Where to Eat in Echo Park: Tacos, Thai, Cuban Coffee and Deep Dish

Guisados: homestyle braises on handmade corn tortillas

Guisados serves homestyle Mexican braises on fresh handmade corn tortillas. The business was born in Boyle Heights in December 2010 and states it has been serving tacos in Los Angeles since 2010.

Tortillas are made to order from fresh ground masa from Carnitas Uruapan next door. Stews and masa are still made and delivered from the Boyle Heights location multiple times a day.

The Echo Park location is at 1261 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, phone 213.250.7600. It is open for indoor and outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. Hours are Monday–Thursday 9am–10pm, Friday–Saturday 9am–11pm, Sunday 9am–9pm, and breakfast is served daily until 12pm.

The menu includes steak, chicken, pork and seafood tacos. Most tacos are priced at $4.50; the seafood tacos Camarones and Pescado are $4.95. Vegetarian and vegan options include Calabacitas, Vegan Medley, Vegan Peppers, Hongos con Cilantro, Nopales and Frijoles con Queso.

All tacos default to a medium level of spice and can be served without chile upon request, except Chiles Toreados. Tacos are gluten free except the breakfast burrito, chile relleno, camarones and vegan peppers.

Agua frescas include Jamaica, Melon, Limon, Armando Palmero, Horchata and Horchata Coldbrew. Guisados is now available exclusively on Uber Eats and Postmates for delivery. The business also offers party platters and catering, and sells gift cards.

Guisados has expanded to locations in Echo Park, Downtown LA, West Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach and Venice. It has grown to over 150 employees and is owned and operated by the De La Torre Family. The business runs a Featured Artist Program. The Guisados office is at 2908 E 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, open Monday–Friday 9am–3pm.

Read our full profile of Guisados

1261 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 · Official website

Sticky Rice: Thai food in front, Spirit House behind the red curtain

Sticky Rice is a Thai restaurant in Echo Park at 1801 Sunset Blvd, near Dodger Stadium and described as five minutes from it. The business describes itself as a neighborhood Thai spot since 2013 and says it has been slinging Thai food in Los Angeles since 2013.

The Echo Park location has island-inspired cocktails behind a red curtain at Spirit House. The front room serves Thai food; behind the red curtain are island-inspired cocktails, Thai beers and natural wine. Spirit House is the full bar in the same building as the dining room, with an entrance inside the Echo Park restaurant.

The restaurant offers dine in, takeout and delivery, with indoor, patio and sidewalk seating. Hours are Monday 5:30pm–11pm; Tuesday–Thursday 12pm–11pm; Friday–Saturday 12pm–12am; Sunday 12pm–11pm. The kitchen closes 30 minutes before the doors do. The phone number is (323) 284-8744.

The menu includes pad thai, pad see ew, drunken noodles, boat noodles, khao soi, green curry, papaya salad and mango sticky rice. Specific dishes include Sticky Wings (crispy fried wings tossed in a signature fish sauce glaze), Panang Fries (crinkle-cut fries covered in panang curry), Chicken Satay (grilled free-range chicken skewers steeped in Thai spices and charred), and Fresh Summer Rolls (rice paper wraps with lettuce, carrots, herbs and rice noodles).

Crying Tiger is grilled skirt steak served with sticky rice, papaya salad and spicy jeaw sauce. Gai Yang is boneless chicken thighs marinated overnight in Thai herbs and spices, grilled until juicy and golden. Khao Soi is Northern Thai curry broth over egg noodles with shallots, chili oil, pickled mustard greens and red onion.

Every entrée comes with steamed or crispy tofu, with options to add fried egg, chicken, steak, shrimp or seafood. Pad Thai is rice noodles stir-fried with tamarind sauce, egg, carrots, bean sprouts and Japanese chives. Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodle) is flat rice noodles with Thai holy basil, jalapeños and Fresno chilis. Boat Noodles are thin rice noodles with sliced beef and beef balls in a spiced broth. Mango Sticky Rice is seasonal ripe mango with sweet coconut sticky rice.

Vegetarian and vegan versions of most dishes are available (tofu, no fish sauce, no egg). Gluten-free options are available on the noodle and rice plates. The kitchen uses peanuts, shellfish and fish sauce, and staff will work around allergies if told. Heat level can be customized from mild to genuinely hot.

Sticky Rice opened at Grand Central Market in 2013 with a counter, a wok and a short menu. It grew into Echo Park on Sunset, West 3rd St near the Grove, and Highland Park on York, and has grown to five Los Angeles neighborhoods. A Venice location on Rose Ave opens in August 2026. The business says each location keeps its own hours and regulars, and that some cooks and servers have been with the company for years.

Sticky Rice Rewards is a free loyalty program with points on every order and free food. Catering is offered for offices, sets and parties anywhere in Los Angeles; inquiries go to catering@eatstickyrice.com. Large-party bookings are for ten or more people or buying out a room. The general contact email is hello@eatstickyrice.com.

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1801 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 · Official website

Gigis Café Cubano: Cuban coffee and café classics on Temple

Gigis Café Cubano is a family-run Cuban café on Temple Street in Echo Park, Los Angeles. It has been serving Echo Park since 1968 and describes itself as serving Echo Park's favorite Cuban coffee and café classics since 1968.

The menu includes coffee, sandwiches and pastries, and lists cafecito, Cubanos and Cuban classics. It serves cortaditos, pastelitos, media noches and slow-roasted lechón. The café describes itself as a family café rooted in Cuba and growing in Echo Park, with good food, good people and the same love since 1968.

The address is 2200 Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026. It is open daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and the phone number is (213) 483-6152. The website offers online ordering and has menu, Our Story and catering sections.

Catering is offered for office lunches, morning meetings, birthday parties and family gatherings, with cafecito, Cubanos and pastries for the whole crew.

2200 Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 · Official website

Masa of Echo Park: Chicago deep dish in a 1922 building

Masa of Echo Park is a Mom & Pop family owned restaurant specializing in Chicago Deep Dish Pizza made by a born & raised Chicagoan. It was established in 2004 to bring authentic Chicago Deep Dish Pizza to Los Angeles and has occupied its location from 2004 to present.

The building housing Masa was built in 1922. In the 1920s it was an automobile shop/dealership; in the 1930s–50s it housed Carty Bros. Bon Ton Market & Van De Kamps Bakery; in the 1960s–70s, Sarnos Family / Carmelli's Italian Bakery, Market and Coffee Shop; and in the 1970s–90s, El Carmelo / Carmelo's Cuban Restaurant & Bakery.

The restaurant is located on Sunset Blvd near Dodgers Stadium. It serves Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Vegan Pizza and menu items, Panini, Sandwiches and Burgers. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced whenever possible, and Masa serves imported Chicago favorites like Authentic Hot Giardiniera.

The Chicago Deep Dish pizza has a 2-inch deep cornmeal crust and uses hand crushed whole pear tomatoes and whole milk mozzarella. Each pie takes at least 40 minutes to bake. The pizzas are baked in well-seasoned pans forged in Chicago. Heart Shaped pies are available for special occasions. The Chicago Deep Dish 'Last Call' is 9pm daily. Deep dish pizzas come in 10-inch, 12-inch and 14-inch sizes.

The Traditional deep dish features Masa's Secret Recipe Sweet Italian Sausage & Mushroom with Wholemilk Mozzarella & Parm. The Papa Leo includes Masa's Italian Beef & Spicy Giardiniera imported from Chicago. Vegan deep dish pizzas use Teese vegan mozzarella.

The menu also includes Chicago Tavern Style Pizza, described as thin crust and square cut, and a Chicago Tavern Style 'Build Your Own' pizza. Vegan options use Masa's own house-made vegan cheese and veggie meats. The vegan menu includes Vegan Mozzarella Sticks made with Teese vegan mozzarella and a Vegan Caramel Nut Brownie with walnuts and caramel.

The Masa Burger is a ½ lb seasoned beef or veggie burger on a toasted Cuban roll. Panini and sandwiches are served with fries or a house salad. The Italian Beef Panini features Masa's slow roasted Italian beef, spicy giardiniera & Swiss. The menu features panini sandwiches, appetizers, vegan dishes, salads, pasta, party platters, craft beer and wine. Beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea are available; coffee is Jones Coffee, family owned and locally roasted in Pasadena.

The restaurant describes a low key, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and its dishes as family-style, made from scratch. It offers reservations and is accepting job applications.

A variety of party platters are available to order for catering. Catering orders for pick up can be placed by calling 213-989-1558. Catering delivery is available through ezCater. Catering pans come in half pans serving 8-10 and full pans serving 16-20. The catering menu includes a Panini Platter with an assortment of panini.

Read our full profile of Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Cafe

Sunset Blvd near Dodgers Stadium, Los Angeles, CA · Official website