Cancel

Open app

Search

Cocina Express

3.8 (168 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Order Cocina Express Takeout or Delivery

Cocina Express Photos

COCINA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Cocina Express

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Machaca con huevo frijoles y papas!!  Con tortillas hechas a mano!! Delicioso platillo  Machaca de Res con huevo!!
Alejandra R.

Cada platillo que hemos probado están deliciosos!! Todo con un sabor casero Las Enchiladas Los Chilaquiles Tortas, Flautas, menudo....Recomendado 100% Todo en un ambiente agradable y acogedor La atención del dueño y el personal excepcional!!

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!

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.

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 Red Tacos

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!!

Taquitos de pollo
Tina D.

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

See all

6 years ago

The homemade mexican food you are looking for. Very awesome and very tasty. Highly recommended

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Javs M.
159
3
0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gabriel H.

Gabriel H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Adi M.
21
26
25

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jenny K.
60
364
446

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Chu L.
76
62
5

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of E M.
0
97
49

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gabriel H.

Gabriel H.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of M L.
0
5
1

5 years ago

The menudo is wack :/ I'll might as well learn to make it myself if I'm gonna end up disappointed in the end.

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Must try birria ramen!!! Breakfast is also great! Tacos de birria are also a must. Fair price. Love it!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of B. Q.
1
29
5

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mario F.
118
81
8

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

I've had a great experience with their service. Their chilaquiles are the bomb! I love their burritos.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Food is decent but they constantly get simple orders wrong. Dine in if you're eating from here so that way you can get your food fixed.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gabriel H.

Gabriel H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Letty R.
11
57
17

6 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gabriel H.

Gabriel H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gabriel H.

Gabriel H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 4 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

You might also consider

El Tepeyac Cafe - 7/28/24: Okie de Pollo Burrito -- fireeeeeee!!!

El Tepeyac Cafe

3.8(2.9k reviews)
1.3 mi•Boyle Heights
•$$

4++ This place feels like an East LA/ Boyle Heights institution. They serve as both a café and a…read moretakeout window. You can die in and have a vibe of a small pop type place or you can order it and have takeout at the side window. The folks here are very friendly either way. A few coworkers and I were trying to get some takeout so I went with the Hollenbeck chile verde. This burrito was huge and the food lasted me at least two meals easily. The price is pretty reasonable as well. I've been wanting to come to this place a long time. Years ago I saw this place on food shows and what not. Can't believe it took me this long to come here. Glad I got to experience it. One of their items is that huge burrito which of course I couldn't partake in especially since I was planning on going back to work. If you want a good hearty meal in the area for a decent price this is a great option. Especially for their burritos.

Been coming to this place since I was a kid & recently started coming back. Taste is always great…read morebut the business is practicing deception w their pricing. Last time I was here was last June & the menu prices were not the correct prices. I was not notified of this by the waitress but when I received the receipt. A difference of $3 for the burritos from the menu prices. The waitress's reasoning was they haven't got their new menus OK no problem. I go back today, 3.5 months later. The burrito menu prices have not been corrected in the menu & I revise the receipt w an increase of $3 and no indication on the menu. The waitress uses the same excuse as she did in June, except this time I call her out on it. She states that it indicates that "prices are subject to change", in very small print. I inform her that that change must be indicated by the waitress or the menu by California law. Even though I brought this to her attention, she stuck by it. She also charged twice for cheese. I also paid for the Large burrito but it came out the mini-burrito. I hate to say, but this place is practicing pricing deception. The owner and the supervisors better correct this, quick. It is the waitresses job to inform the customers of the price increase. This Is technically theft, just like if a customer walks out on a bill. I didn't argue. I just adjusted the tip accordingly. These are tough times & no one should be taken advantage of. Manny would not be cool w this. ***Just spoke w the Manager Ghay about the issue & he was unwilling to listen, & very defensive. He claims that he knows the law & does not have to indicate the current prices. After I explained he was violating city laws by not informing patrons of prices. He said I could speak to the owner "Carlos" & hung up on me. This guy is gonna learn the hard way that he's committing theft. This guy better change his tune bc the place is usually empty these days.

Photos
El Tepeyac Cafe - Interior restaurant

Interior restaurant

El Tepeyac Cafe - Chicken enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas

El Tepeyac Cafe - Beef tacos Crunchy

See all

Beef tacos Crunchy

Los Cinco Puntos - Crispy chicharron taco on the left and carnitas taco on the right.

Los Cinco Puntos

4.4(1k reviews)
1.0 mi•Boyle Heights
•$$

Best carnitas taco of my life - of my life!!!! Sure, other…read morespots may have great carnitas but the combination of the homemade tortilla with great quality and quantity of carnitas. Incredible. I'm embarrassed I hadnt been here sooner. Old school, stuffy, cramped, limited seating and yes, parking can be tough but WOW is this place worth it. I stand by my pork/carnitas/chicharron recommendation, havent tried other proteins/menu items.

Did the foodie thing and finally drove out 30min just to eat Los Cinco Puntos and drive back home…read more Yes its good. Above lots of carnitas spots. Line moves quick. So don't fret if its long. There was 7-8 people when in front of me and it took me 5-6min to start my order. I got carnitas with cuerito, buche and chicharron tacos and a bean n extra cheese burrito. Carnitas and Cuerito - First off lets talk about these tortillas. They are a perfect vessel for this situation. Thick. Delicious corn flavor and not too dense like leather. Carnitas are great. Cuerito is prepared in a way that Im not. too much of a fan off. Think of those pickled cueritos where they are chewy. I like more rendered down. Carnitas solo would be great. Buche - Solid. Not too soft. P Balanced well between soft n chewy. Good flavor. Chicharron - Amazing. Crunchy but no to the point where its intense to chew. Amazing flavor. Everything works well with the pico , guac and salsa. These were the best taco. Bean and extra cheese burrito - Great. Honestly I like a good amount of cheese in my burro. And getting extra cheese might have over done it. Tortilla is amazing. Im pretty sure they make these in house but if they dont well damn. Great. This burrito ranks up in my top 5 bean n cheese burritos. Id definitely come back PRO TIPS - Get the guac and pico or if you like nopales get those w the pico. This is a must. Also pick up a Coka Mexicana. This pairs well with the carnitas and chicharron. Dont sleep on that bean n cheese burrito either.

Photos
Los Cinco Puntos
Los Cinco Puntos - Costilla (rib)

Costilla (rib)

Los Cinco Puntos - Chiccharon.. Can't get enough of the crispy skin.

See all

Chiccharon.. Can't get enough of the crispy skin.

Tirzahs Mexi-Terranean Grill - Watermelon/Pineapple agua fresca, Super Street Korean BBQ taco, Queso Birra Taco and a side of refried beans.

Tirzahs Mexi-Terranean Grill

4.7(229 reviews)
1.4 mi•El Sereno
•$$

LA burrito is so good! It's got everything; meat, French fries, guacamole, etc. It's also wrapped…read morevery well, so that it's not messy and every bite has a little bit of every filling. It's on the pricier side (around $18), you'll have to find parking on the street, and there are only a few tables, but it's definitely worth a trip! I will be back!

I came with a group and was asking for items that are fusion and blend both Mexican and…read moreMediterranean cuisines but the cashier's suggestions were such a let down in the end. I really don't recommend this spot and I don't think I'd ever come back which is such a disappointment because I've been wanting to check out this spot for months. For the price I don't think it's worth it even if the meat portions are generous. Not to mention they were extremely stingy with the sauces. Kofta Egyptian nachos: these were supposed to be the best fusion dish here but it just tasted like kofta on chips. The pinto beans were barely dispersed in the nachos. The guacamole hummus was pretty good but i think the overall vibe of our dishes just let me down. Kofta yalla bowl: this tastes exactly like the nachos and I prefer it bc it's more refreshing but it's so monotonous since the portions are huge. Chicken gyro: had a small bite and it was good but nothing outstanding Esquite: this was pretty tasty but I've also never had bad esquites. Sample o Pumpkin spice horchata: too much cinnamon but also I'm not the biggest fan of pumpkin spice. Sample of pollo & asada: honestly there was probably a reason why the cashier kept recommending only kofta. These were not very good; dry and lacking in flavor. The pollo was slightly better than the asada.

Photos
Tirzahs Mexi-Terranean Grill
Tirzahs Mexi-Terranean Grill - LA Burrito

LA Burrito

Tirzahs Mexi-Terranean Grill - Large Pineapple, Cucumber Lime Agua fresco

See all

Large Pineapple, Cucumber Lime Agua fresco

Tenampal - Chilaquiles

Tenampal

4.7(338 reviews)
2.4 mi•Boyle Heights
•$$

A small, unassuming, humble corner restaurant tucked away in Boyle Heights serving up the best…read morechicken omelette I've ever had. Stumbled across this place cause I was in the area for a job. Upon walking in, the vibes are very cozy and intimate, not a lot of seating though. My waiter, Gabriel, was extremely friendly, welcoming, and had very good knowledge of the menu which I appreciate a lot. Now back to the omelette-- oh my god. Best omelette in my life I think. The eggs were soft, pillowy and cooked to PERFECTION. Not overdone and not super runny either. The chicken was extremely tender and flavorful. The sauce they used was sweet and savory, the pickled onions balanced it all out with the perfect acidity. I wish I was around this area a lot more, I'll definitely be coming back!

A Boyle Heights gem! We came here for brunch and boy did this place exceed our expectations. CHECK…read moreTHIS PLACE OUT! We ordered the Huarache - 5 stars! (5 hour cooked suadero meat) Chilaquiles - 5 stars! (we liked one sauce over the other) Enchilladas - 4.5 stars! The place itself is small and cozy with a vibrant warmth of good vibes. DO expect a wait time and 2 hour metered parking is available out front. The service itself was amazing and all the food tasted like it was cooked from scratch. I loved the rustle and bustle of cooking noises in the background and my friend and I overall had a lovely time!

Photos
Tenampal - Inside

Inside

Tenampal - Red and green chilaquiles

Red and green chilaquiles

Tenampal - Chilaquiles

See all

Chilaquiles

Teresita's - Molletes de frijoles con queso

Teresita's

4.1(357 reviews)
0.7 mi
•$$

Food is always great. The Azteca burrito is one of my favorites. Larry I've been getting the…read moretaquito plate. Best jamaica! Great service. Plenty of seating. Parking lot available. And if they have a pistachio bundt cake, get yourself a slice!

My wife and I decided to the East L.A./Boyle Heights area for breakfast, we went to a restaurant…read morecalled Teresitas restaurant on First Street that my brother and his friend recommend to have a ready authentic Mexican cuisine from the state of Zacatecas,Mexico. We step in the restaurant we adore the decorations in the restaurant including the nice colors that matches the restaurant flair of Mexico. The waitress greets us they told us table or booth we decided booth and we sat down and she hand us the menu then we're looking at the menu and see what to order. My wife order the chorizo plate and choice of flour or corn tortillas she pick flour,then I order a large bowl of menudo because it's Saturday it's menudo day Saturday and Sunday. We tasted the chips and homemade salsa it was very good we're impressed about the homemade green salsa it wasn't hot but with great flavor of chile and was very impressive and chips were nice warm and fresh from the fryer. Then the waitress brought us our meal we're very impressed with the food including my large bowl of menudo. I really enjoy my bowl of menudo it was very good the meat was very tender that I really enjoy I like lemon,onion,oregano add it flavor to the menudo. My wife enjoy her chorizo plate she like the rice and beans it a very good rich flavor but chorizo was ok she say it didn't have a good chorizo flavor but she like it. The staff at the Teresitas were amazing nice and friendly with the service.

Photos
Teresita's
Teresita's - Complimentary chips and salsa

Complimentary chips and salsa

Teresita's - Sign outside

See all

Sign outside

Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez - 3 Tacos Dorados con Carnitas / 3 Golden Brown Tacos with Pork

Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez

4.6(646 reviews)
3.5 mi•Lincoln Heights
•$$

Let me start by saying we found this little hole-in-the-wall spot on TikTok, so of course my family…read moreand I had to make the drive and check it out and I'm so glad we did! Parking is street parking only, but it wasn't too difficult to find a spot. As soon as we walked in, we loved the atmosphere. The restaurant is colorful, welcoming, and gave me major Guadalajara, Mexico vibes. I ordered the Birria de Res en Consomé with a passion fruit agua fresca, and wow... the flavor was incredible! The birria was rich, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and had just the right amount of spice. It was truly finger-licking good. The passion fruit agua fresca was so refreshing, especially on a hot summer day--it absolutely hit the spot. They also started us off with chips and three different homemade salsas, and every single one was delicious with a nice spicy kick. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The only downside for me was that when we asked for water, they brought bottled water that we had to pay for. It wasn't a huge deal, but I would have preferred complimentary water. Still, the amazing food and great service more than made up for it. Overall, this place is definitely worth the visit. If you're looking for authentic flavors and a fun atmosphere, I highly recommend checking them out. 10/10

This place was amazing ! Wife got the birria fire !…read moreCarne en Su jugo fire ! Gotta try it if you're in LA

Photos
Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez - The restaurant

The restaurant

Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez - Carne en su jugo

Carne en su jugo

Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez - Tacos de birria en caldo.

See all

Tacos de birria en caldo.

Cocina Express - mexican - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...