Tito's Market - El Monte

If you love empanada, you got to come to Tito’s. They have the best empanada in town. I came to know this hidden gem in El Monte through the introduction of my Argentinian friend who keeps bragging about how good the foods are at this place. We finally made it to this shop today with our son who is visiting us from San Diego. My first impression was with the long lines. I suspected that the food must be good with that many people waiting in line. My impression was right. When we got to the ordering counter, we discovered that Tito’s was supposed to have the best sandwiches and fried chickens in town too. So we ordered a couple of freshly made sandwiches and a bucket( actually a bag of spicy chickens and of course the beef empanada. The sandwiches were very good with fresh fluffy bread and flavorful fillings. The empanada were excellent but not as good as what I had from my friend’s home baked ones. The real star of Tito’s, in my opinion, was the spicy fried chicken. They were not overly battered and the they were crunchy outside and tender inside. The spicy level was just right to produce the appropriate kick. Don’t get discouraged with the lone line, it tends to move quickly. We waited in line for only around 15 minutes and got our food. Parking is a bit of problem though. You can find parking on the street too.

This Argentine sandwich and empanada joint is located at the of Tito's plaza on Garvey Ave in El Monte. They have a variety of menu items all delicious. They have beef and chicken Empanadas that are well made with crust that is not very greasy and are sweet and savory with bits of olives. People order a variety of hot or cold subs and are filled with meats and cold cuts. Pastrami had eggs and chili peppers inside. There was a line in front of the place around 1pm and it took 30 mins to order and receive the food. It’s a popular place that use up most of the plaza’s parking spots.

Great place for a sandwich. This place really draws a crowd at lunch time. Get here early if you can, parking will go quick. I arrived at 11:40 am before the lunch rush, and was impressed at how long the line will get. The service is quick (I received my order of 24 empanadas, and 16 sandwiches in less than 8 minutes), and they do accept cash and card here. The sandwiches, empanadas, wings, and fries are a popular item (frome what I can hear as other customers order). There is also a deli market here, that carries an assortment of fresh meats. There are plenty of drink options from sodas, teas, and Hispanic drinks. Thank you everyone for reading my review. Please follow me, and check out all the interesting places I visit.

11/3/21: Still the best empanadas, in my opinion. Their price still stays the same at $2.09 per piece. I also bought 1 lb of regular chicken wings, 1/2 lb of seasoned fries and 2 pcs of cheese empanadas. The cheese empanada is their new item, not sure how it will tastes. So sad that they take out their Jalapeños Poppers. I used to love them very much. I do hope they will bring it back in the future. Currently, there is no dine in at the location, only take out. They recently developed the online take out menu for those who want to order ahead. The line can be very long during peak hours. 2019: I finally gotten the chance to try this cafe/market. I have known this place since 2 years ago but never gotten the chance to try it. Wow.... I must say their beef and chicken empanadas are superb, my wife and I really like them, they are full of meats, superb taste and not over powered by other spices. It is a little pricey, $2.09 per piece, however, it is worth it. They have another excellent item on their menu, it is the jalapeños poppers, they sell them by pounds, not pieces. I was surprised when the sale person asked how many pounds I want for the poppers. I will definitely stop by this cafe in the near future for their empanadas and poppers. In my opinion, It is the best around San Gabriel Valley area.

My mom used to bring us here many many years ago. Born in LA, raised in SD. Now we make trips ever so often just to get a taste of Tito’s famous submarine. My kids are now taking part road trips to LA for Tito’s sandwiches! Great tastes, great memories. Gracias Tito’s! Rib eye hot sandwiches are pretty good too!