Classic Mexican antojitos and birria destination Apatzingan lives in a crowded center with a convenience store and other businesses on a busy Pacoima intersection. Try the birria with the large, floppy tortillas.

This 64-year-old mainstay is perhaps the most iconic Mexican restaurant in the Valley, where big, cheesy combination plates and blended margaritas are the name of the game.

Standout Madre has locations in Palms, West Hollywood, and Torrance, each a prime example of fantastic Oaxacan cooking from memelas and moles to tlayudas — and all served alongside the widest selection of mezcal in the country.

Chef Joshua Gil has a modern Baja Mexican restaurant in the heart of Beverly Hills, with stellar cocktails and some of the most creative cooking in LA right now. Try the Baja fried snapper with blue corn tortillas.

Popular northern Mexico taco spot Sonoratown has captured the hearts of Angelenos with incredible flour tortillas and grilled meats. The Downtown location recently expanded to a Mid-Wilshire spot so that even more people can get some of the city’s finest tacos. Try the signature chivichanga.

Mexico City restaurant Terraza Cha Cha Chá opened this rooftop destination in Arts District and the response has been tremendous so far. With Alejandro Guzman helming the kitchen, the modern Mexican fare features tacos, tostadas, and composed dishes that will please a crowd.

This simple taqueria has some of the finest grilled carne asada and other tacos in the city, all made on handmade flour or corn tortillas. Sonoritas also took over the former Broken Spanish space in Downtown LA for an ideal pre-Staples Center dinner.

Bar Hermanito is one of the most surprising — and satisfying — dining choices you can make on Sawtelle. The menu takes inspiration from the neighborhood’s Japantown culture and history, with dishes like yellowtail tostada with umeboshi (Japanese pickles) and shiso aguachile and avocado slices fried in togarashi-flecked panko. The best reasons to come to Hermanito, though, are its tacos, smooth cocktails, and westside-cool patio atmosphere: more common choices like al pastor, shrimp, and quesabirria tacos are complemented by a Peking duck platter (not available every day — so consider yourself lucky if you come in and it’s on the menu) with mole, charred green onions, and homemade flour tortillas (blue corn tortillas are available upon request).

Celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera has an outpost of his more casual restaurant Atla from New York City, with pristine takes on upscale Mexican favorites like fish ceviche tostadas and octopus huarache to duck al pastor.

Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken’s Socalo has all the makings of a Santa Monica staple. Despite opening just months before the pandemic, the all-day restaurant has become a Westside haven for weekend brunch, busy burritos, and other casual Mexican fare. Don’t sleep on the happy hour either.

Part of a growing collection of Mercado restaurants, this Santa Monica outlet prepares quality fare for the whole neighborhood. From straightforward guacamole to kale salads to a proper chile relleno, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.

Whittier mainstay Bizarra Capital is known for their overclocked takes on all sorts of dishes, from cocktails to tacos to mole fries. Chef Ricardo Diaz has built a restaurant behemoth on the stuff.

A standard-bearer for sit-down Mexican cuisine, La Casita is as award-winning as it is delicious. Sure the team there has gone on the open several other places since, but this remains the real destination for anyone looking to explore what Mexican cooking can be.

Bell Gardens has a destination-worthy tamal and guisados restaurant from Maria Elena Lorenzo and her family of phenomenal cooks. The namesake tamales are the reason to come, and the pozoles and guisados are the reason to stay.

This Inglewood restaurant is the master of shrimp in all preparations – fried, sautéed, cut into ceviche marinero, or left whole for shockingly bright and spicy aguachile with a vibrant jalapeño puree. But the real star here is the pescado zarandeado, whole snook coated in an umami-rich paste and shaken over coals. Yup, this is definitely a contender for the best Mexican seafood restaurant in all of Los Angeles.

The South Bay loves Ortega 120, the long-running restaurant serving everything from short rib and truffle cheese nachos to handmade tortillas. The space itself is fun and funky, with a charmingly casual vibe.