kitschy/fun mexican restaurant

[gordita]

Need fun place for mothers day. No Ernies/El Cholo types. Something unusual. Not on westside. Go to it hounds!

[Chowpatty]

Maria's Ramada near Hollywood might be a fun choice. No real tequila though, if that's a consideration, just wine margaritas.
http://mariasramada.com/

[nick_r]

El Coyote!

[Emme]

La Parilla maybe?

Frida in BH is kind of fun, but not really kitschy at all.

La Serenata de Garabaldi has the historical tradition to it.

I think Babita would be a nice choice, but probably not what you're seeking in terms of kitsch.

[SilverlakeGirl]

There is now a Frida in the new Americana at Brand in Glendale ... according to the AAB's site.

[WildSwede]

First thought in my head is La Parilla - the one on Cesar Chavez is the most kitchy.

[PayOrPlay]

I haven't been in years, but maybe someone else knows--what's Gardens of Taxco like these days?

[Obessed]

I was just going to recommend Gardens of Taxco. It's still the same, I think...no menus with the "besssstt mole in tooowwwnnn"

Other options: Velvet Margarita, El Sid in Silverlake.

[Emme]

i always think of velvet margarita as the drunken younger crowd, though i can't guess what it'll be like on mom's day...

[Mr Taster]

Oh yes, Gardens of Taxco fits "kitschy", "fun" and "unusual" like a snug, warm glove. It's exactly what gordita is looking for.

"De chicken was borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn in the sauce."

Mr Taster

[bluemonster]

The Gardens of Taxco was my first thought, too.

For something different, the Yucatanean restaurant Chichen Itza is doing a Mother's Day thing thise year.

[nikky]

Gardens of Taxco is a great call. Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks may also fit the bill.

[gordita]

Thanks fellow hounds, I'll follow up on suggestions!

[Eat_Nopal]

Stop.... the best place to meet your requirements will be to go the Mercadito in East L.A. Its a fairly authentic style Mercado with 3 stories... casual food vendors, herbalists, meat markets, seafood markets etc & dry goods in the first two stories... then 4 restaurants with Mariachi bands going 24/7

[Mr Taster]

But if it's authentically Mexican, how can it be the sort of American kitsch it sounds like the OP is looking for?

By the way, this sounds like a great place... I'm going to mark it down on my "to try" list

Mr Taster

[Eat_Nopal]

Trust me.... its kitsch... its more subtle than going to Olvera Street.... but if you have been to Mexico you would still recognize the kitsch. Notice how I said... its authentic style... and indeed there is alot of authenticity there.... but there is still something fundamentally unique to the Mercadito that you wouldn't find in Mexico... its that intersection between a majority sub-culture of Rural, uneducated, poor Mexicans who have now adapted to life in the U.S. with its big shiny new trucks, playing Narco-corridos, fancy belt buckles & boots... there is something very flashy, very American, very Texas in your face about Mexican sub-culture in East L.A. that is the complete opposite of more humble, dignified, calm Mexico.... yet it still has a Mexican flair & flavor to it.

[Mr Taster]

Wow-- what a fascinating picture you have painted of this place, and an interesting analysis of Mexican-American culture. Certainly I can appreciate the Mexican kitsch factor you describe... in fact I think you've convinced me to head there this weekend. In my opinion however, it just didn't sound to me like something the op's mom was looking for (based on her Ernie's/El Cholo baseline, I'm guessing the mercadito would be outside her comfort zone)

Mr Taster

[gordita]

Yea, outside mother's comfort zone but not mine...Chance are we're going to end up at a crappy place for lunch today. Sad.