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

*** 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 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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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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The selection is amazing, the staff are wonderful, and the desserts are HIGH quality at a good price. So happy we found this place. Love it!

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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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

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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*** 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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So awful. The food tastes microwaved and is overpriced. I can get better taquitos from the grocery store. The workers were rude and the service was slow though the day I went the line was very short. I regret giving them my business. read more

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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The food was outstanding, our sever Laura was excellent, Topokiles Chilaquiles with chicharron was just wonderful and the Mexican toast my companion was good , she ate everything. read more

Cielito Lindo - Topokiles Chilaquiles with Chicharron . Very good our server Laura was good . - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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

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 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

The taquitos are amazing!! The restaurant has been there since 1934. Great place in Oliverva st. Always a good place to go if your in LA read more

Cielito Lindo - The sign - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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So tasty! I had the taquitos with tamale. They were out of beef and chicken tamale so I had the queso and chile tamale. It was spicy but well seasoned and yummy! Perfect place to grab food before or after a Dodger game! 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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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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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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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 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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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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This area is super cute and a LA classic and staple. It's fun to see such a big part of Mexican American history. The taquitos come out insanely fast and there's a few tables to enjoy them at. I recommend asking for the sauce on the side so that they do not become soggy. The taquitos were good and the sauce was great. The beans were delicious especially with the sauce. read more

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I visited this place duringumch with my co workers. The taquitos were freshly fried while we were paying. The food was fresh and delicious. The seating area was small and cramped. Outside the were basically no seating so we has to hold our plates to eat which made it difficult, for me. My teeth are sensitive so I can bite directly into the taquito. I needed a knife and that proved very hard to do with on hand lol! Overall the food was fresh. I would come back for the beans. They did not skimp on the cheese!!! read more

Cielito Lindo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came to check the "finest" taquitos in Los Angeles. Overall, I'd say good taste. Price for two though. Two cost 6.50. The wait wasn't bad and very friendly service. Food came quick and was fresh off. Very limited area to sit but that's because of the area. read more

Cielito Lindo - Taquito beef - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Classic Olvera street eatery. Located on the corner as you enter Olvera street from union station. Known for their taquitos and tacos. Cielito Lindo is iconic and no trip to Olvera street would be complete without stopping by. read more

Cielito Lindo - Signage - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is known for their beef taquitos with avocado sauce. While I think the taquito itself is just a basic taquito, the avocado sauce is what makes this special. We were here on a Saturday morning, so it was pretty busy. The taquitos were about $6.50 for two pieces (see photo). You can also order a full meal which comes with rice and beans. They have other items like tamales and chile rellenos which a lot of people seem to order as well, but we just wanted to eat the taquitos. Overall, a fast and casual spot to grab some crunchy taquitos in Olvera Street. read more

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I had been looking forward to trying the famous Cielito Lindo for a while now. I had heard about it before but never got around to trying it even when I had visited Olvera Street previously. I saw a segment on television recently and told my we should take a drive out to downtown and give this place a try. If it's that famous, it's got to be good right? Well... Parking: The good- There is a small parking lot on the east side of Olvera Street by Union Station that is very convenient. The bad- You will pay for parking even if you're only there for a few minutes to pick up a takeout order. A quick in and out will run a couple of bucks, an hour about $8.50, and it goes up from there to just under $20 for a few hours. There is a larger lot to the west by the church but I didn't check the parking rate there. Another option is across the street at Union Station. Cielito Lindo: I love the song The restaurant...not so much. Looking at the price of the combinations, it seemed like a decent deal. Then... I saw the plates. If they were supposed to be kids meals I wouldn't have a problem. For adults? Pretty lacking. You also have to pay an additional $1.50 for rice. If the beans were any good, I might not have had a problem with it but they were lacking to say the least. The cheese on top of the food wasn't even melted, just sprinkled on top. The tamale and chile relleno are very small and don't even qualify as restaurant quality. The chile was a thin strip and a total ripoff. The tamale reminded me of the XLNT tamales you find at the grocery store. Now the taquitos are good. Not great. Not amazing. Just good. I can find taquitos just as good in my area and in many cases, better. The taquitos at Josie's in Gardena would blow these out of the water. Plus you get real guacamole and sour cream at Josie's. Conclusion: Would I return? Only to try the neighboring restaurants in Olvera Street to compare their taquitos that seemed to be less expensive and less infamous...I mean famous. Just because a place gets lots of media attention doesn't guarantee quality. The taquitos at CL are good but they are NOT special by any stretch of the imagination. Combine that with a less than stellar collection of accompanying food items makes this a place to try if you're coming to the area anyway but not a destination you want to travel out of your way to dine at. read more

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Writing my PhD dissertation on LA Chinatown and its surrounding areas, and wanted to try some historic bites as part of my research. Cielito Lindo has been around since 1934, and I couldn't not try their famous taquitos with the avocado salsa (supposedly they are the originator). For $6, you'll get two medium-sized beef taquitos drowned in sauce. It pretty much tastes like what it looks like--not mind blowing but not bad, enough to tie you over until the line at Philippe's full of Dodgers fans dies down (which is precisely what I did). I do appreciate that the taquitos were hot and crispy. It's cool to see that the stand is still alive and kicking almost 100 years later, even if most of the food is riding on nostalgia. read more

Cielito Lindo - Classic taquito - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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If there's a line outside, it's a tourist trap or food spot to not be missed. This is a -do-not-miss- if nearby. We got the combination #2 and Beef Chile Colorado Burrito. The beef taquitos with tamale and the burrito were probably the best I ever had. This is coming from a "qualified" Pennsylvanian who has experienced both authentic and Americanized Mexican food. Service is quick ordering and getting your food nearly simultaneously at the register. Credit cards accepted. Tables and chairs on either side of the register or eat outside. So glad we stopped nearby today to do touristy things! Great find. read more

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Quality of food has gone down. Order 8 taquitos got a cup of salsa. Order 2, 4, or 8 taquitos same quantity of salsa. read more

Cielito Lindo - Salsa cup - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Taquitos 5 stars Cold beans 1 star. Next time I am not ordering beans. It's always hit and miss. If they only heat them up better we would be good. read more

Came here before we went to the dodgers game. Not sure how it got its rating, but the taquitos were dry and unflavorful. The service was fast. The cleanliness was lacking. Too many flies everywhere. I wouldn't recommend read more

The food quality and cleanliness. The taquitos tortillas were not crunchy or soft . The tortilla was hard and they were cold.

As someone who has lived in LA for over 30 years, I remember that, once upon a time, I really enjoyed coming here as a kid... Unfortunately, after three decades, I think the overall quality of their taquitos has gone down to just average... What's worse, after comparing the exact same order of two beef tacos with green sauce as offered by their neighbor Juanita's just a couple of stores down Calle Olvera, I must state that Juanita's taquitos taste much better and are less expensive. It is shocking how fame and promotions can alter reality: the crowds generally gravitate toward this outfit rather than the better quality and lower price offered by Juanita's just down the street. read more

Although I've visited Olvera Street many times, I've somehow always overlooked Cielito Lindo in favor of other places to enjoy a drink with my meal. Today, we finally tried Cielito Lindo. I ordered the number 3, which included two beef taquitos and a chili relleno with beans. My beef taquitos were delicious,the chili relleno was excellent. My mother-in-law ordered their two-taquito with green salsa. There was 2 areas to dine as you walk up to the window one two the left of you and right of you. . We enjoyed our conversation while meeting others that were there to try famous taquitos. It wasn't an overwhelmingly memorable experience. I'm still trying to understand all the positive attention this location receives. My mother-in-law also dined with us. read more

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