Los Cinco Puntos

Tucked away at the intersection of five East LA streets sits Los Cinco Puntos, a family-run carnicería and dried goods market that’s been a Boyle Heights institution since 1967. This is the kind of place where butchers work loudly behind the counter, baseball trophies gather dust above the soda machines, and piñatas sway gently in the breeze. It’s more than a restaurant—it’s a neighborhood landmark with deep cultural roots, having served as the starting point for the historic Chicano Moratorium march.

The real draw here is the tortillas, made by hand right before your eyes at the back of the market. Watch as chefs grab fistfuls of masa, give them a quick pat-pat-pat, and send them sizzling onto the griddle. These thick, cloud-like rounds are the foundation for everything that follows, providing the perfect canvas for Los Cinco Puntos’ exceptional meats. The carnitas arrive in thick, supple chunks rather than finely shredded, while the chicharrón tacos deliver an addictive crunch of crispy pork rinds balanced by cool nopales and creamy guacamole.

Don’t overlook the salsa bar, which plays a starring role in the experience. The pickled nopales bring bright, cutting acidity that offsets the richness of the meat, while the house guacamole comes thick, chunky, and unmistakably fresh. Load up your tacos generously—the salsas here aren’t an afterthought, they’re essential to achieving that perfect bite of heat, acid, and fat.

Los Cinco Puntos may not come up in every conversation about LA’s best tacos, but it absolutely should. For those seeking an authentic neighborhood spot with decades of history, impeccable handmade tortillas, and some of the most satisfying tacos in the city at wallet-friendly prices, this Boyle Heights gem delivers the real deal.