Went to Otono last night and was happy–though honestly my take away might be that I don’t love Spanish food?
What’s funny is that the dishes you mentioned were by far my favorites. Like those were great. That black bread was the dish of the night. I liked the paella negra. Jamon and melon was meh because the melon was not good. (Weiser Farms, just not a great batch.) I thought a mushroom tostada was a tad heavy and one note. We also ordered conservatively because of my mother-in-law.
I liked it enough to go back though, which excites me.
ALSO, FUN NOTE. They are doing a New Mexican food pop-up for like the next month at lunch and brunch. I will for sure be getting myself to that.
Saw some anti-gentrification protestors outside Highly Likely this past weekend. I guess my question is how late is too late? There were signs saying that they didn’t need any more booze, which, shrugs.
Anyway, if they’re protesting outside Highly Likely they better be rioting French style outside Mendocino Farms.
A few years back Sunset Beer petitioned for a license in HLP. They were gonna open a new location before their Echo Park lease expired. Loved Sunset Beer. Great local business building community. It was the best spot in LA to buy and enjoy craft beer—much of it from local breweries.
They got denied for a same reason that Highly Likely is being held up (“we don’t need more alcohol in our community”) and then they shut down after the owner in Echo Park increased rents.
Hey there, I enjoy most of your commentary, your rankings and the like. However this comment is tough to read, and feels like it’s punching down, not up.
That was such a depressing turn of events. Those HLP folks totally misunderstood what SBC was and what it was about and what it would bring to the neighborhood. They crusaded on misinformation and riled people up for nothing. And then of course the building ended up as something truly beneficial to the community…… a dog-focused real estate office (??) that has already closed. I’m still bitter.
Depressively mediocre bordering on bad time at Villa’s Tacos tonight. Tortilla was undercooked, pure mush with no zero corn flavor, blue or otherwise, quesotaco wasn’t really working, asada that was mostly lighter fluid or unburned mesquite, way too much salsa and crema. Felt like eating sloppy hospital food. I think they’re too high on their own supply.
Binned it halfway through and went to my new fav eastside spot by my house, Tacos La Guera (perfect name for the neighborhood too)
Have been curious about La Guera after spotting the fritanga setup. Had a similarly disappointing experience at the Echo Park branch of Angel’s so excited to try this.
Yeah, I’m really digging them. Al pastor is pretty artfully done, feels a little more CDMX style instead of the Leo’s chain LA style, asada & pollo early in the night (they’re grilling on mesquite around 5pm) are rock solid, good variety of cuts in the fritanga for carnitas, I like that they’ll be picky with the suadero and not serve it till later after it’s had time to stew. Not up there with other LA icons, but miles above anything else in LF/Silverlake/East Hollywood. And they’re lovely folks to boot.
There’s either a branch or a taco stand that goes by the same name - La Guera - that sets up at York & Fig in Highland Park. This one is in the same tier as the Angel’s on Eagle Rock for me - Al pastor a little better, chorizo equal, tortillas, asada maybe a step behind.
Bummer about Villa’s - I have some quibbles with their technique but have never experienced bad tortillas or charred/off-flavor meat like that.
Interesting @Srsly. I believe they have branches/trucks in south LA but maybe related, though a common name. Think it’s related to this given phone numbers…
Appreciate the nudge of sorts @caleb . Was debating the best taco in Silverlake, Echo Park, East Hollywood, Los Feliz. Prior this was thinking either Angel’s or Tacos El Chino on Vermont/1st. Both are fine or at what I’d call the current baseline for tacos here.
Have probably said this before but fwiw the Al Pastor at El Flamin’ at sunset & Alvarado was my #1 local taco for a long time - and I thought it was as good as or even better than Tacos Leo/the other al pastor specialists on close comparison. I haven’t been in a year or so, and it may be subject to some rose-tinted nostalgia anyway, but could be worth considering.
