Best Mexican Restaurant in LA?

[Meri1981]

Hello,

I read several reviews of not Americanize Mexican restaurant, and I want to know, from the following which one is the best. I doesn't matter the price or location, just the food:

1. El Tepeyac Café

2. Malo

3. Monte Alban

4. La Serenata de Garibaldi

5. Gardens of Taxco

6. Moles La Tia

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Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Malo
4326 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Gardens of Taxco
1113 N. Harper Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046

La Serenata
1416 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Moles La Tia
4619 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022

El Tepeyac Restaurant
385 E Mill St Ste 4, San Bernardino, CA 92408

[BSW6490]

Frida in Beverly Hills is very good.

[jamiemica]

Check out chichenitza for amazing Mexican food from the cancun side. Gardens of taxco is fun but not quality mexican food. El Tepayec and Malo are great as well

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Malo
4326 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

[loreeLB]

personally we are big fans of Gardens of Taxco... their melt in your mouth quesadilla appetizer, the flavorful soup, dont forget about the salsa, chips & pickled vegs we LOVE it... but, not only for the food.. :) the chicken in salsa verde never fails, neither does their surprisingly good pasta & cheese! the mole is a fave of friends and never had a bad meal here!!

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Gardens of Taxco
1113 N. Harper Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046

[Das Ubergeek]

That's because it was BORRRRRRRRRRRRN in the sauce. (What a revolting thought, upon closer examination.)

[ipsedixit]

... neither does their surprisingly good pasta & cheese ...

____________________

And, of course, the one thing that is surprisingly good at a purported [cough, cough] Mexican restaurant is .... the pasta?!!

[carter]

Well, having had my first meal at Playa in the former Grace location on Beverly Blvd., just west of El Coyote, I must say that their appetizers are sensational, entrees delicious, great wine and cocktail selection with cocktails made from fresh juices, etc.
I like Babita a lot, yet Playa and its sibling downtown Rivera, are different worlds of Mexican/Latin food.
All 3 options(not including the coyote, btw) are better than any place mentioned on your list.

[mc michael]

what are the differences (if any) between Playa and Rivera?

[carter]

Playa is more casual, yet in an industrial modern design that is not exactly unlike the look of Rivera, but lighter, more playful in concept. The appetizers are definitely lighter, and the number of serious entree dishes is about 6-7. We tasted the NY steak, the pork and the duck. All 3 were good, yet the NY would rate lowest, simply because I prefer pork and duck. Personal favorites for me were the appetizers, with the maize cakes a reallllly tasty take on corn tortillas, with all kinds of variations. Guac as accompaniment was tasty. Superb wine list as is the case downtown.
Proximity might be as big a difference for you if you don't live, work, or have a need to be downtown.
Staff is VERY well trained, affable and knowledgable as you can imagine. Professional in every way.

[Das Ubergeek]

Moles la Tia, I guess... but your list should include La Casita Mexicana, Mariscos Chente, and El Cholo.

(Kidding about El Cholo.)

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La Casita Mexicana
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[estone888]

Second Babita. Also Casita Mexicana and Cacao Mexicatessan in Eagle Rock. If I had to choose from your list I'd pick La Serenata, but only the original branch on 1st St. in Boyle Heights.

[ipsedixit]

That's the only branch of LSdG open now.

[Servorg]

La Serenata (they may not be a "baldy") on Pico in WLA is still up and running. The Santa Monica La Serenata is becoming/became an Yxta outpost. What about the Northridge La Serenata? Is that one still extant?

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La Serenata
10924 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Yxta Cocina Mexicana
601 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021

La Serenata
19265 Roscoe Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

[carter]

ABC shows there to be a La Serenata in both Northridge and Canoga Park, yet neither owned by a member of the Rodriguez family. Its ownership family name is Barajas.
A connection?

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La Serenata
19265 Roscoe Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

Canoga Cafe
6200 Canoga Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

[ipsedixit]

Not according to this.
http://www.laserenataonline.com/histo...

[carter]

You are right - the valley units have nothing to do with the one in Boyle Heights, and there is no mention of them on the company website either.

[ipsedixit]

None.

I would go to Babita before any of those.

But if I had to choose from your list, I would go to Malo.

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Malo
4326 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

[Burger Boy]

Have you been to Moles La Tia I found it amazing.

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Moles La Tia
4619 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022

[mc michael]

Here's Babita. Wish they had tequilla.

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

[ronsilverado]

Before Monte Alban?

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Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

[ipsedixit]

Yes.