Anyone that knows me knows that I utterly despise bad Mexican food. And sadly, most of the Mexican food in the U.S. is bad, bad, bad. Cheesy, refried mush. Tacos dripping with sour cream and more cheese. And lest we forget: the Mexican pizza at Taco Bell. Gross.
So I was thrilled to read about the spread of new Nuevo Latino restaurants opening in LA this summer and fall detailed in an article by Jessica Gelt in the Los Angeles Times. There’ll be no fajita combo or chimichangas here; the dishes are more likely to look like deconstructed mole or fresh seafood cocktails from a ceviche bar.
Some of my favorite Mexican restaurants ’round the country, by the way, are already featuring modern Mexican food — the type you would see in trendy restaurants in Mexico City (or el DF, as the natives call it). Here are my faves:
Rosa Mexicano – Washington DC
Las Palmas – Chicago
Carlitos’ Cava – Santa Barbara
Guaymas – Tiburon
Places I’ve heard are pretty darn amazing that I’d like to try:
Yuca’s – Los Angeles
Super Ricas – Santa Barbara
Got some favorite Mexican food spots to add to this list? I’d love your suggestions!
Chichen Itza, Los Angeles (Yucatan)
Cuidad, Los Angeles (owned by 2 women!!)