📍Added in April: This evening stand in the heart of L.A.’s trafficapocalypse is proof the west side has great tacos. It opened on my route home from my kids’ school, and it’s been our favorite taco stand. The energy from the witty taqueros will lift up your spirits, while they pull meat from the large stewing disc or the spinning trompo, chopping it up and giving it an extra sear on the plancha for crispy ends. But if you want your money’s worth, their burritos are as big as their personalities

📍Added in April: L.A. can be so loud and busy that finding some serenity within this behemoth can seem impossible. But I know a spot: It’s hidden away from the madness, surrounded by sailboats, cargo ships, and bridges, a small café where coffee, beer, and comfort food awaits. It has great menudo, pozole, and clam chowder as well as omelettes, biscuits, and gravy. I usually get all of that, and the cod fish and chips. Then I can finally enjoy a calm break from the busy city.

📍Added in April: I’ve grown fond of mezcal. Not the overly smoky, jet-fuel mezcal that’s been commercialized, but the very nuanced, sweet mezcals of Mexico. It’s all thanks to Ivan Vasquez, the owner of Madre Restaurants, who, with over 700 personally sourced bottles, has been an educator and proponent of this misunderstood drink. Look for his mezcal dinners, or stop by for a flight; it helps that he sources unique ingredients from Oaxaca for his menu, to complete your spirited experience.

📍Added in April: My favorite sandwich is a good pastrami, and there are less than a handful in L.A. that I’ll endure traffic for; Daughter’s Deli is one of them. I get the PAPA: thick, navel-cut pastrami, crisp coleslaw, and a touch of sweet Russian dressing, all inside the softest rye bread you’ll ever bite into. If it seems familiar to Langer’s, well, you’re not off—it’s the same family. But there’s something gentler and softer about this pastrami sandwich that makes it its own delight.

📍Added in April: If I find myself in this part of the valley, I head over to this small Argentinian café for some fresh yerba mate. This little shop led by an Argentinian single mom has a unique approach to making mate with fresh fruit flavors like mango, guava, and maracuya (passion fruit). I’ll pair the energizing drink with a pastry from the display case and treat myself to some homemade empanadas sourced from a local older lady. It’s a great place to meet with someone or get some work done.

For a flavor rush of psychedelic proportions, the tikka masala at this South Bay strip mall will have you forgetting your woes—your full concentration will be on slowly tackling this vigorous dish. Order fresh garlic naan to dip into the rich, sweet, and spicy sauce as you eat or to use as a swab to comfort your taste buds between spoonfuls. If there’s room, finish off this roller coaster of flavor with a samosa served with a sweet and tangy sauce.

All Time has become a favorite spot for a lunch date with my lady: It has class and comfort without being presumptuous or showy. The chef’s offerings always seem to include a touch of genuine L.A. while feeling fresh, healthy, and filling. I’ve enjoyed tender carnitas tacos on blue corn tortillas, crispy rice breakfast bowls, and a Good Ass Salad that’s very popular. This little gem keeps it fresh with a changing menu, adding some excitement each time I return.

BaBoys is fusion Filipino food with flavors so euphoric, they will be burned into a new core memory. This tiny, take-out-only, mom-pop-and-son shop is known for their lumpia burger: a crispy lumpia split open, Asian slaw, pickled onions, and garlic aioli on a sweet Hawaiian bun. I’ll also stuff myself with a sweet pork tocino breakfast burrito with garlic fried rice and all the fixings. Oh, and the sisig quesadilla! The pan de sal sandwiches! It’s all so good! I need it all!

This kitchen in Lynwood is a powerhouse of taco innovation and a celebration of L.A.’s diverse flavors. These are tacos that embrace shared tastes on handmade tortillas. There’s lots to try here, but the nutty almond mole, the vibrant chicken tinga masala, and the savory Korean asada taco are my automatic recommendations. Perhaps the most innovative item is the Tropical T taco—the hibiscus-infused jicama root tortillas with crunchy coconut shrimp are a delicious curiosity.

This hidden gem in the neighborhood I grew up in is so inconspicuous, it took one of my favorite chefs to introduce me to it recently. The embodiment of the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Banadir is Inglewood’s best-kept secret. I go for the tender, juicy, and robust Somali-style goat with slightly roasted ends, served in a large dish with yellow rice. Drizzle lime on the meat, smash a banana into the rice, and spice it up with their relentless green sauce.