Best Authentic Mexican Restaurant????

[issey]

We are taking my friend out to dinner for her Birthday and looking for some Authentic Mexican food at a place that we can sit down and enjoy.

So, taco stands and places like King Taco won't work. We are also not looking for the extreme high end Latin such as Red by Rick Bayless.

I know there must be a grip of great Mexican food in East LA. I would appreciate any recommendations and maybe what to order at each place.

Oh by the way, I checked out Babinta (??) but they are not open on Monday which is the day we will be having dinner.

Thanks!!!

[reinadetostones]

Based on Chowhound recs, we went to Guelaguetza last summer and were blown away. Festive atmosphere and amazing food. Particularly enjoyed the "Festival de Moles" where we could try four of their different moles - muy delicioso. A friend had the chicken breast and it was moist, deeply flavored with a complex marinade, and an enormous portion.

http://guelaguetzarestaurante.com/

[chpsteve]

Second Guelaguetza. Excellent and interesting food in a nice atmosphere.

[estone888]

Guelaguetza also has the advantage of being one of the very few good, authentic Mexican restaurants with a full liquor license, not just beer and wine - at least at the one on Olympic in Koreatown.

[Servorg]

The Olympic location is excellent for all the reasons given here, and it has parking.

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Guelaguetza
3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

[estone888]

Sadly the restaurant version of Chichen Itza on 6th Street is closed. What is left is the stand in Mercado Paloma which doesn't sound quite like what you are looking for.

For seafood, perhaps Mariscos Chente. There are a lot of threads with advice about it, and which branch to go to, on here.

For general Mexican food in East L.A. I'm pretty fond of Teresita's on 1st St. Their chile verde is great in particular - so is the chile colorado.

La Casita Mexicana in Bell would be perfect: http://casitamex.com/ I have loved everything I have ever had here, so it's hard to recommend.

A little lower scale, sort of in between a stand and a restaurant (order at the counter and they bring it to your table) is Cacao Mexicatessan in Eagle Rock on Colorado Blvd. Amazing chile rellenos, incredible enchiladas. The daily specials are always interesting, unusual and everything is incredibly fresh and authentic.

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La Casita Mexicana
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

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

[Das Ubergeek]

Heartily, heartily second Cenaduria La Casita Mexicana in Bell. Make sure to reserve.

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La Casita Mexicana
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

[ilysla]

+1 for Cacao. I just went there yesterday for the first time and thought it was absolutely delicious. Might not work for the b-day party, unless you want to it to be very casual. Had the taco sampler platter, and my partner had the red mole chicken. I also had the melon-cucumber agua fresca. It was all outstanding.

[ipsedixit]

How about Chichen Itza?

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Chichen Itza
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

[Servorg]

Some of this older thread is, indeed, outdated, but much of it is still current and is a good resource for your quest: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/540566

[issey]

Thanks Servorg! I'll check out the thread.