Los Angeles and New York City, the age-old rivalry continues. While debates rage on about which city reigns supreme in various aspects, when it comes to Mexican food, the answer is clear: Los Angeles wins, hands down. As a New Yorker, it pains me to admit, but LA’s Mexican food scene boasts an unparalleled depth, breadth, and scope that simply overshadows what NYC has to offer. Sure, New York has its gems like El Atoradero, La Palapa, and El Tenampa, but finding truly exceptional Mexican cuisine often feels like searching for diamonds in the rough. In contrast, Los Angeles is a treasure trove of authentic and innovative Mexican flavors at every turn.
During my trips to LA, I embark on intense Mexican food explorations, trying to savor as many tacos and regional specialties as possible. While these culinary adventures sometimes lead to, shall we say, digestive challenges, they’ve also gifted me an ever-growing list of favorite spots, extending far beyond just tacos. While not an LA local, my experiences have led me to discover places so remarkable, I now plan my trips around them. For anyone seeking truly great Mexican food, Los Angeles is the ultimate destination. Let’s dive into some must-visit locations that showcase the best of LA’s vibrant Mexican culinary landscape.
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Coni Seafood: Nayarit-Style Seafood Sensations
Coni Seafood is more than just a restaurant; it’s a culinary pilgrimage for those exploring the rich tapestry of Los Angeles food. Specializing in Nayarit-style cuisine, a regional Mexican style less common outside of the West Coast, Coni Seafood is a haven for seafood lovers. Their shrimp aguachiles are a vibrant starter, featuring raw shrimp swimming in a zesty lime and spicy green salsa bath, perfectly balancing sweet, spicy, and refreshing flavors. However, the undisputed star is the pescado zarandeado, grilled snook that is an absolute must-try.
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The presentation of the pescado zarandeado might be unconventional – a whole snook splayed open on a metal sheetpan – but the taste is nothing short of extraordinary. Marinated in a unique blend that tastes of orange juice and soy sauce, with a hint of mayonnaise for grilling crispness, the fish is served with warm corn tortillas and a side of deeply caramelized onions, reminiscent of a Mexican French onion soup in flavor intensity. The snook flakes effortlessly, offering a mix of salty-sweet, tender, and crispy nuggets. This dish is not just food; it’s an experience. Located conveniently near LAX in Inglewood, Coni Seafood is an ideal first or last stop for visitors seeking authentic great Mexican food in Los Angeles right from arrival or before departure.
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Guisados: Stewed Taco Perfection in Boyle Heights
Guisados in Boyle Heights has rightfully earned its reputation as a purveyor of “stewed taco perfection.” Unlike typical taco joints, Guisados specializes in traditional, home-style stews and braises, offering a unique and deeply flavorful taco experience. Forget about standard fillings like carne asada or al pastor; Guisados’ menu is a celebration of slow-cooked, rich flavors. Their tortillas are made fresh daily from nixtamalized corn sourced from the family-owned market next door, ensuring unparalleled freshness and a distinctive nutty taste. For first-timers, the sampler platter of six mini tacos is highly recommended. It’s the perfect way to navigate the impressive array of stewed fillings, which can indeed be overwhelming in the best possible way. While the cochinita pibil (Yucatán-style pulled pork) is a crowd favorite, don’t overlook the equally delicious chicken tinga, each taco showcasing the depth and complexity of authentic Mexican guisados.
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Blue Corn Quesadilla Cart: Echo Park’s Hidden Gem
Nestled near Echo Park Blvd and Sunset Blvd, the unnamed Blue Corn Quesadilla Cart is a testament to the magic of street food in Los Angeles. Here, the “Blue Corn Quesadilla Lady” crafts quesadillas on a simple griddle in a parking lot, creating fresh blue corn tortillas by hand for each order. The fillings go beyond just cheese, featuring options like squash blossoms, beans, chicharrones, chicken, chorizo, and the uniquely flavorful huitlacoche (corn smut), which tastes surprisingly like mushrooms. Each quesadilla is cooked until the tortilla achieves a perfect chewy-crisp texture, then folded and offered with toppings like raw onions, nopales, and fiery red or green salsa. Finding this cart might require a bit of luck and local knowledge, but the reward is an authentic and unforgettable taste of great Mexican food in Los Angeles, worth the hunt for any adventurous foodie.
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Ricky’s Fish Tacos: The King of Ensenada-Style Fish Tacos
Ricky’s Fish Tacos has evolved from a humble tarp-covered parking lot operation to a celebrated food truck in Silver Lake, but thankfully, the quality of their Ensenada-style fish and shrimp tacos remains unmatched. Ricky Piña’s tacos are legendary for good reason. The batter, a closely guarded secret, results in tacos that are perfectly golden, greaseless, and utterly delicious. Each taco comes loaded with crunchy raw cabbage, a chunky tomato and pepper salsa, and crema, with optional fresh salsa verde. The plump shrimp tacos are equally impressive, and don’t miss their refreshing agua frescas. Ricky’s is a prime example of how a simple concept, executed flawlessly, can become a cornerstone of great Mexican food in Los Angeles.
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Chiquis Taco Truck: Al Pastor Paradise
In a city brimming with taco trucks, declaring one the “best” is a bold claim, but Chiquis Taco Truck might just deserve that title, especially when it comes to tacos al pastor. Located in a gas station parking lot at Santa Monica and Vine, Chiquis serves al pastor tacos that are simply in a league of their own. The pork is shaved from a vertical spit, then crisped up on the griddle before being nestled into tortillas and topped with juicy, pork-infused pineapple. The result is a three-bite taco bursting with flavor. Adding to the experience are literal buckets of salsas, raw and pickled vegetables, and roasted peppers, allowing you to customize your tacos to perfection. Chiquis is where al pastor transforms from a standard offering into an extraordinary culinary experience, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking great Mexican food in Los Angeles, particularly late-night.
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Mexicali Taco & Co.: Baja Flavors and the Legendary Vampiro
Mexicali Taco & Co., born from a humble stand, is now a brick-and-mortar testament to the flavors of Mexicali. Known for their flame-grilled carne asada and thin, chewy flour tortillas shipped directly from Mexicali, they are also the creators of the Vampiro. This dish is a glorious, cheesy mess that combines carne asada and Monterey Jack cheese between two toasted flour tortillas, held together with garlic-mayo sauces. It’s quesadilla-like but elevated to another level of flavor intensity. While they offer a DIY salsa bar, the Vampiro is so flavorful on its own, you might not even need it. And don’t overlook their architecturally impressive nachos, loaded with roasted peppers, tomatoes, and onions, and generously drenched in a Velveeta-style cheese sauce. Mexicali Taco & Co. brings the bold flavors of Baja California to the heart of Los Angeles, offering a unique and delicious take on great Mexican food.
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Mariscos Jalisco: East LA’s Mariscos Truck Champion
Mariscos Jalisco, a long-standing mariscos truck in East LA, has been a champion of seafood tacos for over a decade, offering dishes that are simply unavailable in many other places. Their taco dorado de camaron (fried shrimp taco) is a culinary marvel: a shrimp, tomato, and onion fritter-like mixture encased in a tortilla, deep-fried to a perfect crispy brown, with a light and airy interior. It’s then generously doused in a tangy red salsa and adorned with creamy avocado slices. While the shrimp tacos are rightfully famous, the humble ceviches are equally noteworthy. Perfectly tart with lime, balanced with raw tomato and onion, and served on a crisp tostada with more ripe avocado, the ceviches at Mariscos Jalisco are a refreshing and flavorful counterpoint to the richness of the fried tacos. For an authentic and unforgettable taste of great Mexican seafood in Los Angeles, Mariscos Jalisco is an essential destination.
Los Angeles’s Mexican food scene is a vibrant and diverse tapestry, far surpassing the offerings of other cities. From Nayarit-style seafood to stewed tacos, blue corn quesadillas, Ensenada fish tacos, al pastor perfection, Baja-inspired creations, and mariscos truck treasures, LA offers a spectrum of flavors that cater to every palate. This guide is just a starting point, and the best way to truly appreciate the great Mexican food in Los Angeles is to explore it yourself. So, next time you’re in LA, skip the usual tourist traps and embark on a culinary journey to discover these and countless other Mexican food gems. You might just find yourself planning your return trip around your next meal. Angelenos, where should we explore next for more great Mexican food in Los Angeles? Share your recommendations in the comments below!
