El Indio Mexicano Restaurant

El Indio Mexicano Restaurants was established, nearly 32 years ago in 1975 by entrepreneur Gonzalo Tejada, when traditional Mexican food was only found in Mexico.
At that time the Mexican food was very much Americanized. This is how the idea came about to introduce the authentic and traditional Mexican food not only to the natives living here but to the American public, we knew that once they would get educated about the real Mexican food, and they would prefer to eat at these kind of restaurants. Not only that, but the idea was also to introduce for the first time a full meal, a complete Combination Plate to go, in a fast food place. People were used to fast food places mainly for a quick bite; a Taco, a Burrito or a Tostada, for a more complete meal you would have to go to a formal restaurant which was more expensive and took longer. At the time there were two locations, one in Pacoima which no longer exists and the other one is in Northridge, still running and working 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Which later expanded to two more locations, one in Van Nuys and the other in Hollywood, this last location is now being re-built. Still owned by its original family members. The origin of our restaurant's name comes from the food that the Indians from Mexico eat. At the beginning the menu was very simple, and in a trip to Michoacan with one of the employees, the idea to introduce food from Michoacan arose. We then hired cooks from their region who taught us how to prepare with original kind of recipes from their traditional food. We then modified the menu and the recipes. To begin with, it was very important to have a cazo (a big pot) of copper imported from Mexico for most of the meats and beans to be cooked in. Tradition says that the copper distributes the heat equally from bottom through the top, allowing the meats to cook at the same time sealing in the flavor in every bit. One of the main traditional recipes are the carnitas from Michoacan, this is the pork meat in their own style. They are cooked during five hours, until the fat has cooked so long that it has melted. All this cooked with special spices to penetrate every bit of the pork meat. The famous Carne Asada (charbroiled steak) and Pollo Asado (charbroiled chicken) are marinated in our special spices one day before, then charbroiled and chopped for whatever it is you want your meat in. Not to mention the famous Burrito #9, this is our #1 selling burrito, it is any choice of meat (which in this case, mostly Asada) with everything on it; beans, cheese, guacamole, fresh salsa, and pico de gallo (chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro). Our other very popular burrito is the famous “wet burrito”, which consists of melted real Monterrey jack cheese and our home made ranchero sauce all on top of any burrito from the menu. Our beans are not refried beans, they are cooked in the copper pot in water with some mild spices. The Gorditas are a Mexican type of sandwich made from the corn flour, just as the tortillas, only a little thicker. These are hand made at the restaurant, then toasted for crispiness and served with beans, choice of meat, tomato, lettuce and guacamole. Combination Plates are a complete meal to eat in or take out, there are many choices, basically it is your choice of meat, 4 corn tortillas, rice, beans, real Monterrey Jack cheese, salad, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo and chips. Shrimp Fajitas are very popular, we serve them on a Combination Plate, Burrito or Tacos. What makes these fajitas different from others is once again a very tasty, home made sauce that is poured over the shrimp. Our menu is much more extensive offering fast service with the authentic taste, also famous for our big size Burritos and big portions of all our items. El Indio Mexicano has now been operating over 20 years and has had many award through out the years from Los Angeles Times - "Most Delicious Burritos in the Valley", A.M. Los Angeles, Channel 7 ABC - "The Best and Fastest Burrito in the Valley" and Daily News, LA Life - "Best Tacos in the Valley". EL INDIO MEXICANO RESTAURANT: 17019 Roscoe Blvd., (corner of Balboa) Northridge, CA 91342 restaurant: (818) 705-9259 catering/main office: (818) 567-0641 fax: (818) 567-6377 Patricia & Gilberto Leao - Owners/Managers