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Antojitos Carmen
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
2510 E Cesar E Chavez AveLos Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 264-1451
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sun 8:30 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Antojitos Carmen
Review Highlights
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"Another must order is the fried quesadilla." In 6 reviews -
"...the mole chicken enchiladas and potato tacos - AMAZING." In 7 reviews -
"Then theres the Creamy Habanero." In 3 reviews
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63 reviews in English
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Review from sharon e.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whatever you do - you must get a deli cup of that special blend of spices they call "Chiltepil". It'll be the best $5 you'll ever spend on a spice mix. after sampling it at the table with our chips, we had to get some to go.
I've been starved for Mexican food since my move to Barcelona... and this was my first MexiCAN meal in 3 months. And it hit the spot. And I'm still hungry for more. Well, I'm kinda full, actually... but they certainly whet my appetite for more great Mexican food during my next 3 weeks here in LA.
Tacos - $1.25 each. as it should be. (yes, i'm bitter about the 9 euros i paid for 3 mediocre tacos in spain). My ranking of the 3 i tried: Pastor, Asada, Carnitas (which lacked salt).
Crunchy potato taco - first time i ever had it - quite good.
There was no pico de gallo at the salsa bar, which i would have liked... but the salsa verde was great, as was the red salsa. The (caution) Habanero had a great kick.
Top it off with a Mexican coke, and you're good to go.
my mouth was on fire - but i couldn't stop with those salsas.
my stomach is now on fire - same with my right eye, as i stupidly started rubbing it while typing this review. -
Review from Jack S.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
5/7/2012
We had lunch at Antojitos Carmen this past Saturday, and it was good; nothing I would drive out of the way for in terms of taste, but a good selection, and friendly people.
The main reason for stopping in was my quest to find a special quesadilla; the famous friend pillowy goodness served in the Imperial Valley. I saw through other yelpers that they had a fried quesadilla, so decided to see how they compared, and if they are similar to what I grew up on.
We went with two fried quesadillas, one with asada and one just cheese, an asada huarache, a carnitas taco and a cabeza taco. Their fried quesadilla was good, but not the same as we are used to. The way they make theirs is to use the same masa as the huarache and it was a pretty thick shell. The way it is made in the Imperial Valley is with masa harina and is thin and very crispy. The consistency of Carmen's fried dough is almost equally between tostada and sope in consistency. It is still a little doughy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and has a "breadier" texture with a masa maize base.
The asada was good in both dishes, and the cabeza was good too. The cabeza was not as tender as I was hoping, but was still tasty. The salsa verde was very good and nice and spicy. We had a decent sampling, and with two large aguas frescas, tax and tip got out for about $22.
In all we had a good meal, I would say 3 1/2 stars, but give them the benefit of the doubt this time!
*BTW - they charge $1 extra for credit cards, so be prepared* -
Review from G M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
These folks used to post up on Breed St. and used to blow my mind. Now they have opened this place and its still very good.
This is home style Mexican food. It will be fresh, it will be spicy, it will have some familiar and some new twist and it will be good.
Love the tacos de papa and the mole. -
Review from Ceci V.
Los Angeles, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place had been on my 'to eat' list for a long time. I had a sample of their food at a food fest last year, was intrigued by their special sauce (Chiltepil) and I wanted more.
My bf and I finally made it there just before Halloween for a quick dinner before a concert. Service was kinda slow so the quick part was not there.
I was in no way deterred by the B grade, nor the homely dining room. We weren't sure if we were supposed to order at the counter or seat ourselves. (seat yourself, and someone will come to take your eat-in order) His torta was good. My huitlacoche (corn smut) quesadilla was OMG delicious. Guacamole was very good.
I've since been back twice. Definitely worth a trip to East Los even if it is out of your way. -
Review from Janda F.
Los Angeles, CA
4/16/2012
I love this place. Iv'e been going here for a little over a year and Iv'e always had good experiences. I like to go on Sunday mornings for posole and chilaquiles, great hangover food. I also really like the mole. I always leave this place full, satisfied and with money left in my pocket.
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Review from penny q.
Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Simple but GREAT food (and very affordable)! And most importantly, it's authentic. The tacos de papa were nice and crispy; not at all greasy or stale. The carnitas torta was also fresh; bread was soft and not at all greasy. I will definitely be coming back!
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Review from Drew M.
Manhattan, NY
5/13/2012
Wow! Excellent food and super sweet people.
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Review from Cesar R.
Don't judge a waiter by his face tattoo....
He's somebodies son...
possibly somebodies brother...
or possibly a loving father...
OK, fine, there's a slight chance he may have killed some people, but that's besides the point!
I kid, I kid.
What I'm trying to say is...the dude that served us was super cool, genuinely friendly...had a killer face tattoo even cooler than Mike Tyson's....and he may be one of my cousins...I'm not quite sure though, when I'm in East LA, sometimes I lose track of who's family and who's not....cuz these are ALL MY PEOPLE!
A buddy brought me here for a belated Birthday lunch and I inquired about sampling a couple of their different specialties rather than ordering off the menu. The dude seemed hesitant but asked the owner (Carmen I presume) and she proceeded to whip up a platter with their most popular items and charge a measly $17...I didn't think we'd get much and then this thing showed up at our table....
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
It literally encompassed about 70% of the table....Keep in mind that's a full size pambazo cut in half, two huaraches, two gorditas, two sopes AND two quesadillas. NONE of these things are miniatures by the way....we were in over our heads...nothing left to do but loosen' the 'ol belt and dig in.
The gorditas and huaraches had shredded beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc....and went well with their spicy habanero salsa.
The sopes had shredded chicken I believe and were pretty good.
Fried quesadillas were hot and flavorful.
The star of the show was the pambazo, however....soft yet crunchy bread dipped in a guajillo pepper sauce giving it that orange/red hue....filled with tasty potatoes and plenty of flavorful, greasy CHORIZO! I could have eaten JUST this and have been perfectly happy.
The meal resulted in a gradual destruction of that platter and it's contents leaving nothing but a wake of assorted fried dough, chips, random, meats, cheeses, limes and smatterings of hot sauce.
So come on in...sample some fried, tasty Mexican treats...
and ditch those preconceived notions regarding vatos with face tattoos...
they're people too gawdammit. -
Review from Jessie M.
3/9/2012
Tried the fried quesadilla with lengua and the tacos de canasta with chicharrones, both were good. But that dry salsa they give you with your meal... that was incredible. I can't believe I didn't get some to take home. I'm the worst. Also, everyone working there was really friendly. If I lived within walking distance, I'd probably be a regular.
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Review from Johnnie B.
Hacienda Heights, CA
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very good, good antojitos.
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Review from Alan R.
New York, NY
2/26/2012
Treated a pair of Westside Gabachos like their own.
Authentic, friendly (loved the young woman waitress) fresh ingredients, good value and really good food. Depending on what you order could be $ instead of $$ but as this was our first time, we ordered more than usual because we wanted to try a variety of dishes. -
Review from Fabie S.
Bell, CA
2/13/2012
My husband and I decided to try out this little mom and pops place with authentic mexican flavors. Great chilaquiles and homemade beans and rice! The quesadilla was mouth watering delicious and the cafe de oya ( coffee with cinammon) was excellent. If you're having a lazy Sunday morning and aren't in any kind of rush this is the place to go to to have some of moms home cooking. I will admit seating is limited and the waitress was a bit slow with service but the food was yummy.
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Review from Melissa C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Carmen is my favorite Mexican delivery place. The food is authentic and the variety is awesome. I had the Alambre, which is a medley of bell peppers, asada, bacon, ham, onion, tomato and cheese. You can eat it in a taco and still have some leftovers for a breakfast omelette the next day! I can order shrimp soup when I'm sick, tacos de papa (that come with toppings on the side so your crispy tacos stay crispy!) for lunch and chilaquiles for breakfast. If I didn't have a tiny bit of self-control I would probably order from them every day as long as I could. best part is that it's super inexpensive. When I use Eat24 I get coupons and end up saving $3-5 on each purchase. My only beef (hee hee) with the online ordering is that it is hit or miss with accuracy, depending on who takes the orders. It's still one of the best stops to fulfill my Mexican craving.
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Review from The Peasant Gourmet T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2012
Pretty damn killer. Some of the best tacos in LA. 4 tacos for $5.20 and muy delicioso.
New fave spot.. -
Review from Evan E.
Rowland Heights, CA
10/26/2011
so i've been going to antijitos since they were street vendors on breed street. Scared me when that got shut down. Ecstatic when they moved into this hole in the wall down the street. Yes its small, has only 7ish tables, and no AC. But it's still 5 star to me. the family that runs this place are always friendly and very good at letting you know in great detail what they feeding you. But most importantly the food is amazing and much better than the prices they charge for them.
pozole is great, big bowl, low price. the antijitos(the stuff that gave them their reputation are always fresh and delicious, the Alambre is delicious as well as dangerous(asada, bacon, and ham and the oaxaca cheese....oooo my heart) never had anything here that i didnt like, well maybe the habenero salsa, but thats cuz theres a caution label above it and i am weak sauce and dont want food that makes me cry and sweat. i stick with the tomato and green salsa which is excellent with the free nachos.
so anyhoo, after a year long hiatus from this place, decided i need me some antojitos. place was empty which is good and bad, good cuz i didnt want to eat standing up, bad cuz i really want this place to succeed. the for sale sign in the window worried me as well. sat down noticed the prices were raised a lil bit, understandable with out economy, but prices still cheap. ordered the Alambre and a Pambazo with chorizo y papas
alambre just as a good as i remembered it, super heavy, a lil greasy, packed with meaty yumminess with some bell peppers, tomato, and cheese. The pambazo was amazin as well, love that enchiladalike bread.
a lil while later i am all food coma'ed out and pay up at the register, talk it is up a bit with the guy at the cash register. love the pacquiao bobble head at the register. bravo considering its boyle heights.
anyways, i pray this place doesnt close down, good peeps and great food. -
Review from Kimberly M.
Long Beach, CA
8/2/2011
After reading what seemed to be an abundance of great reviews my coworkers and I decided to order from Antojitos Carmen. It was an A+ that they delivered being that we are in the middle of DTLA.
The food freaking SUCKED!!!!
Nachos (both chicken & steak) were horrible. First off they use Nacho Cheese (not american cheese as the menu states) so by the time our order came a hour & half later the chips were pass soggy. The jalapenos were large cut halves with the stem on. Carne ASADA was undercooked, however the chicken was more edible. Also there was lettuce and CARROTS on these fuck-ass nachos.
Taquitos = Fuck-shit with rice and beans served on a paper plate w/ tinfoil. Really for DELIVERY?? If I had no better knowledge I would have totally thought this was a to-go plate from a party!
Burrito - Carnitas Plain R/B. My coworker states it was perfect. I would take his review with a grain of salt. He'll eat anything that makes a turd.
Any-who consider yourself warned..... -
Review from Claire H.
7/21/2011
If you are like me, and your work is located in that peculiar cluster of warehouses that is too Boyle Heights to get any Downtown restaurants to deliver to you, yet too Downtown to be able to walk to any of the excellent restaurants in Boyle Heights, walk, do not run, to Antojitos Carmen.
I have long loved the East side. The trouble is, I take the gold line to work and am often too busy to leave my office for lunch, so I am stuck either bringing my lunch to work or eating off one of the mediocre lunch trucks (no, not even taco trucks... lunch trucks) that make the rounds to all the warehouses.
I am crazy about this style of regional Mexican food (thick pads of aromatic, handmade corn tortillas, dark, rich sauces, habanero peppers, nopales) but many people just automatically think of your run of the mill burritos and carne asada when they think of Mexican food. I am happy to report that my coworkers, many of whom have little experience with things like mole, are now addicted to, and in love with this restaurant.
Their mole is some of the richest, smokiest, spiciest, and best I have ever tasted and they give you both a thigh, and a leg of chicken (bone in), not just a dried-out breast like some restaurants do. The huaraches and quesadillas are phenomenal, made on hand made tortillas, and the options for toppings are some of the best I've seen (mushrooms, chicharron, flor de calabasa, beef tinga, aside from classics like lengua and carne asada.) I can't wait to try their pork ribs with nopales, mixiotes, and cemitas poblanas!
Also, believe the hype about that salsa. All of the salsas are good, but if you like the spicy, you must try the creamy habanero salsa. It's pretty spicy, but with such intense, bright flavor that we all ended up dousing our food with it (and, subsequently, wiping sweat off our foreheads.) They offer a little side of some seasoning that consists of ground garlic, chilis, and seeds that is also just wonderful and uniquely flavored.
Now, here's what really won us over.
Not only do they deliver, but check out their ONLINE MENU and easy-to-use ordering form: http://antojitoscarmen...
That's pretty fancy, for any part of town!
Prices are ridiculously cheap, they take credit cards, and it is family owned. The man who delivered our food brought it in an insulated duffel bag. Yum. Just a heads up, though - they make everything fresh, and delivery can take awhile, so plan ahead.
I predict we'll be ordering from here a LOT. If you work on the downtown/Boyle Heights border, you should do the same!Listed in: The East Side (not to be…
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Review from Michelle N.
Los Angeles, CA
4/17/2012
The fried carne quesadilla is soooooo delicious!!! The potato tacos are really good too, with everything on top. And the spicy sesame stuff... i swear i can put on almost anything and it will taste yum! Food is cheap and delicious!
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Review from valentin v.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2012
Really good food but not a great looking place
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Review from sara l.
I've heard GREAT things about Antojitos Carmen, so we stopped here while on our way to an event at Eastside Luv. The simplicity of their food is what makes it so great, but what's also nice is that you can get a few types of Mexican street food (that's what antojitos are) from D.F. that you don't find as much in LA.
There was a sign on the door advertising 7 tacos de canasta for $5. I was ecstatic. I LOVE tacos de canasta! What's great about them is that they're sort of these steamed, "basket" tacos, so they aren't greasy and oily. They just a *little* filling so you can eat one in one bite or eat them with a fork. AC gave me potato filled tacos de canasta and bean-filled ones.
Their huitlacoche is very nice, as they mix it with sauteed onions, corn, and peppers, so it's a GREAT alternative to met for any vegetarians.
The mole enchiladas are nice, the horchata is lovely, and all of the salsas at the salsa are great, but one thing that stood out in a HUGE way was the Salsa de chile pepil. I'd never had it before, and it was an amazing mix of nuts, seeds, chiles, garlic, and spices--kind of like an uncooked mole. In any case it was delicious, and I'd drive to Boyle Heights just to eat it again! Antojitos Carmen is a great little joint! Can't wait to have the chile pepil salsa again. YUM! -
Review from Ziggy Z.
Los Angeles, CA
9/4/2011
Ah yes, the food of the people. Simple and delicious.
I had 2 huaraches, huitlacoche and chicharrones and a Mexican coke.
Dinner $10. Experience priceless. -
Review from Roland L.
Yesterday was a culinary adventure for me beginning with dim sum and ending with tacos! I was soooo stuffed that I was looking forward to a pot of Moroccan Mint Green Tea at Urth Caffe to aide with digestion! ;-)
Having loaded up on Chicken Fajitas at Pink Taco with my buds Thomas N and Rico D at 6pm, I picked up my bud Mateo because he was hungry after a long day at work. Since we have both been wanting to try Antojitos Carmen, we settle upon dining here, arriving at 9pm.
I didn't know what to order, mind you, I was completely full from eating Pink Taco (sorry, I know that sounds funny!). I settled upon 3 tacos: Asada, Carnitas, & Pastor. Mateo ordered an Asada Torta and a Fried Quesadilla filled with Chicharrones!
Chips and Salsa: 5/5
You cannot get any fresher than Carmen's chips. She was literally cutting the corn tortillas and frying them on the spot. Next thing you know, you're served super hot, perfectly crisp, thin corn tortilla chips accompanied by a green, red and orange salsa. I think the orange salsa is habanero based because that sucker lit up my tongue immediately! I didn't care for the vinegary taste of the orange. Their red salsa was super tasty and was reminiscent of the red salsa served at Ciro's and was equally not, but towards the end. Similarly tasty and hot was the green. Their green salsa is what you'd expect, slightly tangy and tomatillo based.
Carnitas Taco: 5/5
Mmm, mmm, mmm! Carmen does carnitas right! The ideal taste and texture with outstanding crispy seared surface that is not overdone. Served with grilled onions and cilantro (if you like).
Pastor: 5/5
Tasty and tangy, I really enjoyed Carmen's al Pastor. I forgot to mention that their tortillas are tortillas a mano! Their soft handmade corn tortillas do not have course overpowering flavor of masa which perfectly set up the flavor of their meats. Served with grilled onion and cilantro (if you like).
Carne Asada: 2.5/5
This was odd. I did not care for the texture and flavor of their asada. I could not pinpoint why. They just were a little weird tasting. Served with raw onion and cilantro (if you like).
Vampiro: 5/5
I am a juice freak! You cannot understand how ecstatic I was to know they serve Jugos! I went with the Vampiro. I was a little shocked my juice was not red! Perhaps they ran out of red beets or they were using white beets...who knows. All I know is their juice was sweet and delicious. I did not taste celery, but that's not a deal breaker.
I did not try the Fried Quesadilla with Chicharrones, but my bud Mateo loved it! I have pictures of this and it looked sinfully good!
My final thoughts on Antojitos Carmen: King Taco is one block away...why eat substandard Mexican food at King Taco when you can have the amazing food that Carmen serves?
Antojitos Carmen gets a solid 4.5/5 stars (rounded up)!Listed in: Vamos a comer Comida…
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Review from Javier J.
4/26/2011
You really have to be brave enough to venture into East L.A. to enjoy this place.
Let's be honest, even though it's on the same street that eventually turns into Sunset Blvd, it's not in an area you really would feel safe being. But then again, I can say that there's really no risk involved.
The reward, on the other hand, is right there for the taking. Antojitos Carmen is one hell of a good eat. You have Huaraches, Pambazos, Gorditas, delicious Tamales, for when you're ready for more after your Christmas tamale fest.
My favorites here are the Quesadillas and the Sopes. Oh man, they're amazingly good and you can taste how everything seems to be made from scratch and what a difference that makes.
I hate to sound like a cliche, but you can feel the love in the food. You can taste all the hand made goodness and freshness to the stuff they're shoving into your mouth.
Prices are under the $10 mark, so it makes it really easy on your wallet. Which is good because it means you don't have to walk into this area with a fat wallet in order to enjoy the stuff.
It's very small and I think that's the main negative here. It's also not really much to look at. You have the basic tables and chairs and it's very plain. But what you lack in curb appeal, you get in food quality. -
Review from Paul F.
Los Angeles, CA
5/8/2011
The first time I took a bite at Antojitos Carmen, I thought how sad it must be for Carmen's kids-if they grew up eating food this delicious, they must live in a world of disapointment filled with bland, boring food!
Everything here is amazing-the tacos (including potato), quesidillas (deep fried huitlacoche-OMFG!), the flor de calabaza, there are no bad choices!
I had them cater my last holiday party, they were very affordable, friendly, and everyone raved about the food. Great breakfasts, too.
Every so often the jukebox in the corner will start up on it's own and it's too loud, but that's my only complaint.
Don't worry about the neighborhood, go forth and chow down! -
Review from Letty C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/29/2012 1 photo
Me and my husband went for lunch today omg this is real mexican food we ordered a sampler plate it came with a taco dorado, gordita, flauta, huarache,pambaso and 1 enmolada sooo much food i thought the plate was for both of us ohhh nooo here comes another plate!!! Very friendly service i loved it, we definately going back soon!!
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Review from Wesley W.
3/10/2011
Solid Food, good prices. Quite the hole in the wall but they definitely can cook some good Mexican food. Carmen is from Michoacan and her hubby is from DF. Portions are generous and the pricing is very good.
Potato tacos were smothered in lettuce, queso fresco and crema mexicana..yummy.
The fried quesadilla was tasty and a great starter.
I went on Ash Wednesday so we stayed away from meat. The mojo de ajo was just okay but the mojarra frita was good and the fish was moist, tender and meaty unlke many other places where it's a dry carcass of a fish.
I definitely want to come back to try some of the other stuff. Hmmm, maybe today. -
Review from Hobie T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here today as part of a random 'road trip' with my wife. At first I was unsure as it is a bit of a 'hole in the wall,' but once we sat down and got our food, we were both impressed. Even the salsa tasted fresh; the salsa verde tasted nice and vegetable-y. My wife got chicken mole enchiladas, and it was the best mole I have ever had. I ordered the milanesa torta, which was also very delicious. Even the milanesa plain was perfectly seasoned; as part of a torta, even more amazing.
We will definitely be returning, even though it's a commute, it's well worth it. -
Review from Mike Z.
Pasadena, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food. You must try the family recipe (dry) salsa.
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Review from Gino E.
11/14/2010
Another treasure in Boyle Heights, the epitome of Mexican comfort food. We had a huitlacoche huarache, which not just anyone can pull off, as well as Alambre, that came accompanied with freshly made tortillas. We also ordered an agua de piña and an atole de guayabana... thank you, Jesus. YES, it was that good. On top of the great food, Carmen and her husband were attentive and very welcoming. This is the real 'ish, son.
Dear Carmen.. please move to Echo Park. -
Review from Bobby V.
Los Angeles, CA
Having heard the hype I finally got to try the infamous Antojitos Carmen!! It was Labor Day and thankfully they were one of the only places open in the whole damn city! Its so unassuming that I almost walked right past it . first thing I notice is that its not air conditioned, and since Im spoiled that was looking like a problem. It smelled great so we sat down. We were brought a soup that instantly reminded me of when my grandma would make Fideo, i think thats what they served us. The broth was absoultely mouth watering with a splash of lime. The chips were fresh and the salsas...OMG the salsas are the best ever. First the tomato based "not so spicy" salsa had a refreshing taste, the green chili is easily the crowd favorite. Everytime I buy a green salsa or have it at taco trucks, this is the flavor Im hoping to get, but mostly never do. I could take an IV of this stuff. Then theres the Creamy Habanero...dont let the name fool you, just cause its creamy dont mean those habaneros arent gonna kick your ass!! This is truly for the spice enthusiasts, i could not stop eating it and taking huge dips with my chip that would leave my mouth on fire for 5-10 minutes.
I know a breakfast burrito isnt the best first choice but I was in a breakfast mode, and boy did it pay off. Simple: eggs, potatoes, bacon and cheese....how did they make that combo stand out so much?????????? Its amazing, by far the best breakfast burrito Ive ever had. The bacon was extra crispy and I had forgot to request it, (I hate limp bacon!!) The potatoes were seasoned so well, and so soft mmm and the cheese....normally when restaurants put a bunch of cheese it can get kinda annoying but this cheese is f"ing HEAVENLY.
Second thing we had was a huarache of chorizo con papas. WOW!! more simplicity speaking volumes. The huarache is fried on the spot and that crispy but still soft texture had me and my friend fighting over the last piece. (I would punch someone for eating my huarache!)
We ended it all with the enchiladas de mole. Talk about home made, you dont even need to ask, you can tell someone slaved over a hot stove for hours to prepare this sauce, i could tase prune, cinammon, nutmeg and raisin. Great stuff to have in your mole. By this time I was stuffed!!! and my mouth was still on fire hahaha
My experience at Antojitos Carmen was definitely one to brag about, and although the next 24 hours Id be unleashing residual fire from the Creamy Habanero sauce (Carmens Ring O Fire) Id do it again in a heart beat!!! Good stuff Carmen....gooooood stuff. -
Review from Marina T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/4/2010
Another great review for this place :)
I, like others, went to Antojitos Carmen after reading about the demise of the Breed Street Fair and the subsequent emergence of Carmen's restaurant.
Great food at fantastic prices. The enchiladas didn't disappoint, and I had to take half of them home. I echo other reviewers' comments about the fried quesadilla, which I ordered to go. Next up, I'm trying the pozole (only on weekends) and the fried potato tacos, which I saw the guy one table over getting and looked very good. Oh, and the breakfast.
The service was impeccable, and I'm happy to be supporting a family-owned-and-operated business.
Oh, and they DELIVER! $20 min for free delivery within a 2 mile radius. Antojitos Carmen, my recommendation: start passing out flyers at the downtown apartments! You'll have a captive audience in no time! -
Review from Stacey S.
Long Beach, CA
2/13/2011
Bow down Gabachos! This is the best Mexican food around. First experienced the magic of Antojitos Carmen at a food truck fest at the Rose Bowl last year and seriously wanted to drive to the restaurant on the way home to get more.
This is what you should get: EVERYTHING.
I love the potato tacos, the cheese enchiladas, the huaraches w/ squash blossoms and I would punch someone in the face if they took the last bit of seed salsa. You should go there. -
Review from Claudia G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/19/2010
Again, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
I must say though, I was shocked when I saw that "C" rating on the window and almost turned around to go to old faithful King Taco a block and a half away. But I tried it anyway, and for comparison's sake I had what I would usually order at King Taco: a sope al pastor and an asada taco. The sope was pretty big, and quite good but the taco, disappointed.
I'll keep my eye on that window in hopes that they improve the rating so I can go back and try other stuff. -
Review from Sid P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2011
Wowza!
Sopes, Menudo, Tortas, Migas and Enchiladas - this place is solid.
Carmen a former Breed Street vendor - who opened this small restaurant about a year ago and it is good.
Her homemade salsas are insanely tasty and hot (especially the habanero).
If you are looking for authentic Mexican food look no further.
The location is small (maybe six booths/tables) and there's not much in ambiance - but this lady knows how to cook.
Street Parking (park close and watch your car as the neighborhood is a bit sketch)
Good for for breakfast (they make all types of egg dishes) - lunch - or an early dinner. -
Review from Mimi P.
Los Angeles, CA
Oh Antojitos Carmen, how I wanted to love you... I even gave you a second chance. :(
On our first visit, our first impression of the place was just ok. Looked a little dingy, tables were a little sticky and they had a B but we figured we'd give them a shot since they had great reviews. It was hot as hell in the restaurant and they only had one fan going buuuut ok, we came to eat so let's get our grub on. The bf ordered the torta cubana and I got a taco de lengua, a taco de asada and an appetizer that consisted of a bolillo cut in half dipped in enchilada sauce and topped with beans, lettuce and cheese. Can't remember what it was called. Aaanyway, to start off, the man that took the order got it all wrong. When they brought out our food we immediately had to send half of it back because they had brought out the wrong items. So we had to wait some more while they gave our order another shot. We get the food and the ham in the torta was a little funky and sour. We wondered if they had left it out of the fridge or something. Eww... The carne asada in the torta as well as in the taco was so dry that I had to wash it down with my horchata. The dipped bolillo was pretty whack too, it was room temperature and the enchilada sauce tasted like sauce out of a can. The lengua on the taco was also super dry. So dissapointed...
We decided to give them another chance yesterday. My bf got the caldo de pollo and I got an order of the flautas a la carte. Fairly easy, didn't think there'd be a problem with the order. The caldo comes out pretty quick and it looks yummy with its side of arroz. Here come my flautas and oh wait! I wanted flautas not tacos dorados. The guy that waited on us was very apologetic, takes them back and almost immediately returns with some flautas. Wow! That was quick! Let's eat! Their flauta consisted of two corn tortillas rolled together to make one large flauta, great, but where the heck is the meat and why are they not hot?!?!? Oh well... As for the caldo, everything was great till towards the end my bf finds a HAIR at the bottom of his bowl... Aww shit reeeally?!?! *puke* So gross! I was sick to my stomach the rest of the evening. -
Review from Lilia M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011
This place has bomb traditional Mexican food. I was full with their big sope and two tacos. I honestly got that childhood feeling when my mom cooked the best food on a cold night. I'm going to bed with a smile, feeling like a lil girl all over again. Service was also great!!! =D Not fancy but great home feeling like visiting an uncle!
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Review from Jon S.
San Diego, CA
I love this place. Fantastic mom&pop Mexican place.
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Review from Carlos A.
Rosemead, CA
8/15/2011
I love little Family Owned and Run Resturants like Antojitos Carmen. The Food is fresh and delicious. The service is quick and personal. We drive from Rosemead to LA just for these types of places. Not that the San Gabriel Valley doesn't have many places like this. What hits home is the comfortable way they work their Magic. The Cook really is someones Mother and she know how it should be done. No Kicked Up or pretentious foods. Just like the Name, Antojitos. Lots of little delectables to make your mouth water. Another place where you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Sam D.
Los Angeles, CA
2/4/2010
Sub-category: Hole in the wall
When Carmen was a street food vendor at Breed St. she developed a reputation as one of the best of all those that gathered there to offer their Mexican food specialties from their food carts. Unfortunately, after a time, they all faced the heavy hand of regulatory enforcement which sent each of them scrambling for safer territory.
Carmen has now transitioned from one of the most popular neighborhood street vendors to become the operator of an actual brick-and-mortar restaurant. The place consists of a narrow kitchen behind a take-out counter and six booths, each seating four persons for eat-in dining with table service. It is clean, comfortable and cheerful with a few rough edges. The place was full when we there so there was no time for idle chat with the owner/operators. But it appears that the place is operated by Carmen and family members. Their inexperience with restaurant service is painfully evident but they definitely get an "A" for effort. It was late at night and you could tell that, after a long day, they were somewhat overwhelmed and exhausted but definitely not defeated. They remained cheerful and maintained a friendly attitude.
And, best of all, the quality of the food held up to match the best that Carmen is known for. Sometimes you just don't care about dazzling, cutting edge dishes that will be pictured and deconstructed on some food critic's blog. You just want honest, everyday, traditional Mexican food that is exceptionally well prepared. And that is the reason to head to Carmen's. The food is delicious, the portions are generous. And the prices are very low. Compared to similar restaurants, they get 4.5 stars from me, only because of some service lapses, but I expect that will improve with more experience. -
Review from John K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/21/2011
There's lot's of things to love about this place: the neighborhood, the waitstaff (who never fail to offer a good suggestion for the indecisive), the huaraches that easily compete with the best of Highland Park, the complimentary chicken noodle soup that seems to come with every order, the creamy habanero salsa with the faint hint of Thai peanut sauce, and I haven't even tried the cemitas yet (loyalty to Cemitas Poblanas/how could they be better than Cemitas Poblanas?). I think what I love the most about Antojitos Carmen, though, is the simple adornment of roasted chile--suitably smoky and just spicy enough to slightly awaken your stomach--provided as an option for topping everything from the sopes to the chips. If there's a condiment I enjoy more in Boyle Heights I haven't found it yet. For more head to http://heavenisatacotr...
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