How One of LA’s New Restaurants Took a Personal Stand on Immigration

The story

L.A. Taco has an impassioned piece out now on chef Teresa Montaño, the chef-owner of Otoño Spanish restaurant in Highland Park. Per their story, Montaño admits to helping an unnamed employee bring in their teenage son from El Salvador, after seeing the employee put in countless hours at several different jobs in order to raise the needed money. Montaño found out, fronted the cash, and got to see the teenager walk through the front door just a few months later. As for the politics of it all? She tells the Taco: “Sometimes, you have to turn your head away from all the political bullshit and recognize that this is a person who works their ass off and needs to be compensated and taken care of — just like anyone else, especially in Los Angeles. It’s ‘occupied Mexico’.”

All the way closed

Toddrickallen spotted the closure of M Cafe in Beverly Hills, ending a ten-year run for the healthy-eating restaurant.

Soul food

Annie’s Edibles is popping up in Little Ethiopia off Fairfax on Sundays, landing a soul food menu filled with classics like fried chicken, oxtails and gravy, and mac and cheese. Check it out at 1066 S. Fairfax, Sundays only.

The history

LA Magazine dives deep into the menu at Badmaash to discover not only Indian street food classics, but a lot of personal family stories.

New Mango

There’s a second location of Big Mango coming to the South Bay, as the casual breakfast and lunch spot expands to 777 Aviation Boulevard in El Segundo. Expect the usual slew of sandwiches, salads, smoothies and sides, with hours starting at 7:30 a.m. and running to 4 p.m.

Home grown

The Eastsider takes a look at some seriously home-grown coffee in Cypress Park. The backyard coffee plant of Alejandra Avila produces enough beans to be roasted and served by Tierra Mia Coffee, and is being kept up by the Avila family as a way to honor Alejandro’s father, who tended to the surprising tree for years.

Go for Gusto

Gusto restaurant on West Third Street has a new happy hour. The daily specials are offered from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. only at the bar; the menu is below.