Where's The Best Mexican Restaurant In California?

LOS ANGELES, CA — Trying to pin down the best Mexican restaurant in California is like trying to pick which of your children is your favorite — it’s impossible. Yet the folks over at the Daily Meal have done just that. They identified the best Mexican restaurants in every state, and, not surprisingly, the The Daily Meal picked a restaurant in Los Angeles as the best Mexican fare in California.

A city with hundreds of thousand of Mexican immigrants, Los Angeles has no shortage of Mexican restaurants, but the best one is Guelaguetza, which specializes in authentic Oaxacan cuisine, according to The Daily Meal.

“Named for Oaxaca’s famous traditional summertime festival, Guelaguetza is a year-round destination for its tamales, memelas (chubby cornmeal cakes similar to sopes), unstuffed enchiladas, and of course, exquisite moles,” according to The Daily Meal.

Guelaguetza was opened in 1994 by immigrant couple Fernando Lopez and Maria Monterrubio, and now their children run the restaurant. Guelaguetza specializes in mole, and their famous mole and signature Michelada mix can be ordered from their online retail store.

Guelaguetza is a local favorite, enjoying nearly 1,500 yelp reviews raving about the cuisine.

“If you love (or have the slightest interest in) mole, THIS is the place to go! I'm certainly not an expert on this incredible and complex sauce, but this is the best mole I've had so far,” raved Gina T. "I absolutely loved the experience of eating at Guelaguetza and I can't wait to come back and try some other menu items! The restaurant itself is gorgeous, but not in a pretentious way. It feels homey and inviting, while also fresh and vibrant. While having lunch here, it felt like the restaurant's patrons included Oaxacan food lovers and newbies alike. The service was wonderfully attentive and warm and the food was incredibly satisfying."

In order to find the best Mexican restaurant in every state, the editors checked their previous rankings, with city editors from across the country, reviewed local rankings, and researched review sites "to see which ones got the highest marks from in-the-know locals. We then judged each contender on quality of ingredients, skill in preparation, level of local renown, and authenticity. Some 'fusion' was acceptable, but a focus on being as authentically Mexican as possible was key. We also gave humble taquerias the same consideration as fancy sit-down places and boisterous cantinas," Daily Meal says.

See Also:

• What's The Most Popular Restaurant In California?

• 13 Calif. Restaurants Among 100 'Most Scenic' In America, New Ranking Says
• 10 California Pizzerias Among 101 Best Pizza Joints In Nation

Patch Staffer Deb Belt contributed to this report. Image via Pixabay