New spot on Fig: Carnal, a slightly upscale Mexican breakfast and lunch place from the dudes behind Simon that just opened in the former Baja Cali tacos location by La Monarca.
Interesting menu, a little more expensive and formal than I expected but some very cool stuff. Lengua chilaquiles were good if maybe more straightforward, and I really liked the Maizhongo, huitlacoche and mixed mushrooms with chochoyotes. Table salsas were excellent, and they dropped off a nice little plate of pina con vinagre (pickled/fermented/vinegary pineapple with chiles). Looking forward to another visit.
I really liked it! It’s in an interesting (and locally mostly vacant) niche where it’s stylish and ambitious and table service and the menu is great but it’s still a pretty casual lunch.
Not to be pocket watching but tbh I am already worried that it’s not exactly a super profitable niche - there’s no alcohol, not a ton of tables, it closes (for now) at 2:30p, and it has a distinctive but frankly not super inviting street presence. Hope it finds the community support it needs and deserves!
remembered this post and ended up here last night for the first time. so tasty. perfect parking lot to eat a mulita and discuss the attempted assassination/listen to the new Sturgill album.
I think that they make really solid east-coast style sandwiches. Their seeded baguette is the way to go and if you have an option to get a side of extra sauce, get it.
Also for breakfast, some locations have the option to replace the Jyan Isaac bagel with a homemade biscuit. This is my favorite biscuit sandwich in LA, not that we have many good ones. Could use a bit more bacon. Honestly, I crave this sandwich with a splash of hot sauce daily.
They are really hyping up their salad wraps (Caesar + Buffalo), which I think are decent but not great. They used to use La Palma tortillas, but moved over to Mejorado tortillas, which I haven’t tried.
I recommend trying a hot sandwich and a cold sandwich before making an assessment.
Bill seems to go on a rant every quarter taking somebody to task. For places I’ve been to in the last few months I thought Villas was good but definitely not as tasty as Tacos Los Cholos or Carreta.
Man, I don’t want to give this too much oxygen (though it’s tempting) because it’s been covered before but it’s such an unhinged move. Again. It’s ironic that he tries to crack jokes about influencers and hipsters because he’s so thirsty for influence himself. I also find it deeply unprofessional, especially for someone who has authority on the topic and covers it for a large local pub.
And fwiw I don’t like Villa’s that much but the tacos are pretty good and not even that hyped anymore, this is goofy as hell.
