cinnamon, however, when drinking it I felt like I was reliving my middle school years of putting a spoonful of cinnamon in my mouth. I kept coughing after every sip, and it wasn't until all the cinnamon settled to the bottom of the cup that I was able to drink the milk at the top. I would come back for the food and maybe their other agua frescas, but I would be hesitant to try the horchata again. On a side note they have a parking lot adjacent to the place which makes it convenient as there is rarely any parking in CT. Also. they have an outdoor seating area to eat at.

    Anita L.

    Craving something warm and found this little gem on Grubhub. Menu is short and simple and prices are reasonable. Ordered their Menudo and Pozole and loved it. Located in a residential area near the 60 freeway. There is a parking lot just a couple steps from the restaurant. I decided to Pick up directly from the restaurant because I didn't want to pay the ridiculous Grubhub fees that pushed my order up by $10 (Grubhub fees, Delivery fees, etc.) Cocina Express is one of few restaurants that didn't mark up their prices on Grubhub. They did call me within minutes of me placing my order and let me know one of the items I wanted (de Pollo) wasn't available. The order was ready by the said time in a bag clearly marked with my name. I had to reheat my soup slightly when I arrived home because I like my soups steaming hot, and loved it. Will definitely be ordering from this lovely spot again soon. #SupportLocalBusiness - Check this spot out if you are in the area and support your local small business!

    Chilaquiles
    Mariko F.

    So this isn't the first time I've been here, but the first time I was able to hold off eating my food right away to take some photos. Covina Express is smack dab in the middle of a residential area. Their menu has been extended and everything that I've tried ha been delicious, especially the birria. I ordered the chilaquiles but will ask for the sauce/salsa on the side next time, as the chips were super soggy since we have to take it to go. The sauce was spectacular, very flavorful with so much good spiciness. I used all the sauce I could spoon up for the rice and beans. We wanted to try out the Ramen Birria and were pleased we did. While it was way to rich for me to finish, having some of the consume, noodles and meat was perfect. I don't think I could finish a whole serving, as it was so rich! Each time I have visited, I have gotten a side of birria, at the very least and it has consistent been bomb.

    3 Dorado Red Taco Consume rice horchata

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    2 years ago

    I ordered red pork and green chile chicken tamales. A teaspoon of meat and a lot of MASA. Nearly $4 each - rip off!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and very friendly Staff, I love this spot. Coffee is bomb, meaning great. I love this little spot very home like feeling.

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    3 years ago

    The best potato tacos I've had. I've crossed a police line for the food. Highly recommended.

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Gabriel H.

    Cap

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    2 years ago

    Y'all need to update your business hours. Says 10pm in yelp and 11pm on your website, I want my refund in the morning.

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    3 years ago

    Best chicken flautas, good Mexican rice and delicious beans. It's my go to meal once a week.

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    Page 2 of 5

    Ask the Community - Cocina Express

    Is this place no longer in business? I stopped by today at 5:30 PM and they were closed.

    Hi sorry we recently changed our hours and various sites haven’t been updated. We’re sorry but it takes time for different sites to update. We’re open every day 8-4 pm

    Anyone know their hours?

    The restaurant hours are 8am-4pm Monday-Sunday and the taco stand outside is 6pm-11pm Thursday-Sunday

    View All 3 Questions

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    Big fan of this spot! The outside is rather unassuming, but the interior is very welcoming and sets…read morea nice mood. Plenty of seating, free water, clean bathrooms, lovely artwork on the walls, and even some jewelry on display (and for sale). Love the aesthetic at this place! The staff are always very kind, welcoming, and helpful. I've ordered their breakfast burrito and breakfast sandwich in the past, both hit the spot and the portions are generous. When paired with a delicious coffee (hot mocha is my go-to), you'll be leaving sufficiently full and either with plenty of energy for the day or in need of a fat nap depending on what you ordered. This place is a must visit and I'm excited to stop by when I'm in the area, go check them out and you'll be glad you did!!

    Nice little Guatemalan cafe, you pay at cashier and they bring the food and drinks to your table…read more It was pretty pricey around& $70 + tip for 2 drinks, 2meals and French toast. I got a a breakfast bagel that included a salad. My husband got a breakfast burrito that included chips. In my opinion it's a little pricey for the food we're getting. It's more of a light breakfast. It was good, but nothing I would brag about. I was hoping to get some good coffee at least. but it's just like any other mom and pop cafe. The French toast was delicious. If you have kids who are a bit picky, I wouldn't recommend it. It's a different kind of bread which in my opinion it was really tasty it just has a unique taste (: The service was okay the one the only one who really attended us was the cook. He was so helpful& polite. he made my kids smile with positive attitude. It wasn't a busy day, I would say they had five tables that were occupied and the cashier couldn't help us wipe our tables it was dirty and sticky. She asked if she can bring us anything else. I asked for syrup for the French toast and she never came back. Overall, my experience at the café was okay..i just wouldn't go back for brunch or coffee.

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    Tenampal - Chilaquiles

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    4.7(324 reviews)
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    Wow!!! Where to…read morestart? If you want to feel transported back to the motherland of Mexico, COME HERE! If you feel homesick, come here. If you miss your mom's cooking, come here. I finally had the luck of being able to visit Tenampal after seeing their opening in 2022. And it was the best Sunday brunch ever--the food, the coffee, and the ambiance!! This is the place everyone in your family would approve of--literally no joke. Everything from the chilaquiles, the house-made guacamole, salsas, tortillas, burritos, etc.! Everything was a chef's kiss. The ambiance and the customer service really made the restaurant feel like I was at an older relative's house--no joke at all. The backstory, knowing that all the recipes have been passed down through generations and that everything is house-made, makes it very special. The best hidden gem we're lucky to have!

    **May 2026: Sunday Afternoon Visit**…read more My friend and I were looking for an authentic hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pop spot near the East Los Angeles Library, and this restaurant came up. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and since it was only about a 10-minute drive, it felt like the perfect choice. Parking can be a bit challenging, but we got lucky and found a spot on a nearby residential street. When we got there, it was a full house, so we were seated in the back since that's what was available. The restaurant itself is small, with seating for about five or six parties, and it proudly reflects its immigrant roots along with a strong emphasis on representation and inclusion. The staff were warm, welcoming, and attentive. One thing to note: the lighting inside is quite dim--we actually had to use our phone flashlight to read the menu. Not ideal, but we were on a time crunch and just happy to be seated. We ordered the Huarache Azul ($17) with a sunny-side-up egg (+$2) and the chilaquiles (+$1 for split sauce), and both dishes were generously portioned and beautifully presented. The Huarache Azul was something new for me. It leaned a bit on the spicier side--not overwhelmingly hot, but rich in seasoning. The meat was very tender, and the blue corn tortilla had a nice earthy flavor, though overall it felt a bit heavy for my taste. The chilaquiles, on the other hand, were excellent--great balance of crunch and softness, with the runny egg adding a rich texture. The salsa had just the right amount of spice and flavor, and I would definitely order this again. A nice touch: when you order water, they provide bottled water on the house. Overall, service was polite, and the staff came across as genuinely hardworking and passionate. I'd definitely consider coming back, especially for the chilaquiles or to try other items on the menu.

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    I found this place while on a mission to track down some really good micro-roasted coffee beans,…read moreand it was also highly recommended by the wonderful folks at Cafe Minerva in Hermosa Beach. After fighting my way through South Bay traffic and making the drive from Hermosa, I can confidently say it was 100% worth it. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and full of heart. You can tell there's a lot of love behind what they're doing here, and that energy carries through everything from the service to the food and, of course, the coffee. I ordered a quad espresso over ice, and wow... it was absolutely delicious. Smooth, flavorful, perfectly balanced, and honestly one of the better iced espressos I've had in a long time. Even better, the prices felt very fair for the quality. For food, I ordered the chilaquiles and the frijoladas, and both were incredible. They had this subtle but delicious undertone of spice that kept building with every bite. The surprise star of the visit was their house syrup. It was so good that I ended up buying a bottle to take home. The flavor instantly transported me back to mornings in Mexico with my grandma, waking up early, sipping coffee together, and enjoying the comforting aroma of café de olla. It was one of those unexpected moments where a simple taste brings back a flood of memories. Great coffee, amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and a little taste of nostalgia. I'll definitely be making the drive back.

    Amazing. Spectacular. Give me 14 of them right now…read more I would love to return a million more times! Best americano I've tried to date. The cafe de olla latte has some extra spices (e.g. orange) in it that makes the flavor more complex. The guayaba (guava) pastry was so flakey and delicious. The coffee cake is inspired by LAUSD - it was very fluffy & fresh!! Went in on a Wednesday morning & the service was very friendly. I noticed many items are labeled both in Spanish & English, which is admirable. This small business knows exactly the neighborhood they reside in, and they cater to the residents. The only thing I would change is moving this establishment closer to where I live! Kudos to Picaresca for being loud & proud about supporting human rights.

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