Best Mexican food in LA area
 

Hey folks! Where is the best place for a yummy Mexican meal in LA? (I am talking about a restaurant and not fast food.) Are there nice places along Olvera?

Thanks!

This comes up quite frequently on the Chowhound LA board. Here are two good threads on the topic:

http://chowhound.com/california/boar...es/148324.html

http://chowhound.com/california/boar...es/148324.html

The best are scattered throughout the greater LA area (my personal favorites are, oddly enough, all in my hometown of Long Beach-- go figure!! ;) ). Hit Yahoo! Maps for directions and pull on the feed bag-- ¡que aproveches!

Thanks. I will have to check these out. Sometimes the long lists on chowhound overwhelm me.

Do you have an opinion on Gardens of Taxco?

Three schools of Mexican cuisine here.
!.Americanized, good but heavy with somewhat milder spicing.
2. Newer traditional Mexican brought by more recent immigrants. Healthier with a greater use of produce and peppers.
3. Seafood {Mariscos} Many places that offer a mix of traditional(enchiladas,tacos,etc.) and freshly prepared cooked and raw seafood.

Gardens of Taxco? Never eaten there. I've heard it's quite good.

logandog describes the Mexican food scene here pretty well. The güero (Americanized) Mexican is rarely worth the bother, although I've always enjoyed the gringa-prepared Border Grill offerings (in Santa Monica). In the second camp you'll find the famous La Guelaguetza (Oaxacan-- moles that will make you weep) and my hometown favorite, Enrique's (PCH at Loynes), where they serve the best carnitas north of the border (as well as a sublime pork shank in tomatillo salsa).

Falling in the Americanized school is El Cholo. Although not highly regarded on Chowhound, it's a place I really enjoy. It's been around since the 1920's and is quite popular so they must be doing something right. The original is on Western Ave. and another branch on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

I love Olvera Street for the kitch factor, it's a slice of history I remember from my childhood. Don't know about the quality of the restaurants but think it's a very fun place to visit in Los Angeles. Feel the same about Chinatown, the Farmer's Market, etc.

Ditto to rjw_lgb_ca's recommendation of
La Guelaguetza. It is not at all fancy--a small family type place w/kitchen tables--but the food is such a treat!! We were taken there by our son in LA and I only wish I could go all the time!! If only Boston could have Mexican food and LA could have pizza!! :)

I am a big fan of El Cholo...
Great Marg's and the food is always yummy..
Both locations are great..

El Cholo near downtown: Kitschy fun. Pretty good margaritas, güero-style Mexican grub that is pretty tasty.

El Cholo Santa Monica: Terrible. Amateurish service, lousy margaritas, barely-edible food that wouldn't be out of place at a Taco Bell. Run, don't walk from that dump.

In Santa Monica, there's an outpost of La Serenata de Garibaldi (the original in East LA is a legend). The SM branch isn't quite as celebrated, but it's light-years better than El Cholo in SM. The East LA eatery has a website:

http://www.laserenataonline.com/

Border Grill is across the street:

http://www.bordergrill.com/

And there's a Wahoo's Fish Tacos (a fast food chain, but delicious!) on Wilshire between 4th and 5th in SM:

http://www.wahoos.com/

Actually I had some awesome fast food Mexican last night-- Baja Sonora, in East Long Beach. Perfect carnitas, super-tasty sopa de albóndigas.

Olvera Street: We used to go to La Golondrina for birthdays when I worked downtown. The atmosphere is nice, the food is a bit tourist-priced but it is pretty good. La Luz del Dia is a good everyday (fast serve) place. The churro cart is also good.
PS, Try to order from the specials rather than the taco plates and you'll do okay.
Do I see that no one mentioned Grand Central Market on Broadway? Lots of authentic stands inside. I don't have a specific recommendation other than the licuados (blended fruit drinks) on the Hill Street side. However it is not a 'restaurant' per se.

Grand Central Market is great!! Manual's in East L.A. is legendary and is unbelievable!!

Wow. Thanks for all of your help! My mouth is watering! I can't wait!

rjw... last time I was in LA we went to Cinco De Mayo in LGB.
It was great! Have you ever been there?

Had good food on Olvera Street (and fun shopping) and really liked El Cholo too!

I like Tia Juana in West L.A. on Olympic. Looks like a dump on the outside, but it's a lot better looking on the inside. Fresh tortillas.

Not that you asked, but the legendary taco stand on the Westside is Titos, on Washington Place in Culver City.

La Golondrina (or however it's spelled!) on Olvera is excellent. It's famous for the Mole sauce, but I actually found it too rich.

El Cholo is good, but not outstanding. Fun atmosphere.

Really, for the best authentic Mexican, don't be afraid to stop at one of the little bitty stands on the sides of major streets. Well, not stands, but huts. You can get excellent food at those if you're a little brave.

Lastly, if you go to the famous 3rd and Fairfax Farmer's Market (adjacent to the Grove mall), there's a stand in there called Loteria.... YUM YUM YUM.... we've made a habit of Loteria almost every weekend :)

I'll second the recommendations of La Luz del Dia and Tito's Tacos!

There is a place in Venice, right near the border with Santa Monica, but I can't think of the name - arrrgh! It's just off the west side of Lincoln, a little homey place where you can watch them make tortillas by hand...does that ring a bell with anyone?

Lee Ann

Loteria is great! But No No No on Titos Tacos unless you like mystery meat.
Gallo Giro is really good, but don't know if there is one anywhere that a tourist might go.

In Venice that is La Cabana. The restaurant is still there, but I haven't tried it for about 20 years.