Best Mexican...

[coweepooh]

Would love some mexican food recs anywhere from West LA to SGV area...or even down to Torrance, etc...

Something homely, exclusive to the LA region, any price range from very cheapo (preferably sit down though) to fancy (which I dont usually imagine though for Mexican...but maybe there is...)

Thanks :)

[Tony Miller]

I once ate at a phenomenal Yucatecan restaurant in Mexico City -- no idea what the name was. I've never encountered Yucatecan food in California. Are there any such restaurants, preferably in the South Bay or Long Beach areas? I'd travel further to sample a great recommendation.

Thanks!

[Servorg]

http://www.chichenitzarestaurant.com/AboutUs.htm

You should also read through this prior thread on the subject which should be of help:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/473145

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Chichen Itza
2501 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

[Tony Miller]

Great, thank you. I guess I had read about Chichen Itza in an earlier thread, but never followed up as it's kind of a hike from San Pedro. I'll try to do it now, particularly as I see that they serve Panuchos.

[ElissaInPlaya]

I have had several great meals at La Huasteca in the last month. The food here is much better than Paco's, Frida's or Lares; haven't tried all of the other recommendations.

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La Huasteca
3150 E Imperial Hwy, Lynwood, CA 90262

[Emme]

agree with recs for Babita for upscale.

Monte Alban for Oaxacan in West LA.

Gilbert's El Indio on Pico

[laeditormatthew]

Try La Cabanita in Glendale
home made chips, two home made amazing salsas and great mole.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-cabanita-g...

[mollycato]

La Cabana - 738 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291
Nice spicy salsa, heavier food

La Playita - 3306 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
on Lincoln next to CVS and Whole Foods Market. It's a stand so you can eat at the counter or to go. Great ceviche, Al Pastor tacos & burritos

[wilp]

Babita has a great Menu, a clean, nice setting and a really good family run atmosphere... La Casita is similar, both are mentioned below and are great choices.

I would also throw out Enriques in Long Beach for another low key, but a nice sit down option.. anything they do with pork is usually really good..see pork shank in tomatillo sauce.

Also for the best fish tacos around see Taco Baja Ensenada..

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Tacos Baja Ensenada
5385 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90022

Babita
1823 S San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Enrique's
6210 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803

[doraxkishi]

I second what muchovinomamacita said: Paco's Tacos (near or in Culver City)...SO good. It just puts El Cholo to shame.

As for slightly ghetto/street-style food, my vote has to go to Mariela's Taco near Koreatown...

[rainey]

The very best in LA in my opinion is La Serenata de Garibaldi in Boyle Heights. That's the barrio but the resto is comfortable, gracious and relaxed. The food, which focuses on seafood but includes all the conventional Mexican specialties, is unequalled. The service is personal and warm. The prices are near the top for Mexican cuisine but well within the value of the meals and experience.

There are other locations on the westside which I am told are not as exceptional.

[brandygirl]

I've been to FRIDA'S on Beverly Drive in BH a few times and thought it was great. I recently had a quick lunch at LARES on Santa Monica in SM and had one of the best Margaritas ever--and I love their chips and salsa!

[trojans]

I Love Frida's on Beverly Drive. Great tacos de ribeye and great salsas.

[muchovinomamacita]

Paco's Taco's on Centinela/Washington Blvd in Culver City/Mar Vista seems to be a people pleaser...love the Conchinita's di Pibil & the beef tacos! COLD beer!

[Servorg]

This should keep you busy for the next few years: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/540566

[bodie]

That is a pretty broad request. What is your favorite type of Mexican cuisine (Oaxacan, Mexico City-style, Yucatecan, etc...).
For nicer sit-down you might consider Babita.
For traditional Cal-Mex there are a gazillion options - each area has its designated go-to place. And so on.
Give the board a little more to work with and you are sure to get better guidance.

[coweepooh]

ohhh i loved mexican city style...i was in zona rosa the last time long time ago as a kid and had the most amazing chicken dishes...and the light brothy chicken soups with avocado were wonderful too...a lot less cheesy and heavy than the typical regular mexican food...

sorry im not as familiar witht he breakdown of mexican food...especially having gone back to DC for so long now...i only know of salvadorean or mexican as the regular categories...LOL

[bodie]

There is a little mom and pop place on the edge of Burbank called Don Huarache that makes outstanding huaraches and sopes among other items. There already is a paean to the place on Chowhound so, I will spare you my own words of praise and give you a link to this very complimentary thread.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/563929

[a_and_w]

For a brothy chicken soup with avocado, try the consumme ranchero at Monte Alban. They're oaxacan, but the consumme ranchero is light like you describe. Just don't confuse it with the sopa azteca, which is their heavier tortilla soup (also delicious but very cheesy).

[Mr Taster]

Do a search on the boards for this place.

Mr Taster

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La Casita Mexicana
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201