West LA’s neighborhood taqueria has some of the finest grilled carne asada and other tacos in the city, all made on handmade flour or corn tortillas. Sonoritas also took over the former Broken Spanish space in Downtown LA, for those who don’t want to venture west.

Bar Hermanito is one of the most surprising — and satisfying — dining choices one can make on Sawtelle. The menu takes inspiration from the neighborhood’s Sawtelle Japantown culture and history with inflections of Mexican dishes like yellowtail tostada with Japanese pickles. The best reasons to come to Hermanito, though, are its tacos, smooth cocktails, and Westside-cool patio atmosphere. More common choices like al pastor, shrimp, and quesabirria tacos are complemented by a Peking duck platter (not available every day, so check in advance).

Classic Mexican antojitos and birria destination Apatzingan resides on the north side of Laurel Canyon Boulevard on a busy Pacoima intersection. Try the birria with Apatzingan’s large, floppy tortillas.

While Mexican plant-based restaurants continue to gain popularity, Leonor’s Restaurant opened back in 1988. With two SFV locations, the family-operated restaurant can prepare vegan or vegetarian combination dishes like tacos, burritos, tostadas, or enchiladas with flavorful beans.

In 2020, chef Joshua Gil opened his modern Baja Mexican restaurant in the heart of Beverly Hills with stellar cocktails and some of the most creative cooking in Los Angeles. Try the Baja fried snapper with blue corn tortillas.

馬丁家族打開第一個嘉年華馬丁·restaurant in 2009, later emerging with Martin’s Cocina y Cantina in 2021. This is a departure from the other locations throughout South LA. It’s a bright, modern addition to this prominent Inglewood street with incredible cocktails, good food, and if necessary, a bar with wide TVs to watch local sports teams.

Petty Cash is arguably the best place to score some pretty standout tacos, uni-laced guacamole, and agave-based cocktails in the Beverly Grove area. The room is especially cool, with high ceilings and community tables for large groups.

This Inglewood restaurant is the master of shrimp in all preparations — fried, sautéed, cut into ceviche, or left whole for shockingly bright and spicy aguachile with a vibrant jalapeño puree. But the real star here is the pescado zarandeado, a whole snook coated in an umami-rich paste and shaken over coals, served either indoors or out on the patio.

LA’s oldest Mexican restaurant maintains a historic presence on Western Avenue, but there are five bustling SoCal locations serving margaritas, combination platters, and El Cholo’s signature green corn tamales.

There’s little debate that Koreatown’s Guelaguetza is the place to go when it comes to Oaxacan cuisine. This is the restaurant to indulge in complex moles, two-foot-wide tlayudas, and piles of toasted chapulines. The room feels especially festive thanks to live music, while the food remains top-tier.

Mexico City restaurant Terraza Cha Cha Chá opened this rooftop destination in the Arts District in 2021, and the response has been tremendous. The modern Mexican fare here features tacos, tostadas, composed seafood dishes, and a rare view of Downtown from its eastern edges.

Celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera’s more casual restaurant is a stunning space within the Arts District, where his chef Chuy Cervantes provides pristine takes on upscale Mexican favorites like fish ceviche tostadas and octopus huarache to duck al pastor. Try not to miss weekend brunch.

A standard-bearer for sit-down Mexican cuisine, La Casita Mexicana is as award-winning as it is delicious. Sure, the team there has gone on to open several other places since, but La Casita arguably remains the real destination for anyone looking to explore what Mexican cooking can be.

Tucked into a space out in Commerce is neighborhood favorite Aqui es Texcoco. With additional outlets in Tijuana and San Diego, this restaurant remains one of the stronger options for eating big weekend plates of pit-roasted lamb.

Rocio Camacho is known as the Goddess of Mole for a reason: her moles and recipes are truly some of the best in the entire country. Come for the tacos de cazuela, bright, citrusy cochinita pibil crowned with pickled red onion, and Oaxacan-style caldo de pollo, a warming chicken soup.

Tamayo’s stunning room is the perfect place to eat the saucy chile verde or incredible traditional flan or mango mascarpone cake. Be sure to scan the East LA restaurant’s incredible art collection by notable Oaxacan artist Rufino Tamayo.