Perfect chilaquiles don’t just exist in Mexico. The ingredients are simple: a tomato or tomatillo and chile-based salsa, freshly fried tortillas, throw in an egg, and you have one of the most satisfying breakfasts ever created.
Yet it’s so easy to get it so, so wrong. For starters, contrary to popular belief, chilaquiles are NOT "breakfast nachos." They also don't necessarily work with any kind of salsa and a bag of totopos (tortilla chips).
We traveled throughout Los Angeles, searching for the most delicious chilaquiles. Could we find chilaquiles as satisfying as those we still dream about? Those that you have while vacationing or visiting Mexico? The dish has become L.A.’s unofficial brunch dish, dotting almost every menu, no matter the cuisine. Trust us on these recommendations. We ate our way through many soggy chilaquiles drowned in onions to find these crisp-tender gems.
Greenleaf Cafe
This Whittier community gem is a famous hang for brunch on the weekends. It's the kind of neighborhood gem that will likely stay around forever because the food is always comforting, and the staff makes you feel like family. Their green or red chilaquiles are just actually spicy and served with rice and beans and a nice dusting of cheese. Their portions are ample as well.
7203 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA 90602. Closest transit lines and stop: Norwalk Transit Line 7 - "Mar Vista/Greenleaf" or Montebello Bus Lines Routes 10 and 50 - “Philadelphia/Milton.”
Cilantro Lime
This place is a genuine surprise in a nondescript food court in the middle of the Fashion District. Their chilaquiles were our favorite out of all of the chilaquiles we tried. Way worth the drive to downtown L.A. The chilaquiles come with both red and green sauce, cheese, and sour cream. The sauces both had a very nice spice level that was exactly how we like them. Cilantro Lime will even make you a burrito with chilaquiles in it! These chilaquiles are worth the drive, paying for a meter, and eating in your car because of COVID closures—they’re that good.
934 S. Los Angeles St. Suite 2. Los Angeles, CA 90015. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 28, 30, 33, 40, 45, 48, 55, 66 or 92 - “Main/9th.”
Taquería Los Anaya
The chilaquiles here are the casserole variety and are already made. But there is a place for this style of chilaquiles, too. They toast them for you in their oven once you order. This gives them a fascinating soft and crunchy texture. The egg is mixed into the savory sauce, which has a depth of flavor and is mild, much like Texan migas. The chilaquiles are served alongside sour cream and guacamole. And yes, you can have your chilaquiles with al pastor.
4651 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 37 - “Adams/West (westbound)” or "Adams/Buckingham (eastbound)."
El Zarape
Located in East Hollywood, El Zarape offers various chilaquiles: green, red, mole, and chipotle, which have a great smokey flavor. We chose red and green, and they offered to let us sample the chipotle sauce, which we recommend. The tortillas were not as crispy as we’d liked, so don’t order ahead. Served alongside beans and topped with onions and cilantro. This is a solid place for chilaquiles.
5203 Fountain Ave. Suite B. Los Angeles, CA 90029. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 206 - “Normandie/Fountain” or Bus Line 2 - "Sunset/Kingsley."
Los Chilaquiles Mexican Grill
Chilaquiles are made to order, and it is almost like a chilaquiles breakfast bar here. You can customize your chilaquiles however you want. We chose the traditional route and ordered red and green. The mild sauces here are a true mild. If you like your chilaquiles to have some bite which we do, order the ranchera or red morita salsas. You can enhance your chilaquiles with carnitas, rice, guacamole, and beans. So many combinations to choose from, all made right in front of you.
20531 S. Western Ave. Torrance, CA 90501. Closest transit line and stop: GTrans Line 2 - "Western/205th."
Los Compadres
They have three locations to choose from, two in Long Beach and one Norwalk. The chilaquiles here never disappoint. The sauce is on the spicy side, and the totopos are crunchy and are served with cheese and sour cream. The chilaquiles come with rice and beans; you can add chicken or carne asada if you wish.
11600 Rosecrans Ave. Norwalk, CA 90650. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 62 or 460 - “Rosecrans/Pioneer.”
3229 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA 90804. Closest transit lines and stop: Long Beach Transit Lines 41, 45, 46, and 131 - "Anaheim/Redondo."
1144 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line - "Anaheim Street Station" or Bus Line 232 - “Anaheim/Pine.”
La Casita Mexicana
The Mexican celebrity chef duo behind this iconic Mexican restaurant in the city of Bell, California, have been dubbed the "Kings of L.A. Chilaquiles" in the past and we think their bold title and claim still hold true. They are always crispy, and the menu offers all the salsas you can imagine for chilaquiles, from your usual salsa verde to a rich pumpkin seed pipian. Their outdoor patio is a small paradise in southeast L.A. - Javier Cabral
4030 E Gage Ave. Bell, CA 90201. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 110 - “Gage/Otis.”
Guelaguetza
Guelaguetza is the unofficial Oaxacan consulate in L.A. From their always festive and inviting ambiance to their excellent mezcal selection, this James Beard Award-winning restaurant makes some of the best chilaquiles in Koreatown, especially their incredibly flavorful mole variation of them. If requested, they can make them using their hearty tlayuda tortillas, made from Oaxacan heirloom corn. They stay crispy longer and stand out from a regular tortilla. Their quesillo upgrade is worth every penny. - Javier Cabral
3014 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 28 or 206 - “Olympic/Normandie.”
Venice Bakery & Restaurant
The first bite of the salsa-smothered totopo wakes your taste buds to the brisk and sensational flavor of its sazón. It’s an addictive flavor that’s aided and abetted by the still-very-crunchy texture of each totopo. As if the near-perfect flavor and texture of the totopos wasn’t enough, the bite only gets better as you dive into the pool of silky black beans next to the totopos. The kicker in these chilaquiles is that it is served with a side of fried plantains, which act as a little dessert on the same plate; they honor the Cuban history of this west L.A. bakery. - Memo Torres
10943 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 33 - “Venice/Midvale (westbound)” or "Venice/Girard (eastbound)."
El Huarachito
Northeast L.A. heads know this hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant in Lincoln Heights for having the most homiest-tasting chilaquiles. The vibe is like hanging out at your tía’s house. The chilaquiles are crunchy and plentiful. You can have it topped with fried and carne asada if you’re starving. The best part? Is that you can wash it all down with a blood-red vampiro juice, which is a refreshing combination of juiced beets and oranges. - Javier Cabral
3010 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 45 or 182 - “Broadway/Griffin.”
Metro Balderas
This place deserves a spot on the list for their commitment to serving you either pinto or black beans depending on the salsa you choose for your chilaquiles. If you choose their peppery red, you get pinto beans! If you choose their tart green, you get their black beans. The onions are slightly sauteed with the carne asada, which adds another layer of flavor. Plus, they even include a toasted piece of crusty warm bolillo bread to sop up every last little bit of what might be the best beans served in northeast Los Angeles. - Javier Cabral
5305 N Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90042. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line - "Highland Park Station" or Bus Lines 81 or 182 - “Figueroa/Avenue 54.”
Carnitas Los Chingones
Carnitas Los Chingones is Olympic Boulevard’s first carnitas pop-up to join and improve L.A.'s taco scene. They found a space across the street from Mariscos Jalisco and outside of the right-field fence of the Lou Costello Jr. Recreational Center. The creators may not realize it, but with their crispy chilaquiles, egg, juicy carnitas, queso fresco, and refried beans, Carnitas Los Chingones is primed to compete in L.A.’s breakfast burrito wars (and chilaquiles wars). - Memo Torres
Carnitas Los Chingones pops up every day except Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on the corner of South Dacotah Street and East Olympic Boulevard. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 62 - “Olympic/Dacotah” or Bus Line 605 - "Grande Vista/Olympic."
Editor's Note: Did we miss your favorite spot? Drop it in the comments!
