📍 Added in September: This place is pretty new, but after only one bite of their al pastor taco topped with salsa and unique cilantro cream, I’m already a regular. I’ve eaten over 1,000 tacos in L.A., many incredible, but this one stood out right away. Taqueria Frontera is a direct descendant of one of Tijuana’s most formidable taquerias. You don’t need to cross the border anymore; just come to Cypress Park.

📍 Added in September: Whenever I’m in the western San Fernando Valley, I’m lured by the fluffy and crispy patatas at this motorcycle racing–themed Spanish café. I’ll order these tot-sized home fries covered in brava sauce and aioli as a side with almost any dish. I might try the tortilla Española, the fluffy-egg breakfast sandwich with serrano ham, or the juicy and seasoned Moorish Chicken sandwich for lunch. There’s great coffee and wine, too, but always get patatas.

📍 Added in September: I have three problems with 99% of the burritos in Los Angeles: They’re stuffed with rice, the beans suck, and the tortillas are treated as nothing more than a barely edible wrap. So when I want a solid burrito, I make my way to this historic tortilleria in East L.A. and order the chile relleno burrito. Feel and taste the world of a difference a fresh buttery tortilla with delicious beans can make as the cheesy gooeyness spills out. It’s a one-of-a-kind burrito.

📍 Added in September: I think of this Marina del Rey kitchen as a blue-collar diner disguised as a casual restaurant. It’s one of my favorite spaces for a conversation in a comfortable setting—with consistently great dishes of elevated comfort food. If I meet someone for breakfast, I go for the huevos covered in a sultry guajillo sauce. For lunch: the Westsider burger, made with exceptional meat. And for dinner, you can’t go wrong with the St. Louis pork ribs, sourced from Niman Ranch.

📍 Added in September: I’m always hesitant to recommend legendary places because how have you never heard of Arturo’s puffy tacos? It’s one of Texas’ most unique tacos, and you can find it here in our backyard. The freshly made tortilla is thrown in a deep fryer, puffing up like a balloon, creating a crispy shell. You can get it with ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and chunky tomato salsa, but try the chunky beef guisado or tender bits of asada. It’s a unique experience worth a trip across town. 

You know my love for street food. So imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon a new sign in Eagle Rock that promised “Lebanese Street Food” at A la Beirut. Mom, dad, son, and daughters work together to take grandma’s marinades and dad’s sandwich techniques and create toasted vessels of new flavors in either a pita wrap or a flaky French baguette. The beef or chicken shawarma is magnificent, but go for the beef tongue with garlic spread and pickles—it’s a sprightly bite.

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!

One of the things I relish about L.A. is walking into a Mexican deli and finding outstanding traditional Sri Lankan food instead. That’s what I stumbled on at Baja Subs, where rice and curry topped with a medley of stewed veggies is the specialty. The flavors are so robust I usually require a minute to recover from the rush. The “short eats,” especially the buttery stuffed rolls, are a must. The Friday night through Saturday buffet is the best way to try it all.