These are the best places to taste tejuino in Los Angeles.
Tejuino is a deceivingly simple drink made with just a few ingredients. A fermented, fizzy, corn-based masa beverage, traditionally from Western Mexico, but recognized for its indigenous origins, tejuino packs a punch and delivers refreshing complexity with every sip.
Every cup brims with taste and tradition, relying on the flavors of masa de maiz, cinnamon, piloncillo (raw cane sugar), salt, and limon. But do not be mistaken—not all tejuinos are alike.
Regional differences (notably between the top contenders of the states of Jalisco, Colima, and Nayarit) set the flavor profile and give each tejuino on this list its own inimitable style.
You’ll find some that are fermented longer, offering the tangy sting that will test even the most devoted kombucha disciple. Others are simultaneously sour and sweet, deliciously addictive all around.
One thing is for certain: This nectar of the gods was designed for scorching hot days, and L.A.’s summer should have plenty of those to go around.
Raspados Nayarit ~ Lincoln Heights
This family in Lincoln Heights has been around for over 15 years, offering top-quality, Colima-style tejuinos, raspados, fruit bowls, natural juices, and antojitos. Raspados Nayarit is owned by Rodrigo Carmona, who credits his wife, Maria, with the “sazon original” behind their success.
Their tejuinos are light on the salt and heavy on the lime, with perfectly textured, crushed ice; undetectable, but cool to the tongue. A dedication to quality shines through it all. Carmona stresses their insistence on excellent ingredients. They receive daily fruit deliveries to ensure customers only receive the very best. When it comes to their tejuinos, the masa is made fresh in-house, and their process stays light on fermentation, for adults and little ones to enjoy alike.
3426 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031-2832. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 45 or 182 - “Broadway/Thomas.”
Tejuinos Aguirre ~ La Puente
A Tejuino place that’s so good it has its own drive-through? Yup, you heard that right. Tejuinos Aguirre in La Puente is run by Ricardo Aguirre, who sells his tejuinos out of a food truck, and people line up on foot and in their vehicles to get their hands on his tart, sweet, salty, and refreshing fermented drink.
Like most places that sell ice cream, he tops his with scoops of his nieve de garrafa de limon, which adds to the consistency of the masa drink. They sell these refreshments and other Mexican snacks Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
13347 Temple Ave. La Puente, California 91746. Closest Metro lines and stop: Avocado Heights/Bassett/West Valinda Shuttle. “Vineland Ave/ Temple Ave.”
Rico Tejuinos Los Reyes ~ Lincoln Heights
With lines out the door as soon as L.A. sees its first blistering days of the season, it becomes immediately evident that Tejuinos Los Reyes is a favorite in Lincoln Heights. Putting one foot in the door is sufficient to detect the smell of Pepino permeating its small hallway, which faces a large display of traditional ice cream and gelatin (fruit-flavored jello) lined up colorfully.
Among the flavors, you’ll find nuez, jamaica, mango, and limon, the latter heftily scooped on top of their tejuinos. You’ll find the tejuinos here are on the far end of the fermentation spectrum - expect a frothy concoction with sharp, pungent flavors and the slightest hint of toasted maiz.
2707 1/2 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 45 or 251 - “Broadway/Daly” or Bus Line 182 - "Broadway/Griffin."
Mayahuel Raspados ~ Boyle Heights
Pull up to the corner of 4th and Breed Street in Boyle Heights,and you’ll find Esmeralda Carrillo's colorful display of colossal-sized aguas frescas. Raspados Mayahuel is aptly named after the Aztec goddess of maguey and pulque (another fermented Mexican drink with Indigenous roots).
Carrillo has been dedicated to bringing refreshments to the residents of Boyle Heights every summer for the last 13 years. You’ll spot her every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6:30 pm between the months of April and October. The key to her tejuinos, she says, is the tangy addition of tamarind and coarse salt that adds a bit of a bite to the delectable mush that is a tejuino. Oh, and a six-month fermentation process, of course.
4th & Breed Streets, Boyle Heights, CA. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 251 or 605 - “Soto/4th.”
Tejuino King ~ West Covina
If you’re looking to kill two birds with one stone, stop at Tejuino King. The business specializes in tejuinos and birria tacos. The tejuinos here are Jalisco-style, but lighter on the fermentation. Every sip is refreshing, with a thicker, almost pulp-like consistency. Fear not, the cup still offers lime and salt to cool the palate on a hot summer day and comes with a neon scoop of lime sherbet. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can order some of the more unorthodox items on the menu, including its Insta-famous birria ramen and birria nachos.
450 N. Azusa Ave. West Covina, CA 91791. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 280 - “Azusa Ave/ Rowland Avenue.”
Tejuino Fresco Estilo Guadalajara ~ Boyle Heights
With quite possibly the longest-standing history in Los Angeles, this tejuino stand dates back to the '80s and Downtown's beloved Placita Olvera. The stand was founded there by owner Juan Cabral Sr., before moving later to its current location on the corner of Soto Street and Olympic Boulevard. He had expertise in tejuinos, having sold the traditional beverage in Guadalajara's famed Zapopan neighborhood in his youth. Continuing with his dad’s recipe and legacy, Juan Cabral Jr. has taken over the business with the help of his wife, Flor.
Their tejuino recipes require fresh, white corn masa from Lupita’s Tortilleria in Pico Union and bears a distinctive taste, courtesy of an undisclosed secret ingredient zealously guarded by the couple. You’ll have to track them down between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to try it. They bring their unique tejuino almost every day, year-round.
Soto Street and Olympic Boulevard, Boyle Heights, CA. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 62, 66 or 251 - “Soto/Olympic.”
Tejuinos Colima ~ South Gate
No need to trek all the way to East L.A. to enjoy the wondrous joys of tejuino on a hot day. Tejuinos Colima has South Gate covered.
Juan Casillas, of Manzanillo, Colima, has been serving tejuinos at the same location for 26 years now, showcasing a traditional, Colima-style tejuino made with homemade masa and the typical ingredients: salt, lemon, piloncillo, and cinnamon.
His truck is posted on Alameda Street and Tweedy Boulevard every Wednesday through Monday, between 9:30 am and 6 pm. Bionicos, raspados, and other Mexican delicacies are also available for all the antojados out there.
8211 S. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90002. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 115 - “Firestone/Ivy.”
Don Tavo’s Tejuino ~ Compton
Another family affair in the heart of Compton, Don Tavo's Tejuino has been around for ten years, serving some of the city's best tejuinos. The business is run out of the home front yard of Gustavo Diaz and Guillermina Ochoa, with the help of the couple's children and extended family members. On any given day, Gustavo and his family serve tejuinos, tostilocos, hot Cheetos esquites, and frutas preparadas (prepared fruit).
Don Tavo's tejuino is fermented for three months, with a new batch made every day. It is served over ice with a hint of sea salt and just the right amount of lime juice. While he sells many other items, everyone stops to freshen up with tejuino.
When we visited, an Amazon driver, a moving truck driver, and a neighbor walking by stopped by to get a sip of Don Tavo's fermented drink. Despite other spots selling tejuino nearby, they all stopped at this front yard stand, and if that isn’t a sign that this drink is good, then we don't know what it is.
To get there, hop on Metro’s 125 or 260 bus and get off on Rosecrans and Atlantic. Look for the red flag that reads Don Tavo’s Tejuinos, and you have arrived.
Address: 4618 E. Rosecrans Ave. Compton, CA 90221. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 125 or 260 - “Rosecrans/Atlantic.”
Tejuinos ~ Boyle Heights
On a nondescript corner of Boyle Heights, Guatemala-born Iris Monroy posts up with her Jalisco-style tejuinos every day between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. That is, if she doesn’t run out by then. Monroy may not be from Jalisco, but she learned her tejuino ways from an OG Jaliciense upon arriving in LA in 1996 and prepares one of the best tejuinos we've ever had.
They’re fermented only for a few days with a secret ingredient she was kind enough to share with us, only after swearing us to secrecy. We can’t betray her confidence, but we can urge you to run to the corner of Olympic and Rio Vista Avenue for a gratifying treat from this humble savant.
Corner of Olympic Blvd. and Rio Vista Ave. Boyle Heights, CA. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 66 - “Olympic/Boyle” or Bus Lines 62 and 251 - "Olympic/Soto."
Tejuinos Rivera ~ East L.A.
Tejuinos Rivera is a must if you are riding transit, commuting from school to work, or getting your pick-me-up of the day. These tejuinos have a perfect fizz, and you can top them with any of the nieves de garrafa flavors they offer, like limon, tamarindo, mango, and more. Whether you are visiting their location at El Mercadito in Boyle Heights or their location on Whittier Boulevard, you are always guaranteed a consistent recipe and taste.
4727 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90022. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 18 - “Whittier/ Arizona.”
Bionicos Zapopan ~ Downey
Downey and SELA will not be left behind. Bionicos Zapopan sits in a small strip mall tucked between a liquor store and a smoke shop, with neon lights and bright decorations calling you in. Fairly new to the L.A. food scene, with just over two years in business, owner Eduardo Revelas thanks his mother, Maria Villegas, for passing on her knowledge of tejuinos and their traditional ingredients.
Characteristically, their tejuino tastes of fresh limon verde and coarse sea salt. Revelas credits their high-quality masa for its thicker consistency and superior flavor, but will take the name of their supplier to his grave.
8027 Imperial Hwy. Downey, CA 90242. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 117, 120 or 265 - “Imperial Highway/Paramount.”
