El Canelo

First timer and I got to say they’re good tacos I tried the cabeza, and cachete tacos and liked them next time I come I will try the nervio and sesos tacos. I do recommend this place.

Delicious tacos just wish they weren’t so skimpy on the meat portion. Their isn’t a place to sit but the traditional way to have these tacos are standing up anyway. The condiment bar is well stocked and the topping selection is good as well…

For what this place is it deserves to have a 4 star rating: at least. What it doesn’t deserve is a 1 star, which is why I am giving it 5 stars to boost up its overall rating.
Typical delicious East LA street tacos!

I’m surprised this place doesn’t have more reviews. It’s been about 2 years since I noticed this taco place, and I regret not having tried it sooner.
The tacos:
Really delicious, tasty, and flavorful. My personal favorites: lengua (tongue), cabeza (head), and asada. Good portions too! Comes with your own choice of onions, cilantro, and salsa.
Location:
Small location, located in a plaza next to a smoke shop. Before they used to have a long bench for customers to eat inside, but as they have gotten more popular, they put chairs outside.
Service: This is the only reason I gave El Canelo 4 out off 5 stars. Everyone is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and sure to convince you to get another taco. However, I can’t stand the cashier. At times when I’ve ordered, she rudely interrupts me to say something to a co-​worker and never apologizes. Can’t stand them rude people!
Specials: Taco Tuesday’s, 2x$ 1. Ohhhh yeaaa.
News: they’re expanding to Pico Rivera soon.
Overall, this is a real gem. :)

AHHHH such a neighborhood gem! My brother does Tae Kwon Do around the area and my dad always passes by El Canelo and told me how it’s always packed. So he took me here once and I Unilocaled them … 4 reviews with 3 stars? I was a little hesitant. Nonetheless, it was packed inside and people were just eating outside on the bench. So I braved myself and went in. Being the only Asian, I got a lot of weird looks and my pronunciation of cabeza, cachete and etc. was probably terrible.
$ 1 tacos! Cabeza, Asada, Cachete, and something else. $ 1.50 for Lengua and Sesos.
Asada was alright. It was a little dry. But OMG the cabeza was soooo good. The meat was a little fatty and greasy :) Cachete was also really good, also fatty and flavorful. The condiments are self serve. Make sure to get the marinated onions. Their onions are well marinated with a sour-​spicy-​salty flavor.
This place is so good I came back the next day!

So I have never been disappointed by a taco spot in East Los Angeles but it was bound to happen. The first time I came to this location there was a huge line formed outside. I was on the verge of fainting and tacos were my only cure. As I drove buy and saw the crowd I told my wife to stop and pull over before this becomes my last meal. She laughed and pulled right in front of the taco stand. By the time I got to the register the cashier informed me that they ran out of all their meats and they could not cure me. So I smiled and headed down the road sad and hungry. I then vowed to return and see what kind of tacos would sell out a small spot of 8 different types of meat.
A few weeks later I felt my hunger return so I packed in my family and headed for a Mexican fix. As the family stopped at our usual place I insisted on going to that place that left me hanging. As we arrived I noticed that there was no line so I felt worried. Could they be out of meat again? No they were just slow at the time because it was still daylight. I then proceeded to order asada, pastor, carnitas, cheek, and throat tacos. I am not sure what this steam preparation does but everything was very soft which normally, is not my cup of tea. I am a crunch and most importantly a flavor person. These tacos where lacking both items. They all tasted the same and the flavors were nonexistent. They were very bland and dry which shocked me since they are prepared with steam. It was a completely bad experience all around and that is why they only get one star from me.

My friend just brought carne asada tacos from here and they are BOMB! Delicious.
My stomach is happy! Better than nasty King Taco!

This place was exactly what I was looking for.
I was in a hurry and needed to get on the road in case the predictions of doom and destruction about Carmageddon II actually came true. But I had slept through breakfast and passed on lunch and the prospect of waiting another 3 hours to eat? I just wasn’t feelin’ it. Turns out I’m the only customer and they have no dining area so nearly everything these guys make is to go. Perfect!
The carne asada was decent but the cabeza was delicious. Beefy and flavorful with enough fat that it felt like a treat but not so much that it grossed you out. A couple o’ tacos and a handful of radishes and I’m pleasant and perky and ready to get back on the road!
Hoooray for tacoooooooos.