Cielito Lindo

Since 1934, these legendary deep-fried beef taquitos have sizzled in bubbling vats of oil on Downtown’s Olvera Street, the oldest street in all of Los Angeles. Smothered in a runny avocado salsa, these crunchy, corn-based cylinders are made fresh to order, as they have been since the shop opened, with a sort of nostalgic, crowd-pleasing deliciousness that once inspired the late L.A. writer Eve Babitz to extol their virtues in her autobiographical novel Eve’s Hollywood. Beyond the shop’s iconic taquitos, however, you’ll also find an extremely solid burrito and chile relleno; all three are best enjoyed after strolling through the entirety of the touristy historical landmark. Parking in the immediate area around Cielito Lindo is fairly expensive or difficult to find—I recommend taking the Metro if you can, or parking in Chinatown and walking over.