Blowhard, Esq. writes:

When a Mexican restaurant is located in East L.A., on Cesar Chavez Blvd., across the street from a Catholic Church, and next door to a botanica burning enough incense to summon Quetzalcoatl himself, chances are you’re gonna have a good time. Such was the case today when I visited La Azteca Tortilleria for the second entry in my burrito blogging series.

It’s open at 6 am every day because they make their own tortillas from scratch on the premises. Like a good BBQ joint that cares about quality control, when they run out of food, that’s it, they’re done for the day. Thus, they usually close by 3 pm. I got there in the morning for a late breakfast/early lunch. First, some signs from out front.

Yes, please take me to the fresh tortillas, please.

Next time, tamales.

The interior is modest and only seats maybe a dozen people.

Wait, there’s no menu yet…?

…oh, there it is. Just the essentials, nothing fancy.

Have you seen APOCALYPTO? It’s a pretty great movie.

In business for over 65 years, it’s been called the best burrito in the city by the L.A. Weekly and the best in the United States by USA Today. Their signature item is the chile relleno burrito, so that’s what I ordered. The star is the poblano chile, stuffed with cheese, battered, and fried with refried beans and pico de gallo. Verdict? Delicious.

The fresh hot sauce is great too. Spicy, a little smoky, with a rich flavor.

I believe the correct translation is “pornografía de comida”. See that roasted chile?

There’s no rice to bind the ingredients together, so it’s easy for the burrito to lose its structural integrity. Minor quibble. Easy to eat with a knife and fork.

La Azteca is the kind of place that brings out your inner Huell Howser. It was a quiet day, only my friends and I were there, so I asked the owner if I could take a picture of the kitchen and he was only too happy to oblige.

I didn’t have time for a proper interview, and the guy was at work so it’s not like he would’ve been able to field any questions anyway, but I insisted on family picture. The señora was so embarrassed and bashful that we all had to cajole her to join the portrait. When the workers beam with pride, you know you’ve found a good place.

Related

• My first entry in this series.
• Fenster enjoys a boozy night out.
• PR on Umami Burger and the SoCal food scene.
• Just because, an outdoor shrine at the church across the street from La Azteca.