La Tolteca, a restaurant owned and run by the Arrietta family, is practically a historical landmark in Azusa. (La Tolteca Mexican Foods/Facebook)

While many Los Angeles foodies are willing to schlep to the San Gabriel Valley to indulge in some of the Southern California’s most authentic Asian food, they often forget to visit the valley’s iconic Mexican restaurants.

Home to a large Mexican-American population, the San Gabriel Valley has its fair share of restaurants boasting authentic Mexican food. So next time you’re craving a burrito, skip your local Chipotle and head to Azusa to get La Tolteca instead.

See More: Rosa Mexicano: Unparalleled Mexican Cuisine

Its story begins in 1948, when Ben Arrietta, Sr. opened "La Tolteca Mexican Foods" as a place to sell corn tortillas to local community stores, restaurants and neighborhood residents. Over time, La Tolteca's food options grew to include a Mexican deli featuring recipes that have been in the Arrietta family for generations. 

The popularity of La Tolteca's food eventually led the Arrietta family to construct their own building in 1967 to house the corn tortilla factory and a small sit-in area for diners. The sit-in space was increased less than 20 years later due to high demand, and yet people still had to line up outside to eat. 

Today, customers can enjoy eating large portions from a menu that features all the typical Mexican food favorites—from burritos to enchiladas to tacos— stuffed with beans, chillies, carnitas, beef, pork, chicken or even fish.

What separates La Tolteca from most Mexican restaurants in L.A., however, is that it serves breakfast. Craving Mexican food at 9 AM? La Tolteca provides large breakfast burritos that will put fast-food chains to shame. But La Tolteca provides traditional breakfast items as well.

As one Yelp reviewer raves, “Huevos rancheros have never been this good besides my momma's.”

La Tolteca continues to wow customers almost 70 years later (Twitpic/Dine_Here)

See More: 10 Non-Touristy Things To Do In Los Angeles

La Tolteca continues to sell quality ingredients that are as authentic as they are economical. With $4.65 carnitas tacos and $2.50 to $3.30 enchiladas, the price range of La Tolteca is perfect for anyone looking for good Mexican food in a pinch.

The most expensive meal a person can order from La Tolteca is the #8 combination plate. For $10.25, a person can enjoy a cheese enchilada, tacos and taquitos with chile verde along with beans, rice, chips and salsa.

La Tolteca fans rejoice over the fact that they don't always have to head to the San Fernando Valley to treat their taste buds (and their wallets). True to its storefront origins, La Tolteca continues to offer three-dozen pack of corn tortillas for a mere $1.20. Add in grated cheese, which is sold for $3.95 per pound (yes, they sell it by the pound), and a person can enjoy La Tolteca-style quesadillas for weeks.

See More: Food Culture in Los Angeles

But beyond the food, La Tolteca is a family landmark for many people growing up in Azusa.

Arrietta noted that its staff, composed of local high school and college students as well as members of the Arrietta family, makes it a point to provide "good food, reasonable prices and good customer service." It is this policy, she believes, that has kept people coming back to La Tolteca for almost 70 years, despite the decline of small businesses in America.

"We keep our prices low to keep it a family-friendly place," Arrietta said. "I think [La Tolteca is] very important to the community in that people love coming here with their kids and extended family, and just enjoying themselves."

See More: Food Culture in Los Angeles

La Tolteca brings people together...smart phones not needed (Twitpic/George Mason U)

Arrietta's words ring true in an Azusa Facebook group, where a flood of comments confirmed that La Tolteca was a large part of the community:

"My dad would send me across the street with change to buy chicharones," recalled one man. "They always packed the bag full and someone frequently would go with me to the curb, to see that I made it back across Azusa Avenue safely." 

"We used to go get their chips before school and sneak them into class," another woman added. "Everyone knew when you had them because you could smell their yummyness." 

Along with the nostalgic posts of older generations, younger people indicated that they still frequent La Tolteca, with one fan writing, "I've taken my cousin there. We love it. The employees were super nice and gave us free flan to end our meal. It's just a super cool spot to hang out and eat good food."

See More: Bigger Business Is Not Always Better

While people differed in their favorite food and in their memories of La Tolteca, two things stood out: people's favorite memories were always shared with family and friends, and they took comfort in knowing that La Tolteca's food was always good.

La Tolteca lovers have something to look forward in the years to come.

"We're looking into opening up a smaller, over-the counter kind of business," Arrietta revealed. "We're still going to prepare the food with fresh ingredients and we'll still make everything ourselves, but we'll be able to offer faster food with maybe a more limited menu."

Judging by the fact that people still wait to be seated at La Tolteca, the Arrietta family should have no problem as long as they continue to provide the food that their customers love. 

Contact Staff Reporter Heidi Carreon here and follow her on Twitter here.