What makes for a fantastic traditional Mexican restaurant? Possibly it’s the kitschy decor and native appeal. Possibly it’s the scrumptious meals: handmade tortillas, pink margaritas, scorching fajitas, huge combo plates that might final you a number of meals. Or perhaps it’s the reminiscences which might be made there.
After The Instances printed a sequence on old-school Mexican eating places and their important locations in Los Angeles delicacies, dozens of readers responded to a callout, sharing their favourite locations to get nice Cal-Mex meals and what it's about these culinary establishments that retains them coming again. Right here’s what they needed to say.
(Solutions have been edited for size and readability.)
Casa Del Rey in Sierra Madre is our household’s favourite Mexican restaurant. We love their combo plates, mine being a beef hard-shell taco and two cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. My spouse likes the chile relleno with cheese enchiladas. They've two home salsas. The one they serve you with chips while you first sit down is their “scorching” model. It's important to ask for the “gentle” salsa, my favourite. I can put it on my taco, beans, rice, and dip my chips in it and to me it's so tasty with no burn in any respect. We have now used them for catering occasions at our home and we all the time have loads of leftovers. When our youthful son, who's now 39, used to go along with us as a child, he would solely get a bean and cheese burrito. Fairly quickly, they might keep in mind that and ask him if he needed a bean and cheese burrito. Finally, they stopped asking and simply introduced one. I walked in a few yr in the past throughout the peak of the pandemic, totally masked with sun shades to select up a to go-order, and the server mentioned, “Hello, Domingo, we've your order prepared.” What number of locations do this?
31 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, (626) 355-6060, casadelreyrestaurant.com
— Domingo Torres-Rangel
La Cabañita in Glendale. The tacos de rajas con crema are to die for they usually have a fantastic choice of chile rellenos (together with chiles marineros). In reality, all their meals is scrumptious. Been there a very long time and I imagine they’re family-owned (although modified fingers a couple of years again). Longtime servers, survived the pandemic — it’s a fantastic household and neighborhood place. Not simply my favourite Mexican restaurant, however my favourite restaurant in Los Angeles.
3445 N. Verdugo Street, Glendale, (818) 957-2711, lacabanitarestaurant.com
— Nina Woodson
Can’t imagine you didn’t embrace Avila’s El Ranchito!!! Their first location in Huntington Park is known, and our household has been going to the Santa Ana location because it opened in 1983! We even had my Italian mom’s memorial service there as a result of she beloved it a lot. Right this moment, we dine at most all areas as a result of they've their very own native appeal. Huntington Park, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana nonetheless make handmade tortillas (soooo good!!!). And the seashore areas have so many native specials.
(a number of areas) 6703 Santa Fe Ave., Huntington Park, (323) 585-5055, avilaselranchito.com
— Patty Mitchell
For so long as I can recall, Barragan’s was our household’s go-to Mexican restaurant. It was an Echo Park midcentury pillar. When it finally closed, I went to the Glendale department. It sadly closed and the one present Barragan’s is in Burbank. So I attempt to get there as typically as I can. 1000's upon hundreds of group members, far and huge now, have appeared to the family-owned enterprise with love and respect. It's and has been a relentless in our lives. Nice folks and glad reminiscences, the household recipes, the menu, the margaritas, the tastes and flavors are embedded in our experiences there.
730 N. Victory Blvd., Burbank, (818) 848-2325, barragansrestaurants.com
— Elena Velarde
After I labored at an aerospace firm in Northridge, I used to be launched to Los Toros in Chatsworth. It was simply my form of place: darkish and just a little run down. To my thoughts, they'd one of the best bean dip, cheese enchiladas and pink margaritas in that long-ago little nook of my world. Pure consolation.
21743 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, (818) 882-3080, lostoros.com
— Claudia Mitchell
La Fiesta Grande in Pasadena: The BEST conventional Mexican meals within the area. Household-owned for over 40 years — a Pasadena establishment. Lately reopened after having to maneuver because of the earlier constructing proprietor not renewing their lease. Come for the enchiladas, fajitas, carne asada, tacos, and keep for his or her AMAZING margaritas and naturally the chips and salsa. Camerina (the proprietor’s daughter) runs the place, and the employees have been with them for years. They’re like prolonged household! My household and I began going over 17 years in the past as a part of a fundraiser for my oldest daughter’s preschool. My youngest daughter’s first journey was when she was 2 weeks previous ... . It was a Friday night time after-work/after-picking-up-the-kids custom.
181 E. Glenarm St. #110, Pasadena, (626) 298-6272, instagram.com/la_fiestagrande
— Tricia Miranda
You probably did miss a fantastic, longtime gap within the wall in Santa Monica, Gilbert’s El Indio, on Pico subsequent to a automotive wash. It’s small (cozy), snug and really, excellent. The menu has about all the things from south of the border anybody might need. The huevos rancheros, for causes laborious to establish, are maybe one of the best on the town (Gilbert’s El Indio occurs to be a very good breakfast place). The margaritas are very good (breakfast or cocktail hour). They make a diablo salsa that's nice, however it's a must to ask for it. The service is on level, the employees is pleasant and makes clients really feel welcome.
2526 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 450-8057, gilbertselindio.com
— Rob Webb
Rosa’s La Cabana in Torrance. Household-owned — Rosa herself will handle you most days. Apart from all the usual Sonora-type fare, Rosa’s has terrific flat enchiladas with savory inexperienced sauce, wonderful posole (pork or hen, your selection), wholesome salads — the fish salad is topped with a big grilled filet — and a lot extra. Additionally, they make one of the best agua de jamaica: tangy however not overly sweetened like some. Been coming right here for years and have by no means been upset. I grew up on the Eastside and have fairly excessive requirements for Mexican meals. That is one of the best I’ve discovered within the South Bay.
24403 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, (310) 378-3667
— Hilary Cohen
Though I’d argue one of the best Mexican meals is in my mother’s kitchen, I’m very shocked Pancho’s in Manhattan Seaside didn’t make the reduce to your record. The restaurant is value a strive; I extremely advocate a margarita to enhance any meal and undoubtedly save room for a sopapilla for dessert.
3615 Highland Ave., Manhattan Seaside, (310) 545-6670, panchosrestaurant.com
— AJ Guerrero
I've been going to Mi Casa in Costa Mesa since I can bear in mind. In case you love cheese, that is THE place to go. The three-item combo (beef or hen taco, cheese enchilada and chile relleno) will final you for a number of meals ... though the taco by no means makes it out the door with me. The nachos are additionally a cheese lover’s dream and the pickled jalapeños give it the right quantity of warmth and break from the richness. They make a imply Cadillac margarita, a should with the meal. Their salsa is certainly one of my all-time favorites, however I could possibly be biased since I used to be raised on it. It’s all the time do-it-yourself, so spice ranges differ (which I really like when it’s acquired that added kick). They’ve added some newer gadgets to the menu lately which I don’t discover to be all that nice, however the unique combo plates won't disappoint. It’s fairly cost-friendly too, so this was a weekly deal with with my mates again in highschool.
296 E. seventeenth St., Costa Mesa, (949) 645-7626, www.micasa1.com
— Nathan Mulhern
Las Fuentes in Reseda! Or Melodies simply throughout the road. They're owned by the identical household and the meals is so scrumptious! They're each native joints which might be all the time busy. The decor in each is absolutely enjoyable Mexican kitsch they usually’ve each been round for years. I do know no one thinks to move to Reseda for some good meals however it’s well worth the journey. The parts are beneficiant, the salsa is genuine. I really like the caldo de pollo at Melodies and the tacos at Las Fuentes. We’ve celebrated birthdays there, and it’s all the time a bit with the out-of-town friends.
18415 Vanowen St., Reseda, (818) 708-3344, lasfuentes.com
— Danielle Moreno
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