The last time I was here was in 1973 when I graduated from El Rancho High School, over 50 years ago! But you know what, that green avocado sauce still sits in my most fondest memories!!! The Soft Tostada is the BEST BURRITO ON THIS PLANET!!!!!!!!!! I almost fainted when I bit into those wonderful tastes and memories!!!! Everything was like visiting your loving grandma! It far from me now, but I will be taking a drive back soon!!!! read more

This place is a joke... $23.96 For lazy half warmed tortilla full of watery beans and like previous reviews mentioned NO MEAT! Half way down the burrito a couple of meat sprinkles. Will not coming back nor recommending. Service is 2/5 Only take out No eat in. read more

I used to come here after visiting City Dental, Dr Sam and Dr Jimenez are great. But recently I requested 2 chile rellenos without a burrito. But the owner was adamant that they had to be purchased in a burrito. I told them they had sold me the chile rellenos ala carte before but they denied it. I'm extremely disappointed in this place that I thought was a diamond in the rough, now it's just a rough spot. read more

Vargas Mexicatessen - The last 2 chile rellenos that the owner wouldn't sell to me unless they were put into burritos. - Delis Near Me - Pico Rivera, California

No bueno I keep trying this place and I always have the same complaints little bean and light on the meat those are many other options in the city for a good size burro read more

I feel bad giving this rating but it is the truth. The flavor of the food is good and authentic. But that is all flavor. Because there is no meat in the burritos at all. They have lots of beans and sauce maybe 3 or 4 tiny pieces of meat. I bought the three different types of burritos. Green chile m, red chile and chicharrón. Allá the same just basically sauce and beans. So sad it was different 20 yrs ago. Just like someone said in another rating here "shrinkflation." And the price is hefty for what you get. Will not be returning. They are friendly but for the cost of what you get it is not worth it. read more

Fantastic chili rellenos!!! The sauce was so good too! I had the red sauce. Amazing

When you see them weighing the amount of carnitas they put in your burrito,that should tell you something (looked like about an ounce). Very bland. The chicharron tasted ok but skimpy.The bean and cheese burrito was thin and watery. For the prices they charge,nah,I'm done. read more

Not good at all , no carnitas for the soft tostada , green chili real watery even with a double wrap , used to love this place now shrinkflation got ahold of them , what a bummer !! read more

I ordered the red burrito and I'm so glad I did. Everything about the ingredients and taste of this burrito was great! Service was fast and friendly. Parking may be a challenge but worth it. I want to go back and try something else. read more

Vargas Mexicatessen - Delis Near Me - Pico Rivera, California

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Food is good not great. Ordered the carnitas burrito and it was watery and mostly beans. The carnitas I don't recommend. Was overcooked and hard to chew read more

been coming here since i was a kid this place is so good friendly people amazing food

The beans were so delicious, the service was great it reminded me of eating at my aunts house during a celebration.

Good food. Muy buena comida. Para llevar. Los chicharrones muy picantes Para mi gusto . Todo lo demás excelente. Hay suficiente parqueo. read more

Friendly staff and very good food !!! Being eating at Varges since I was a young child.

I drove all the way from long beach on a tuesday to hear them say were out of asada meat mid day? Smh terrible. They only had carnitas which i wasn't feeling. Parking is tight! You may have to park down the block. There is no tables or seating area inside, its strictly to go orders. read more

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To start-the parking situation is a bit tricky, there is street parking and a small parking lot that fills up quickly and is a bit awkward. But this whole area of Pico Rivera has a very vintage vibe to it. It reminds me of old school neighborhoods not yet touched by gentrification. It's a very small, special pocket of Mexican/Chicano families. The establishment itself has some interesting architecture. The facade has a mural of a blue eyed, dark haired beauty. The family that runs this business has similar features so it is fitting. Upon arriving, there was a line out the door but it was a short wait. There is no seating so all orders are to go. What I loved about this place is it's authenticity. The pans reminded me of the kind my grandmother would use. These people are the real deal. Old school cooking. All of the food is out for display. The kitchen is unhidden and there is full transparency. The food is protected by a glass partition. I ordered the bean and cheese burrito, chili Relleno burrito and some fries. I also bought chips and tortillas that they had on the side. They offer an assortment of dry goods such is tea and herbs. The fries were seasoned well but did not include ketchup. I found this a bit odd but we all have ketchup at home. You get to watch as they prep your food. They use extra large flower tortillas. Homemade beans. And the other ingredients. The chili Relleno itself was good and cheesy. I found the burritos to be slightly dry. There was no salsa included which was a bit strange for me. This won't be a regular spot for me but it's always good to try new restaurants. I did enjoy patronizing a family run business. I liked being able to observe an extended family working together to keep their family history alive and the creation of a legacy. We desperately need that in LA. I like that this business has been around for decades. Mazel tov to this family. read more

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The tamales & beans are the best! The rice is ok but missing something. You can preorder tamales for your holiday meal.

This hole in the wall, burrito joint is the business! I tried their carnitas burrito and my goodness, I cannot stop thinking about it. My coworker ordered the chili relleno burrito and I didn't even know you can order a burrito that way! I'm going to try it next time. The handmade tortilla really ties everything together. First, a layer of refried beans, then carnitas, topped with green pork sauce. Talk about simplicity at its finest. Like literally 3 things in a handmade burrito and I'm like WOW HOLY MOLY. You can choose your meats from asada, chicken, al pastor, and carnitas. Someone in front me ordered a tostada which looked so good! The Hispanic ladies are taking charge with fulfilling orders while the men were cleaning and washing pots/dishes. What a sight to see. The order line was seamless. The store itself is clean and well taken care of. No frills, just a straight up burrito place to fill your burrito need. There's no dine in option. Simply order your food, pay, and go. There's a 50¢ charge to use credit cards. So, best to use cash if you mind that fee. I believe they now have champorrado since it's cold season. read more

The asada burrito was super bland. Apparently they don't use cilantro or onions. The beans were good the asada had no flavor. The burrito was on the small side and the amount of asada used was so small that l could have been better off just to get a taco. 2nd time here but will probably never be back!! read more

Why is this place called a Mexicatessen? Well, I'm not really sure but from the looks of the place https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=zUB48JNIc4TlrFkh0BKlbA it's been around a long while, there is NO seating so all orders are to go! While the menu https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=z2oUhH51fMXQg5pa_Hp_Vw consists of Tamales, Tacos, Burritos, Nachos, the Burritos seems to be the go-to for everyone in line. Maybe the large house- made flour tortillas have something to do with that https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=KOw-45OpWhlXGpeLjZcAew I was told the Red & Green are the most popular items, orders are filled quickly as you can see the food is precooked. Burrito Red https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=fPWjL0I366E3Mn8a0_Ubvw ($7.00) Large house-made flour tortilla filled with Beans, NO Rice, and Red sauce which does have some beef but mainly sauce. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=t52Z1tBC24UfKN1KQDPotA Very flavorful, the simple ingredients reminded me Burritos in Mexico except 2, 3 times the size. 5-Stars Carnitas Burrito https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=RQkhXEsLroJtaVEV1wjK2A ($8.75) Similar to above Burrito but this has Carnitas and Green sauce, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vargas-mexicatessen-pico-rivera?select=iGn3vufFMIG3gh5flRYHtQ not a lot of meat in the burritos, and while it was a good burrito, the Red had more flavor. 4-Stars read more

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I've been going here for 50 years great memories and great food the owners are great and friendly

Have been getting my masa for tamales here for over 25 years - best around! a staple in our household every Christmas. I live 50 miles out and what a beautiful drive it is. Christmas eve early morning I pick up my masa and its amazing to see all the same familiar faces behind the counter and kitchen. Everyone is super friendly and its like seeing family. Thank you all at Vargas for making our Christmas a tasty one and for being part of our family. read more

I seen a post on IG stating this was the best burrito in LA. I was really hyped up about trying this place for a couple of months. I was finally in pico Rivera and stopped by to grab a couple of burritos and was disappointed. I'm a supporter of small family business and I know this place has history in Pico so I'm not trying to be disrespectful in any way. I ordered a green chile and red chile with cheese. The red had little to no flavor and barely any meat. The green had a little more flavor and a little bit of meat no spice to it. I asked for salsa on the side and even that wasn't spicy. Parking was rough I had to park in the red at first I thought it was gonna be full of people but no just two customers inside. I don't think I'll be going back but if I do I'll try the tamales and update this review read more

Best bean and cheeese burrito around I ordered the red bean and cheese burrito Fresh fast and delicious read more

Classic Pico establishment. No frills here. Just good old-fashioned Cali Mexican food Very much a mom & pop place but the simplicity of it, is what it makes it so good. It was our first time actually and we came for the burritos. Dont expect any cheese, guacamole or sour cream. Just- Beans,meat, and sauce. Again, so simple but delicious!! Chicharron was perfectly cooked. The surprise item we ordered was the Fidello soup, lots of home cookin here. We still talk about this place and can't wait to go back. The service is warm and efficient. Highly recommended for locals. read more

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Food was ok for all the hype Reason behind my two stars They are super stingy with there meat and how much they put they have a scale and weigh the meat before putting it in your burrito but they put so little in the cup they are using to weigh the meat it's ridiculous They yelp pictures with the meat serving is accurate you are literally eating a bean burrito it's like just charge more and put a decent amount of meat in it if that's the problem They are also stingy with the salsa they drizzle it on my Chile relleno burrito was so dry read more

Walking into Vargas Mexicatessen reminded me of my grandmas kitchen. Well, if you took away the small line of people waiting to order. However, the line moves quick. Our order was a couple of carnitas burritos, a bean and cheese burrito, some Fideo, and a tamale with red chili. I have eaten some of the best carnitas known to man and so that is a good way for me to gauge how things are going to turn out at a burrito/Mexican restaurant. The carnitas seemed dry and the beans had little flavor. My buddy ordered the second carnitas burrito. I ordered my burrito with no chili and he ordered his with green chili. He said his carnitas burrito wasn't dry. For me, carnitas should be moist without the need for any sauce or chili. Also, they do measure the meat portion but that wasn't a deal breaker for me, just a little interesting. The fideo was okay and the tamale was okay also though I should have ordered it without the red sauce to see what the tamale was really about and to be able to taste the masa. The service was good and the folks behind the counter all seemed nice and helpful. As far the overall experience it was just average for me and my buddy. Though the thing is people like different things. This may be a gem for you and you should give it a try. It just wasn't my cup of tea. As always, your mileage may vary. read more

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So...if you know me you know I love a good mom and pop. That's usually what I focus on most. Vargas is just that! You have folks in here making food that taste just like an abuelitas! I wanted to order everything, not gonna lie...but I went with the green chili burrito, bean and cheese burrito and Chicharon burrito. These should be eaten on sight because they're amazing fresh! I have no picture of mines because I ate it was I drove from pico Rivera to playa vista, lol. The flavors are good and those beans taste like a moms cooking! There was a much older man in the back smashing the beans to make them refried. Seems their masa for tamales was is in high demand because so many people were buying it! Check them gem out! read more

Vargas Mexicatessen - Delis Near Me - Pico Rivera, California

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Hole in the wall, family owned spot, very easy to miss. After seeing a few reviews, I decided to try this place out, and I have to say I was disappointed. I get that for many who grew up eating there, this place holds a special place in their hearts. I'm not sure if it's the nostalgia or what. As for myself, let me start off by saying that the food itself was good, no knock there. My gripes are as follows, for one, the portions are small. For the size of the tortilla and the amount of food in the burrito, it definitely wasn't proportional. I had to ask them to add a spoon of rice to add a bit more density. Secondly, they charged me $1 or $1.50 for the spoon of rice. Rice, beans, and meat are the basis of damn near every burrito at any establishment. I'm not sure why theirs is just bean and meat, especially if they're skimpy to begin with. Lastly, one lady asked me what I wanted to order, and then a different lady proceeded to prepare my order of two burritos. The first lady verbalized my order to the second lady. The first lady did not verbalize my order correctly, so one of my burritos was the wrong kind. Why ask for my order if you're not going to at least write it down nor prepare my food. Not a very good first experience here. With many options around me, I dont think I'll be going back. read more

An old favorite! Been going to Vargas since junior high. Their green soft tostada with carnitas is my favorite and go to food! Family owned, they have been in business at the same location for over 50 years. A must to visit if you're in Pico Rivera area. You won't regret it! read more

Simple little local hole in the wall that serves traditional Mexican foods. The food is very clean. Not greasy or oily at all. Everything is made fresh to order and hasn't changed since I was a little girl. The dates and times of opening have changed since Covid so call ahead! We drive all the way our from DTLA for their Fideo & green burritos. Anything there is scrumptious. Can't beat the prices, freshness or customer service. Irene and her staff have always been so kind to their customers and has made us life long customers. Promise you won't be disappointed! read more

Went there for the first time. Loved it!!! Food is authentic, affordable and fresh. Had the chile relleno burrito and rice. sooo good!!! Very authentic. My new favorite place. Staff is also very friendly read more

So over the last several months I've seen TikTok videos of this place. So finally decided to go and give it a try. Well ... I guess you can't always go by what you see. I ordered 3 burritos... red, green and carne asada with the red sauce. So I'm gonna start off with the carne asada burrito. Got to say probably one of worse burrito's I've ever had. For starters the meat was burnt and the amount of meat given wasn't very much at all. And the meat looked to be more shredded than chopped. The beans had no taste at all, very,very bland. SALT ... salt was needed badly. And the amount of red sauce that was added into the burrito just wasn't enough to help better the taste. So on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being best... I give this carne asada burrito a 1 Just nothing about this burrito was good at all. Which leads me to the red burrito. For the same reasons as described for the carne asada burrito the red burrito gets the same 1-5 scale rating a 1 again not enough red sauce to help with the taste of bland beans. Finally we have the green burrito. Of the 3 this one actually had flavor but that's only because the green sauce saved this one. Enough green sauce was added to help cover the taste of the bland beans. But the green sauce was a bit on the watery side as you will see in the photo attached. On the 1-5 scale I give it a 2 Would I come back to this place? Probably not Maybe I picked a bad day to come or something I don't know as past reviews say otherwise. Except for a few that also make the mention of using salt. I'd have to seriously think twice if I want to give them another try. My overall YELP rating is a 2. My rating really reflects that the green sauce saved them from me giving a 1 star rating. Otherwise .. it could have been a 1 star read more

Vargas Mexicatessen - This is the green burrito. It's pretty simple. - Delis Near Me - Pico Rivera, California

The masa whether prepared or unprepared is the best. The burritos are also excellent. A slight disappointment was an order of taquitos, they were (2) small appeared to be frozen and had the liquid guacamole poured over. Will stick to the burritos. Vargas is very good . read more

Super expensive for what it is. Very small portions. Food is bland. The carnitas were as dry as strings

Went to try the chile rellenos burrito but sadly they had not been made yet. Tried the chile verde, chile rojo and carnitas burritos and were good. Long line for tamales masa as well as ppl ordering menudo. Bring your own pot! It's a hole but that doesn't matter as long as the food is good. Will return to try the chile rellenos burrito! read more

WORST service ever, I spoke to owner, told her we have been going there 20 years to buy tamales, they are now 4" I spent $130 for 6 dozen. The owner was so rude, she said " if I don't like it, DONT GO BACK", . She hung up on me. I texted the daughter a picture of the 4" tamale. NO RESPONSE. Save your money don't buy 4" tamales. RUDE SERVICE, UNPROFESSIONAL, Over PRICED. After seeing the response from the owner's daughter At the end of the day, the tamales have shrunk by 50%, the Owner of this restaurant offered no solution, but was un-professional, the idea of the owners way of resolving the $130, I spend on 4" tamales as you can see in the picture, " IF YOU DONT LIKE IT, DONT COME BACK." And hug up on me, this is un-professional, I DO NOT recommend, this kind of service to ANYONE. read more

Vargas Mexicatessen - 4" tamales $2 each - Delis Near Me - Pico Rivera, California

My go to place to get masa for my Christmas tamales. This was where my grandma would get her masa, and this is where I get mine. They are consistent and the quality is always on point. If you're getting a large amount of masa, it's best to place your order ahead of time. read more

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beware dont come here!!!! it will make u sick!!!!! food is disgusting not the same cheese was fucken rotten spoiled and want to make excuse about it. beware dont come here read more

Ordered a carne asada burrito. Refried beans is all I tasted. Very little meat in the burrito. Super flat burrito, nothing else in there but beans and tiny bit of meat. Very bland! I tired and now I know it's not worth the hype on social media. read more