Los Angeles has the best Mexican food north of the border. Every regional cuisine from Oaxaca to Baja, from humble taco trucks to ambitious fine dining. This is Mexican food at its American best.
Regional Mexican
Guelaguetza
$$ • Koreatown
Oaxacan excellence. Moles, tlayudas, mezcal. Essential.
Holbox
$$ • Mercado La Paloma
Yucatecan seafood cocktails and ceviches.
Mariscos Jalisco
$ • Boyle Heights
The tacos dorados de camarón are legendary.
Modern Mexican
Broken Spanish
$$$$ • Downtown
Ray Garcia's elevated Mexican. Refined and creative.
Damian
$$$$ • Arts District
Enrique Olvera's LA venture. Modern Mexican excellence.
Madre
$$$ • Torrance/Palms
Oaxacan with extensive mezcal program.
Neighborhood Favorites
El Tepeyac
$ • Boyle Heights
Massive burritos since 1955. The Hollenbeck is huge.
La Casita Mexicana
$$ • Bell
Home-style Mexican with incredible moles.
Coni'Seafood
$$ • Inglewood
Sinaloan seafood specialists. Try the aguachile.
Pro Tip: LA's Mexican food is in the neighborhoods—Boyle Heights, East LA, Koreatown, and the South Bay. That's where the magic happens.