There are few things more prevalent than Mexican food on the LA culinary scene -- except for maybe actors turned waiters who serve it. With options that run the gamut from tongue tacos served by trucks to high end fare created by culinary giants in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles offers more options for Mexican dining than the salsa bar at your favorite Baja Fresh. Of course, with so many restaurants to choose from, how does an enterprising suitor choose the best place to take a date? Simple. Think salsa.
If you're rolling in green, a la salsa verde, you can afford to go to the high end huevos and horchatas. Which means you should go directly to Frida in Beverly Hills. Do not pass go, but do collect $200, since you might need it to pay the bill. Recession aside, Frida is a fantastic date choice, with its soft lighting, bright colors and vibrant art-adorned walls giving you and your date plenty to chat about -- if, of course, the margaritas don't take care of that for you. The food is great, with beloved Mexican classics getting the requisite Beverly Hills facelift via the addition of some seriously high end touches. From pumpkin mole to salty ceviche, Frida is truly a treat for the eyes and the stomach -- if not the wallet.
If you're more into the chunky home-style salsas, then I've got one word for you: Loteria. Well, actually three words: Loteria Grill Hollywood. Sure, you could go a little more upscale and hit the one at The Grove Farmer's Market, but in my humble I-grew-up-in-LA-and-I-know-my-damn-tacos opinion, the Hollywood outpost of this Angeleno standby is where it's at. And by it, I mean the most amazing tacos, salsas, burritos and jalapeno margaritas (yes, jalapeno margaritas) this side of the taco truck. And the best part for us amorous Angelenos? It's one of the few restaurants in its part of Hollywood where you can walk right in, sandals a'blazin' and not be stopped or scorned by a burly doorman. Which makes it that much easier to clean up the tomatillo sauce you'll eventually end up spilling during the requisite foodgasm you're guaranteed at Loteria. Oh, and I've heard that whole 'honey, you can wear your basketball shorts and Rainbows to dinner' thing really gets a guy going.Of course, some people just want the classic -- spicy, savory, medium-heat salsa. Just exotic enough to tickle the tastebuds, but not too far fetched for a gringo to get their head around. That's where restaurants like El Compadre in Hollywood and Coral Beach Cantina in Malibu come in.
El Compadre's got flaming margaritas, massive take-it-to-work-for-lunch-the-next-day portions and a mariachi band to complement the whole Disneyfied "Desperado" thing it's got going on. The food is good, solid, stick to your ribs Mexicalifornian and the service is always more than solid. Just make sure you don't go on an empty stomach during peak dining hours, or you'll end up waiting at the bar while your date gives you the stink eye. Coral Beach Cantina in Malibu, on the other hand, is always worth the wait. With its lantern-lit patio and close proximity to a post-dinner walk on the beach, it's a great date option if you don't mind the drive. It also happens to be the home of the first word I ever read by myself -- 'burrito.' Even at age 3, I knew what I wanted at Coral Beach Cantina. Make sure you also try the enchiladas, smothered in sauce and sour cream, if they don't get your date to warm up to you, you're probably better off leaving him or her on PCH and going off in search of someone who really deserves to share your salsa.
Frida - Beverly Hills
Loteria Grill - Hollywood
El Compadre - Hollywood
Coral Beach Cantina - Malibu
Written by: Mollie Vandor - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger
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