Okay, so I know better than to try to compete with the Chicago bloggers when it comes to pizza, but being from the Midwest and all, I really do miss those deep dish babies. Chicago took pizza to a new level, and here in LA there is only one place that I know of where you can indulge in anything like it.

Masa.

croissant bread pudding, photo by Yulree C. via yelp.com

Masa, a gem in Echo Park, also doubles as a bakery (which explains why they call themselves “dough” in Spanish) and their pastries are definitely delicate and delightful, but the PIZZA, man, the PIZZA, is where it’s at.

When I went to Masa regularly, it was because I was working at a gallery in Echo Park, just down the street, and it was a great place to go relax with a glass (or four) of wine after work. I only use public transportation (paired with my trusty bike, Charlie), so I don’t have to worry about parking. But for those of you drivers out there, you should know that it’s street parking only, but it’s not usually difficult to find a spot before dark. (Unless, of course, there’s a game at Dodger Stadium…) If there are no metered spots on Sunset, head south at Lemoyne St., where there’s a big city lot, two buildings down, on the left.

Now, on to the food:

photo by Jane M. via yelp.com

Rob, the owner and chef, wasn’t lying when he said that he was born and raised in Chicago, or that he grew up making pizza. (As you will see with the first bite.) You can certainly get creative and build your own pizza, picking and choosing toppings, but there’s no risk in going with one of their menu items. I highly recommend the sumptuous “Alvarado Pizza” (blackened chicken, cherry tomatoes, green pepper, onion, homemade marinara, and freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan), the rich “McDuff Pizza” (pepperoni, roasted shallots, onion, crispy leeks, marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan), or the “Quintero Pizza” (spicy buffalo sauce, buffalo chicken, bleu cheese, celery and mozzarella). My mouth is watering just typing this.

Two things to know: If you are AT ALL in a hurry, call your order in, because these massive pizza miracles take at least 40 minutes to bake. (If you’re from Chicago, you know it’s worth it.) AND, just in case you need to earn some brownie points with a pizza lover, they also make heart shaped pies, so be sure to mention that when you call, if you need to add even more love to these pizzas.

Also, if you want to booze it up (like me), the wine and beer selection is more than decent and very refreshing. On tap, you can find Masa’s Honey Blonde Ale, Firestone Double Barrel Ale, Masa’s India Pale Ale, and naturally, Guinness Stout. And wines of all varieties are sold by the glass and by the bottle; ask your server for pairing ideas and they’ll gladly help you out. (I recommend the house Grüner Veltliner if they have it in stock.)

photo by Chad A. via yelp.com

As for the scene, it’s really just a few tables outdoors and a cozy café indoors with various sized tables to fit all groups. Sit at the bar for faster service, but you’ll probably want to draw out the dining experience when you see how welcoming the staff is; they really are incredibly nice people and not your typical hipsters/servers/wannabe-actors. In all actuality, they probably love pizza even more than you do, and that’s why they work there.

photo by Chad A. via yelp.com

The vibe is really trendy without being pretentious. A few small televisions play old black and white movies and the decor is reminiscent of your grandmother’s kitchen nook–lots of bright colors and kitschy knickknacks. The servers and cooks are young and energetic, and the Mom and Pop-condoned, lively atmosphere inspires long thoughtful conversations and creative brainstorming. (Though if you just want to focus on the amazing pizza and the unique microbrews, that’s cool too.)

photo by Ron B. via yelp.com

Masa

1800 West Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026
(at Lemoyne St.)

(213) 989-1558

Mon-Thurs: 11 am-10 pm
Fri: 11 am-11 pm
Sat: 8 am-11 pm

Walking around Los Feliz one day, waiting to see a movie at the beloved Vista Theatre, I stumbled upon the most glorious, hole-in-the-wall taco dive you can imagine. We’re talking about a place that is entirely family run, by people who might not speak a word of English, but who know how to make a juicy dream of a taco in their sleep. That’s right. I discovered The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada. (The name is not a hyberbole, I promise you.)

There is street parking only, but on the spacious streets of Little Armenia (a mini universe within Los Feliz), it won’t be hard to find a spot. Just make sure you bring cash, since they don’t believe in those fancy schmancy little magic cards here…

If you’re wondering what the most popular dish at this joint is…it’s, yup, you guessed it: FISH TACOS!!!!

Seriously, this place is amazing. As you can see, there are only two food items on the menu. Fish tacos and shrimp tacos. Both are excellent, but go for the fish. (After all, it’s not called The Best Shrimp Taco in Ensenada, now is it?) The fish is fresh and perfectly fried, crispy but not greasy, and nestled in a soft, doughy tortilla. Small enough you can eat four or five and not feel guilty, but large enough you know you got your money’s worth.

The add-as-much-as-you-want-for-free Sessy’s Sauces are really the icing on the cake. Unique and insanely flavorful, the sauce bar includes “radish relish”, “mad mango”, “la crema magica”, “mild mexican”, “hot guac”, and “pineapple kiss”. Mix and match to create some unbelievable flavor combinations. Live a little, why doncha?

The drink selection is pretty limited here, but all drinks are sold for a mere dolla apiece. Really, you should probably just order water so you can cram yourself with tacos, but there is also lemonade and Coca-Cola available to satisfy a sweet tooth in a pinch.

Scattered seating inside accommodates about 20, and outside, the breezy patio (decorated in cheesy Christmas tree lights and glowing fish signs) seats about 10 or 15 comfortably.

While stuffing my face, I eavesdropped on multiple conversations, and everyone who visits this place seems to be in high spirits, if only because they are astounded by how delicious (and CHEAP!) the tacos really are. The owner is a gregarious and amiable old fellow, as quick to crack a joke as he is to make sure every customer is a satisfied one. The decor is bright and garish, and adds to the lively atmosphere and the loud (but not deafening) music which makes this spot a fun favorite for locals in the know. (And now, gratefully, I am one of those locals.)

The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada

1650 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz 90027
(at Camero Ave.)

(323) 466-5552

www.bestfishtacoinensenada.com

Open Daily, 11 am-8 pm

P.S. Don’t tell, but they’ve also just opened a new location in Glendale at 604 W. Glenoaks, and if you mention that you read their yelp reviews before visiting (http://www.yelp.com/biz/best-fish-taco-in-ensenada-los-angeles), they’ll give you a free taco at the new location! But go to the one in Los Feliz first–everyone here will win your heart (even the old lady with the weird, hairy mole who rings you up at the register).

When people ask me to think of my favorite restaurant off the top of my head, for some reason I inevitably think of Gardens of Taxco first. I don’t go there very often, really only for special meals, but my memory just won’t let go of all the colors and flavors this amazing West Hollywood spot has to offer.

Unfortunately I’m not the only one that adores Gardens of Taxco, so parking can be a bit messy. There is a small lot in front of the restaurant that is almost always full and street parking can be tricky in this neighborhood. Your best bet is to go ahead and pay the $4 for valet parking. I promise, it’s worth it.

Gardens of Taxco serves up the most incredible and filling five-course traditional Mexican meal you’ll ever have. The flavors are so delicate and unusual, it’s nothing like the watered down greasy nonsense you find at popular and flavorless chains. Even before your main course, they bring out appetizers of spicy pickled veggies and fresh tortilla chips with homemade salsa, a quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese and homemade guac, an enticing enchilada, and a spicy soup. And the dessert (banana creme pudding with cherries and a complimentary glass of sherry) is so rich that, even though you’ll be stuffed, you’ll make room for it.

While every offering at Gardens of Taxco is marvelously seasoned and authentically flavored, what you shouldn’t miss out on is any dish with mole. The mole served at this fine restaurant is like nothing you’ve ever even dreamed of, and, as the human menu narrates, is “the best mole in town.”

Gardens of Taxco offers a variety of wines and beers to pair with a Mexican palette, and sangria daiquiris by the carafe to keep the party lively.

The atmosphere here is hard to define. Small tables and booths spread throughout the low-lit restaurant, seating both large parties and intimate dates.

You will feel transported to a strange, glowing land with a fusion of Spanish and Mexican decor. The ambiance is lively
without being too loud or rambunctious and the roaming mariachi singer who softly strums his guitar makes Gardens of Taxco a romantic place to bring a date. There are no menus, there is simply one man, who has been there since the opening day, who recites the menu as an epic poem and designs your evening’s dining delights around your personal tastes.

You won’t know what to expect when you walk through the door—the atmosphere is whimsical and yet somber, lively and yet refined. Just know that you will be treated like a VIP and savor every bite of the delicate and unique cuisine.

Gardens of Taxco

1113 North Harper Ave.

West Hollywood, Ca 90046

(323) 654-1746

Tues-Thurs, Sun: 4:30 pm-11 pm

Fri/Sat: 4:30 pm-Midnight (reservations are recommended on the weekends)

P.S. Since I’m always one for a discount, I feel no shame in promoting Garden’s version of  an “Early Bird” special. If you go Tues-Fri before 7 pm, you can have this amazing five course meal half off. Check out their website for details on the coupons they offer.

Downtown, Babycakes has become the new bakery hotspot for lovers of organic vegan cupcakes. The adorable décor and cute café style setting will make you feel right at home, and the sexy ladies who whip up your pastries will win your heart as well as your stomach. (I have heard Babycakes refered to as the “Hooters” of the bakery world, and I have to admit…these girls are all pretty easy on the eyes…)

All the ingredients Babycakes uses are organic, and the luscious cookies, pies, and cakes come in a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. They never use refined sugar and most of the desserts are even sweetened with agave nectar, a low-glycemic syrup or coconut oil. So dive right in to that red velvet cupcake—the sinfully sweet “sour cream” icing will make you smile, guilt-free guaranteed.

If red velvet isn’t your thing, they have a plethora of rich chocolate brownies, carrot cakes, chocolate chip cookie sandwiches with mouthwateringly gooey filling, soft macaroons, glorious apple pies…the list of options just keeps going. They even make loaves of bread and biscuits if you’re looking for something less-dessert-ish.

I must confess, I am not the healthiest foodie…I’m not vegan, I’m not a raw-ist, I eat gluten, sugar, eggs, nuts…all that stuff. Maybe it’s just because I could never belong to any club that would have me as a member. But even with my carnivorous, glutenivorous, occasionally non-organic status, I can honestly say that I don’t feel a bit out of the loop when I take a trip to Babycakes. You don’t have to read up on the latest diet craze to enjoy biting into one of these beauties. (The baked goods, not the girls. They don’t like to be bitten.)

You just have to love cupcakes that taste amazing.

Babycakes

130 E. 6th St. (between S. Main St. and S. Los Angeles St.)

213-623-5555

Email la@babycakesnyc.com

Monday is “Day-Old Day” (All stock 50%-off) Open from noon to 6pm, or until they sell out.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 am-10 pm
Thursday through Saturday: 10 am-12 am
Sunday: 10 am-6 pm

Perhaps it’s becoming trendy, but “going green” is all the rage, not to mention, actually good for you and the environment. Never to be excluded from any fashionable fad, Hollywood features the adorable Locali Conscious Convenience where you can indulge in all your favorite snacks and give a helping hand to Mother Earth (AND local businesses) at the same time.

This eco-friendly shop provides an extensive offering of organic, sustainably-farmed, and locally-produced munchies, teas, wines, beers, desserts, and juices, as well as eco-oriented household products like natural toothpaste, compostable diapers, and electricity/water saving devices. Also check out Locali’s deli—the creative sandwiches, hearty soups, fair trade chocolates, vegan cheeses, gluten-free pastries, agave-sweetened ginger fruit slushies will certainly hit the spot.

Order a freshly made sandwich like the Franklin Phenomenon and your tastebuds will never stop thanking you. A grilled panini with pepper turkey, baby spinach, red onions, fresh tomatoes, gooey Monterrey jack cheese, and chipotle vegan mayo, this hefty baby will fill you to the brim.

Also, Locali sells amazing coffee roasted by a local artisan and imported from South America, Africa, and Mexico. All coffee is certified fair trade, brewed fresh, and organic. And it packs a punch to keep you buzzing all day long!

The space is small but cozy. The bar (made from reclaimed Douglas Fir wood) seats about four and the benches outside seat about four as well.

Small but sleek, Locali is stocked with items as eclectic and comforting as the friendly and attentive staff. This more personalized version of a 7-11 is a relaxing place to meet up with friends, grab an organic yerba mate on your way to work, fill up at the free reverse-osmosis water tap, and learn about going green without feeling the pressure of holier-than-thou eco-snobs.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions here! The owners and staff are totally enthusiastic about the unique products
Locali has to offer and are always interested in making a new friend (not just a new customer).