Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Top Mexican Restaurants

Gourmet magazine lists top Latino restaurants in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES
Sherry Virbila
See the story "His City of Angels" in our September 2007 issue.

Chichen Itza
At Chichen Itza, a new Mexican restaurant near the downtown area, the emphasis is on flavors from the Yucatan. Chef/owner Gilberto Cetina loves to use tropical flourishes in dishes like cochinita pibil (marinated pork roasted in a banana leaf) and yellow chiles stuffed with fresh tuna.2501 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles; 213-380-0051

Guelaguetza
This modest Oaxacan café serves a killer breakfast, complete with pan de yema (egg bread), big cups of milky coffee and great huevos rancheros. Try the green mole soup flavored with pork bones, epazote, and cilantro, or the intricate mole negro de Oaxaca with chicken. Though there are several Guelaguetzas around town, this is the original, and the best.11127 Palms Boulevard, Palms; 310-837-1153

La Serenata di Garibaldi
Chef/owner Jose Rodriguez is known for his subtle sauces. At lunch, tables are filled with lawyers and politicos reveling in camerones (shrimp) in cilantro sauce, rock shrimp gorditas, and chicken flautas napped with velvety guacamole.1841 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles; 323-265-2887

Ciudad
Ciudad celebrates the cuisines of the great Latin cities, from Havana and Buenos Aires to Lisbon and Barcelona. The menu is a terrific compendium of little dishes—rabbit and ham croquettes, Peruvian ceviche, carnitas tacos—as well as a variety of platos principales. The bar also has a dazzling selection of margaritas, mojitos, sherries, and rums.445 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles; 213-486-5171

http://www.epicurious.com/gourmet/features/critics_picks_2007_02

I've only been to one. I'm hoping to try Ciudad as well.

1 comment:

Morgan said...

ciudad is great. i personally think it should be your first new place to try from the list. the carnitas are excellent. and the mojitos are top-notch. or so i have been told.