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Tierra Caliente

4.4 (124 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Open • 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order Tierra Caliente Takeout or Delivery

Tierra Caliente Photos

TIERRA CALIENTE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Casual
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Tierra Caliente

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Menu
Jonathan M.

This a great place if you want to eat authentic Mexican food at a good price. The staff were quick to take our order and provided tortilla chips while the food was being made. There are plenty of booths for you to sit at but it may get a bit tricky if you come in with large party. They do have outside seating options

Mole enchiladas - Very tasty!
May R.

It was my turn to choose today's venue. I chose Tierra Caliente. My father's face was lacking enthusiasm and he remained silent a bit too long. "Okay", he remarked, and off we went. Tierra Caliente serves the most delicious food, but their service blows. They are not bad people, don't get me wrong. It's just that it feels like they have one sole cook-- a geriatric grandma, most likely. A lovely lover of food but with very slow arthritic hands. They need more cooks! The waiting for our food has always been the longest. You'd think they'd provide you with chips and salsa to distract you from this embarrassment, but nope. I ordered the cheese enchilada plate and my father the chicharron plate. I chose the cafe de la olla, which is superb here-- strong coffee already sweetened and infused with cinnamon. My dad chose Jamaica. When the food finally arrived, we chuckled. Our plates were works of art -- visually-stunning platters to the hungry eye. We quickly forgot our famished annoyance and dove in. Every bite of my cheese enchilada was perfectly-spiced and the cheeses were both chewy and crumbly to the bite. It was a dish I wanted to last in front of me as long as awaiting its creation was; an experience I wanted to not end. The refried beans were smoky and lardy; the Spanish rice expertly-fluffy. My father only ooh-ed, ahh-ed, and Mmm-ed as he ate. His big fat yellow-corn homemade tortillas were thick and heavy. He sopped them up with his chicharron and his plate was history. I want to say it's worth the wait coming here, but we seldom eat here. I noticed people who order online to pick up their food still have to wait, too. Either granny needs help or work on getting an AI Gran. Ambiance is casual. Families with noisy children ruled today. A 2-year-old's high- pitched shriek beat the bolted TV's playing European soccer in capturing our attention, and we are avid soccer fans.

Mark E.

This lovely and unassuming joint in Cypress Park doesn't look like much but once you're greeted by the friendly waitress and then you see 3 or more families from the neighborhood walk in behind you, you know you're in for a treat. My wife and I started off with their delicious Guacamole and then we each got the 3 Taco plate. So good and very affordable! The rice and beans here are like no other and the meats and veggies in the tacos are the standard but delicious. Tierra Caliente is a region of Mexico that I had yet tasted and like every region Mexico I've had so far, it's delicious. I feel very fortunate to live here and be able to taste so many different regions of Mexico all in one place! Thank you Tierra Caliente!

Business entrance
Jesse L.

If you're in search of authentic Mexican cuisine that transports you back to childhood memories, look no further than this gem of a restaurant. As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted with a warm atmosphere reminiscent of the vibrant eateries from my hometown. The service was prompt and friendly, with the server quickly attending to our table and taking our orders. I opted for the chicken enchiladas plate, which was accompanied by a side of delectable rice and beans. Before the main event arrived, we were treated to a basket of tortilla chips served with a selection of salsas. The chips were crispy and fresh, and while the variety was delightful, the red salsa packed quite a punch--definitely on the spicy side, so approach with caution if you're sensitive to heat! The restaurant boasts ample seating and an ambiance that truly captures the essence of Mexico, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a meal with friends or family. Overall, my experience was wonderful, and the food was equally satisfying. For those seeking delicious and affordable Mexican food, this place should be at the top of your list. Don't miss out on this culinary treasure!

Cute wall decor
Reah C.

Been wanting to check it out for two years since moving into the neighborhood and so glad I finally did. This is going to be my new go to spot in the future. The service is great and super friendly. The food is nicely plated and really yummy.

Armida C.

Este lugar está a vista de carretera, tiene estacionamiento en la parte de atrás, es pequeño pero tiene varias mesas dentro y fuera del lugar y cuentan con baños. La comida muy rica, me gusto el menudo, tiene buen sabor y no tiene mal olor que también es muy importante, tiene tortillas recién hechesitas, el guacamole tiene también muy buen sabor, los platillos tienen buen tamaño, su precio es adecuado, el personal amable y aunque el lugar es concurrido está tranquilo, la verdad está comida si tiene un sabor auténtico mexicano.

Wet Burrito
Adan H.

The food was delicious. The wet burrito is pretty big. The service was slow. I had to wait about 5 minutes until someone gave me a table. The ambience is quiet and clean.

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10 months ago

By far the best Mexican food I've ever had in Los Angeles. This is our typical go to spot for soups, all kinds of them.

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9 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Great service, good food. I enjoy everything everything I come here :) their is birria super good. I like their guac too

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7 months ago

Service, Ambiance good. FOOD not what I expected. It's catered to the gentrifying community.

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1 year ago

A regular staple. for me. Yes, the enchiladas are great, but don't sleep on the pozole!

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1 year ago

The servers were friendly. My friend and I both got the Chile relenos. They were not very good at all .

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3 years ago

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Mi Corazon - carne tacos

Mi Corazon

3.8(773 reviews)
2.1 mi•Los Feliz
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This bar is fantastic! A large space with lots of options for seating inside and out. Very chill…read morevibe. We had intended to go to the bar next door, but one look at the crowd there and the loud throbbing music turned us off. I had wanted to go to Mi Corazon anyway, and was glad the group agreed. Lots of great mezcal and tequila options, as well as a well-stocked bar with wine, beer and cocktails. And the food menu looks great, but we didn't try it. Next time! The bartender was great and served us at our table. Brought us chips and a delicious homemade spicy salsa. The atmosphere was perfect for conversation, with good indie music playing at the right level. I will be back.

1 Star -- Extremely disappointing experience…read more Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was horrible from the moment we arrived. When I first arrived, I gave them the name of our reservation, and the staff had no idea what I was talking about. We were a party of 6, yet they seated us at a tiny table that was clearly not appropriate for our group. When it was time to order, my husband very clearly told the waiter which pasta he wanted and even showed him a picture of the item on the menu. The waiter looked at it and agreed. My food came out, but my husband's food never did. We eventually found out that his order was never even put in. What made it worse was when the waiter came out saying, "Oh my God, I thought you said you didn't want it." Everyone at the table looked at him completely confused because my husband had literally told him what he wanted and showed him the menu item. Instead of simply acknowledging the mistake and fixing it, we were left waiting. On top of that, trying to get anyone's attention was nearly impossible. We had to repeatedly try to get someone's attention just to get basic service. Then there was another issue with the entrance fee. My sister-in-law had messages showing that we were told that if we ate at the restaurant, we would no longer have to pay the entrance fee. We showed those messages to the woman handling the wristbands, but instead of looking into it or speaking to someone who could clarify the situation, she simply said, "I don't know, you have to pay." No attempt was made to investigate or resolve the issue. After everything that happened, they still added a tip to the bill, despite the extremely poor service we received. Overall, this was one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've had. Poor communication, poor service, lack of organization, and no effort to make things right. I definitely will not be recommending this place to anyone, and we will not be returning.

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Ka'teen

Ka'teen

4.1(1.1k reviews)
5.5 mi•Hollywood
Outdoor seating
Private events

EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! Food , service, ambiance, Can't…read moreremember the servers name but she was fantastic! She deserves all the credit honestly. Whoever sees this, please let her know we loved her! And she deserves a freaking raise!

I felt a bit conflicted on how to rate my experience at Ka'teen. I came here on a date night with…read moremy husband and had a mixed experience. We had the earliest reservation available at 5:30 PM. When we arrived, we had to join a line outside in the rain as the restaurant was a few minutes late to opening. While it wasn't a huge deal, it's not something I've experienced before. Shortly after, we were let into the outdoor restaurant through a beautiful thatch tunnel. The aesthetic is stunning. There is a lot of lush greenery and beautiful woven lantern lights, complemented by chill, ambient house music playing throughout. Unfortunately, we were seated very close to a speaker, so the volume was way too loud and made it a bit hard to hear--less than ideal for a date night, though I understand and appreciate the vision. The restaurant also burns incense that fills the air, which I believe was Palo Santo. I personally love that scent, so it was enjoyable for me, but it's something to be mindful of if you are sensitive to smoke or fragrances. Since this restaurant is attached to a hotel, the crowd vibe is a bit odd. Some people, like my husband and me, were dressed nicely for a date night or birthday celebration, while others were literally wearing sweats, flip-flops, and baseball caps. I know the restaurant is catering to hotel guests, but I do wish there was at least a minimal dress code to align with the gorgeous aesthetic and the steep cost of the meal. All of the staff we interacted with were incredibly kind! Our server was wonderful. He was genuinely so nice, and we really appreciated this part of our visit a lot. We ordered quite a bit of food, so we got to taste a lot of the menu. My husband had a Mezcalita de Yucatán to start, and for food, we ordered the blood orange aguachile, the potato taquitos, the cochinita pibil, the oxtail frites, the corn esquite, and the frijoles de la olla. As the sun goes down, the restaurant uses ambient lighting. While I usually like this, one major flaw is that there is so little light that we couldn't see what we were eating by the time our main courses came. Part of the experience of dining is the visual, and we genuinely were unable to see our plates. I don't personally drink mezcal, but my husband enjoyed his cocktail and said it was light and refreshing. The blue prawn and blood orange aguachile featured a delicious, vibrantly tart crimson sauce with a great chili kick, but the prawns themselves were disappointingly mushy and stringy rather than snap-tender. Unfortunately, the dish was held back further by being served with only two very dry, sub-par tostadas. The potato taquitos were exactly as expected; you can't really mess up a dish that is fried and filled with potatoes. The flavor profile of the oxtail sauce was fantastic and the small amount of meat available was incredibly tasty, but the dish suffered from structural flaws. The oxtail itself was disappointingly skimpy on meat. This was okay since my husband and I shared both of the mains, but for the price point, the portion of meat should be more generous. Also, because the Yucatán frites were served directly in the heavy sauce, they quickly became soggy, developing a starchy and slightly slimy texture rather than a crisp bite. The cochinita pibil was yummy, and the pork pulled apart beautifully alongside the excellent fresh tortillas. As for the sides, the frijoles were solid but unremarkable, and while the esquites tasted good, they were a tad too soupy in consistency. While the kitchen clearly understands flavor profiles, the technical execution across all dishes was flawed. Worse still, unfortunately, we ended up with food poisoning after eating here. I cannot say for certain which dish caused it since we ordered an array of things on the menu, but it was a huge bummer, and I would definitely be hesitant to recommend Ka'teen consequently.

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Sonoratown - Carne Asada Taco

Sonoratown

4.4(2.3k reviews)
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Sonoratown took the top spot on our LA taco tour. The amazing smell of their kitchen as you walk in…read morejust tells you you're in for a treat. I had immediate regrets not getting more than 1 taco. The meat was flavorful and juicy, the tortilla de harina amazingly soft, the salsas packed a great punch of spice and flavor. All around spectacular. I even got an horchata de coco to wash it all down and that made it even better. The shop is small but has some seating indoor and outdoor. Great decor and art on the walls. Service was fast and staff were very nice. I am not in LA much but will go be going back to Sonoratown.

On all honesty I really wanted to like this place the ambiance was nice it's small but cool drove…read moreall the way from Simi to see what the hype was about... we order 5 tacos 4 de asada 1 de cabeza and one chorizo... with Sonora flour tortillas we were so stoked about but we were disappointed sadly We got our order and our tortillas were COLD... we got our order quick maybe it was an off day... would I come back again maybe to give it another shot will say it will be soon I doubt it ... There's no parking and it's expensive 5 bucks for 15min 20 for the day but if it helps use spot hero paid 12.00 bucks for 4 hrs

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Guelaguetza Restaurante - Complimentary Chips and Mole.

Guelaguetza Restaurante

3.9(3.3k reviews)
5.1 mi•Harvard Heights
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Family-owned & operated

What a beautiful assault on the senses this place is. To the colorful and vibrant Oaxacan decor to…read morethe live music and dancing to the open grill kitchen, one is immersed in this beautiful culture before taking one bite. The food is spectacular and authentic Oaxacan. They don't make the "best of" lists for nothing. From the salsa to the tlayuda to the chipulines to the mole, this was a culinary experience to remember. It gets quite busy so you may need to flag your server every so often, but they respond very quickly and take care of you right away. Parking can be difficult on the weekends. They have a valet lot that gets packed quickly. You can drive a block or two and try your luck with street parking. Can't wait to return soon

Guelaguetza is a festive and joyful space for celebrations. There's colorful art throughout with a…read morepink tree in the middle surrounded by marigolds. As you enter the main dining room, there's a show. A couple people are laying down an energetic beat on a large marimba while guitarists play traditional Oaxacan melodies. Chapulines: These toasted grasshoppers are crispy like chips or fried shrimp. Seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, and chile de arbol, they'd be s great snack with a cold beer. Tear off a piece of the house-made tortilla and form a taco with some chapulines, avocado, Oaxacan string cheese, and salsa. Mole Rojo: The incredible red mole is a complex blend of warm spices. There's layers of creamy nuttiness from toasted almonds, peanuts, and sesame seeds. Heirloom tomatoes provide redness and sweetness. The Chilhuacle rojo is an heirloom chili pepper from Oaxaca known for a citrusy fig-like flavor with jalapeño-like heat. Ancho chilies add some faint smokiness. The aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves add to the boldness of smooth comforting flavors. With giant, juicy, and tender pork ribs and rice, and more house-made tortillas, it's easy to clean up all the delicious mole! Flan: For my continuing birthday month festivities, my friends surprised me with a big slice of flan with a candle. The custard is cold, thick, rich, smooth, and creamy. Parking: They have a huge valet parking lot for $7. There's also street parking in the neighboring streets.

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

El Tepeyac Cafe

3.8(2.9k reviews)
4.4 mi•Boyle Heights
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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.

Was in the area and noticed that El Tepeyac had a lot of reviews and decided to try it out…read more Definitely appreciate that they have their own dedicated parking lot. The staff was very friendly, was able to seat myself at any table as soon as I walked in. We were offered some housemade salsa and tortilla chips while we looked over the menu. The salsa was great, had a little hint of heat at the back of it and was very good. There is a bar and a few dine in tables. Overall ambient noise wasn't very loud, was able to maintain a conversation easily. I had decided to go with a steak burrito and my friend went with the bacon eggs and pancakes. The steak burrito is a generous portion. I appreciate the simple flavors of the burrito. The burrito comes with a side of fresh made guacamole. While the ingredients were all fresh in the burrito, I did find myself with a couple of hard to chew pieces of steak.

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Holbox - Smoked kanpachi tostada

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4.7(2.8k reviews)
6.4 mi•Historic South Central
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Amazing food. The scallop aguachile is a staple. The tuna tartare tostada is my go to…read more Great place to spend your Amex platinum resy credit too!

I would give 10 stars if I could. This place totally deserves all the accolades. As one of LA's…read moremost reviewed restaurants and the winner of Michelin star year after year, it is a must visit. It can get super busy and the lines can stretch out into the street. Parking is very limited in the paid lot ($5.50 for 90 minutes) or on the street. My recommendation: go early on a weekday. Restaurant opens at 11:30, so get there before then. We reached at 11:40 am, found a parking spot and stood in a short line and were at the counter in 10 minutes. While waiting in line, the friendly staff hand out menus and answer questions. We ordered and found an empty table. The food started arriving within minutes. Talking about the food- it was outstanding! We started with Halibut Ceviche (10/10) - very fresh and delicious. I tried the Kanpachi taco - and it's one of the best tacos that I have ever had, including eating in Mexico City, Oaxaca and other places in Mexico. The fish was perfectly smoked and literally melted in my mouth, the blue corn tortilla was amazing, and the peanut sauce and dash of chili oil made it one of the most delicious things that I have ever eaten. We also tried the Pulpo (Octopus), Shrimp and Fish tacos, which were all very good. The sauces were delicious and super spicy. The ambiance was cool. If you haven't been there yet, just go as soon as you can. You don't know what you have been missing.

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Tierra Caliente - mexican - Updated November 2026

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