How is the Mexican food at Olvera Street?

Just looking for opinions, thanks.

How is the Mexican food at Olvera Street?

I%26#39;ve only eaten at once place there, 2 times, and wasn%26#39;t that impressed. But maybe there%26#39;s a better place I just haven%26#39;t been to.

But in general, Mexican food in California is very different than Tex-Mex, and it takes a while to adapt to that taste.

How is the Mexican food at Olvera Street?

We ate on Overa Street last summer and found one pretty good restaraunt -- it may have been Las Anitas, but I%26#39;m not postive of the name. We ate outside, the inside section was very nicely decorated with, as I recall, lots of wood work.

The outdoor food stands looked like they had OK street food -- but it was street food. You can see what thepeople are eating and judge for yourself. There was also a very good Churro place (Mr. Churro) -- they made them themselves. You%26#39;ll see the signs if you walk around and if you time it right you can get them hot.

Olvera Street vendors largely sell junk, but there are a couple of stores that sell great stuff -- though depending on where you live in TX you may have equivilant stores back home. One or two good leather stores and one tremendous gift/craft shop that sold wonderfull clothing, artwork, etc. I don%26#39;t remember the name but it was a fairly large store.

It is ';ok'; food and a little overpriced. Ther are so many authentic and excellent Mexican Restaurants, i would not waste my time eating at Olvera street.

What part of town will you be staying at? I am sure if we know that someone on here can guide you to some excellent places to eat

Thanks for all of the responses. Part of another question I had in the back of my mind was brought up - how the Mexican food compares to here in TX. I%26#39;ve been in and out of CA over the past but mainly ate seafood. My itinerary is complete and I don%26#39;t have Olvera on it but wanted to try the Mexican food and remembered reading about the area. I will be staying in Hollywood.

Los Angeles has some of the THE BEST Mexican food!!! As stated, it%26#39;s not tex-mex though, if that%26#39;s what you%26#39;re used to. I know Texas has some outstanding Mexican food too. Olvera St. is more for tourists and the food there is good, not great.....and it%26#39;s a bit overpriced. There are literally TONS, TONS of good Mexican places in the L.A. area. East L.A. alone has enough outstanding places to blow your mind away!!!!

I have to agree that I wouldn%26#39;t go to Olvera St. just for the food -- but if I was there to see it and/or Union Station (an architectural gem) you might want to eat there.

Definitely try Antonio%26#39;s on Melrose Ave. Been there for years and has some of the best authentic Mexican food I%26#39;ve had.

See a show at the Groundling%26#39;s Theater, http://www.groundlings.com/start.htm then walk along Melrose for some local sights, maybe some shopping. Antonio%26#39;s is a block away at 7470 Melrose.

Dr. Z

The point of going to Olvera Street, IMHO, is for the history. In 1882, I had some very good Mexican food there at a restaurant at the end of the street which was centered in one of the original adobes, but from reading these posts I%26#39;d say things must have changed. I remember a nice shop with beautiful large Spanish fans and paintings and there was some good leather stuff, but mostly cheap stuff. A good place to get a beaded belt, though.

Go for the history and stop by the church and Union Station for the architechture. It shouldn%26#39;t take more than an hour or so and it%26#39;s worth it.

Opps! How funny! I was there in 1982, not 1882.

Olvera Street? Ummmmmm....no.

Here%26#39;s the food equivalent of TA. Everyone there will help you right out:

http://www.chowhound.com/boards/2

And here%26#39;s a thread to get you started:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/361360