Best Mexican Restaurants In Los Angeles
Southern California has quite the menu of Mexican restaurants with the influence of Mexican-American culture and lifestyle. Traditional Mexican cuisine dishes often feature staples including corn, beans and chili peppers. Today chefs are experimenting with these ingredients all while honoring the authenticity of the traditional fare such as the burrito, taco, quesadilla and enchilada. Los Angeles is no stranger to Mexican food. Check out these five restaurants for the best Mexican food in the area.
El Cholo
1121 Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 734-2773
www.elcholo.com
The one thing you can say about El Cholo is that they know their Mexican food. There aren't many restaurants in LA, let alone Mexican restaurants, that have stood the test of time since 1923. But, El Cholo is one of those. Opened over 90 years ago, it continues to thrive as LA's oldest continuously operated Mexican restaurant with comfort cuisine in a truly authentic atmosphere. What should you order? Made table-side, the guacamole is something every guest should order, but you also won't want to miss out on their green corn tamales (corn off the cob, cheddar cheese, and ortega chile), as well as the burrito dorado and the tres tacos al carbon.
Gracias Madre
8905 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 978-2170
www.graciasmadreweho.com
A vegan Mexican restaurant might stand out initially as somewhere you might want to skip but you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice. Serving cuisine inspired by Mexico and sourced from local ingredients, Gracias Madre is Los Angeles' answer to delicious vegetarian Mexican food and has quickly become LA's go to spot for tasty eats and drinks. Executive Chef Chandra Gilbert works up dishes with bold flavors to create a delicious menu including a Guacamole starter, which comes with chips made in house or warm handmade tortillas. Made with mashed avocado, cilantro, onion, chile and lime, choose to either get this as an appetizer or find it within their tasty tostadas as well as other dishes. Other stand out dishes include the sopes con pina. Combine the delicious eats with an equally impressive atmosphere, and its no wonder why Gracias Madre is a hot spot.
Guelaguetza
3014 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 427-0608
www.ilovemole.com
As one of LA's Mexican institutions, Koreatown's Guelaguetza opened in 1994 and has since served up affordable dishes ranging from breakfast items to lunch and dinner selections. What's good? Well, everything, so it may be tough to pick just a few things to order. Some stand out dishes include the Mole Negro, which is served with your choice of chicken breast or chicken legs covered with oaxacaís famous black mole made from chiles, nuts, seeds, spices and oaxacan chocolate.
Lotería Grill
6333 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 930-2211
www.loteriagrill.com
Since Loteria Grill opened it's first location at the Original Farmers Market over 10 years ago, this Mexican hotspot has gained followers and notoriety throughout the city. Several locations have followed including Studio City, Santa Monica, Downtown LA, Westlake Village and others because of just how delicious it really is. From their mole tacos to
guacamole y totopos (fresh guac and house-made chips) to specialty plates, soups and salads and more, you can't go wrong with whatever you order here.
Mercado
7910 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 944-0947
www.mercadorestaurant.com
With locations in Hollywood, 3rd Street, Santa Monica and elsewhere, Mercado has gained a faithful following for its wide array of tasty Mexican fare cooked to perfection. Serving classic and contemporary Mexican food, both the food and atmosphere reflect the heart and soul of real Mexican food. Menu items from Chef Jose Acevedo include tortillas made by hand daily, as well as the dishes with the finest meats, and freshest ingredients. Add in a bar that offers over 60 premium silver, resposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilas, as well as mezcal, bottled and draft beers and specialty cocktails, and you'll easily find yourself falling in love with this LA favorite. Some of the stand out dishes include their Elote Callejero, or grilled sweet corn with carmelized onions, as well as large plates like the pulled free range chicken with oaxacan mole enchiladas.
PettyCash Taquería
7360 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-5300
www.pettycashtaqueria.com
One of the newer Mexican restaurants to hit the LA scene is West Hollywood's PettyCash Taquería. Set in an open and lively space, guests are invited to dine on Mexican street food while sitting on communal tables. A collaboration between Chef Walter Manzke and restaurateur Bill Chait, the restaurant boasts an impressive selection of unique cocktails like the "Unwed Melon" (london dry gin, fresh cantaloupe, roasted red pepper, aperol), as well as "The Brixton" (gin, poblano sorbet, habanero, fresh lime, flaming green chartreuse). But the fun doesn't stop there. The food is equally as impressive. A full ceviche bar, tacos, quesadillas and more are on hand for guests to enjoy.
El Condor
3701 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 660-4500
www.elcondorla.com
A favorite Mexican restaurant in Silver Lake, El Condor is the brainchild of Executive Chef and owner Spencer Bezaire, who is also the executive chef and oyster director at favorite L&E Oyster Bar. The menu is inventive, featuring handcrafted Mexican fare with an extensive mezcal collection. El Condor's signature dishes include the queso flameado con hongos (baked Oaxcan cheese, mushrooms, fresh tortillas, salsa verde), asada quesadilla (grilled onion, cheddar, cilantro, queso fresco, roasted corn, red pepper, salsa borracha) and pescado tacos (grilled swordfish, cabbage, adobo aioli, pico de gallo). Mezcal and tequila flights are available, a mezcal mule cocktail (a Mexican version of the Moscow Mule), as well as margaritas, wine and cerveza.
Dia de Campo
1238 Hermosa Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 379-1829
www.diadecampohb.com
Dia de Campo, which is named after the Portuguese phrase for "field day," offers classic and modern Mexican cuisine with a West Coast fish house and raw bar menu. Chef Tin Vuong and Executive Chef Ken Johnson offer a harmonious blend of traditional Mexican flavors and seasonings with fish, chicken and meat. Scallops with mole is presented with apple poblano salad, corn pudding and platanos. Tacos stuffed with carne asada or crispy pico fish are great alone, or make them “machismo” – corn and flour tortillas filled with cheese and topped off with avocado and a lime crema. Playful cocktails make up the drinks menu, such as the "classico + perfecto" take on the margarita, the Sophia, with agua de santa, tequila blanco, and Patrón Citrónge; and the "sweet and smoky" La Leona with Maestro Bobel, peach, lemon, and mescal. Live acoustic music fills the dining room every Wednesday night.
Tacoteca
2460 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-2115
www.tacoteca.com
The Westside restaurant for Mexican small plates and specialty Mezcal bar is Tacoteca, a collaboration between chef Ricardo Diaz (Guisados, Cook’s Tortas, Colonia Publica) and restaurateur Adam Fleischman (Umami Burger). The taco offerings are extensive in ingredients, flavor and creative pairings. Tortillas are made daily from Tacoteca's handmade corn masa, and are filled with everything including poached smoked Thai octopus, grilled skirt steak, dry chili-marinated and 12-hour smoked BBQ pork butt, tempura-fried fresh cod, Mary's free range chicken seared a la plancha, chorizo and scrambled eggs, and an assortment of sautéed mushrooms. Brunch is a treat offering a three-course price fix menu ($15.95 per person) along with bottomless mimosas or rose ($14.95).
Sol y Luna
19601 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 343-8488
www.lasfuentes.com
Sol y Luna is a restaurant favorite in the San Fernando Valley, and because it doesn't take reservations, owners Alejandro Morales and Norma Morales suggest guest arrive early. The menu offers a lot of different Mexican cuisine choices such as its house specialty molcajete, a plate of grilled steak, chicken and shrimp served with fresh cactus leaf, panela cheese and yellow chili peppers served on a molcajete, the traditional Mexican stone mortar and pestle. In addition, burritos are served classic without salsa or "Gringo style" with ranchera sauce and melted cheese. Sol y Luna welcomes green corn tamale season by grinding the corn and making the favorite dish from scratch.
Ceremony Bar
11814 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 985-9222
www.ceremonybar.com
Walk right into Ceremony and feel the rich tradition and heritage of Mexico with its Dia de Los Muertos murals and paintings accenting the restaurant walls. The unique fusion of Mexican and European cuisine and flavors bring guests on a regular basis. Owner and Chef Frank Leon carefully crafted the menu, which features small dishes as well as entrées for table sharing. Tacos are prepared with fresh corn tortillas — favorites include crispy cauliflower and ahi tuna. Grilled red snapper Veracruz style, stofado de papas (rib eye, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers), chili relleno en nogada (served with mixed veggies and a walnut cream sauce) and an array of quesadillas round out the menu. Mixologist Matty Taylor creates cocktails inspired by his personal adventures to Tulum, Mexico, featuring mezcal, hibiscus and tropical fruits.
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