I think I may have found my new favorite Mexican spot in L.A.: Tenampal in Boyle Heights, on 1st, down the block from Mariachi Plaza.
I’ve been twice, the first time for the chilaquiles, the second for the huarache. It’s not a large menu at all but what they do shows a lot of thoughtfulness in both composition and plating. I’m not going to say it’s “elevated” Mexican food or whatever: it’s just really well-executed, delicious dishes where I feel like the kitchen puts an extra bit of effort into making the dishes feel special.
Of the two, I’d definitely recommend trying the chilaquiles, first, and get it with the mole and guajillo sauces.
You’ll get these rich, delicious sauces drenching the chips which still stay crispy so there’s this great contrast between the runny egg, the sauce, and crunch of the chips. Also try the house hot sauce which uses fish sauce — hadn’t seen that in a Mexican sauce before but it works! — and it wasn’t that punishing, heat-wise, so you can liberally add it as wanted. The eggs are the main protein but you can add other meats upon request. $15 before tip.
I also liked the huarache, especially their use of finely chopped cabbage and thin slices of radish. It comes with a tender suadero but next time, I’d want to try it with chorizo instead. $16 before tip.
I’m waiting to bring my wife there because she loves enchiladas and their version seems awesome. (They also do a smash burger so it’s definitely not your traditional Mexican spot in some ways).
For real: this place feels like a hidden secret and it’s pretty small: less than 20 seats. So while I’d be bummed to have to wait, I also feel like it’s an awesome restaurant that more people should try.
The place is the TRUTH. I went last week and loved the tacos dorados with suadero. My dining companion really enjoyed his chilaquiles as well.
They have a seasonal ham and cheese sandwich I’m going back for next week. I think their IG is the best place to find it. It’s on First near Mariachi Plaza. Tiny spot, high quality food and presentation. I’m irrationally in love with this place, and really hope it attracts all good people who appreciate what it’s doing.
This restaurant is truly fantastic. I wonder when it will “blow up”. It is clearly already well known in the neighborhood, there was a big line by the time we finished our meal.
What a great find! Everything was on point. Every dish has its own merit so I’ll list them in order of how much they surprised me.
First up is the Charred Cabbage with House Bacon. The first bite was full of flavor—the cabbage was nicely charred and bold, but not overpowering. The citrus dressing and Parmesan added a good balance, though the dressing leaned a bit on the salty side. The house-cured bacon was very good, reminded me of the kind I had in Portland.
Next is the Flan. I already had high hopes from the photos, but it was even better in person—smooth, creamy, and just the right level of sweetness. The added cinnamon sugar is a nice touch. I tried it alongside the Chilaquiles with mole poblano sauce, which had a rich cacao flavor with a hint of coffee, goes really well with the crispy tortilla chips. I also ordered the Suadero (Brisket) Enchiladas with both mole and verde sauces. Personally, I thought the verde sauce complemented the enchiladas better.
The service was warm and friendly, and the music added to the vibe. When I mentioned a mistake on the bill, I then found out they had comped the flan without telling us, which was a nice surprise. All in all, it was a really enjoyable experience.