For Cinco De Mayo, Some Of Best Mexican Food Is In California

With Cinco de Mayo coming up Saturday, May 5, those fast-food chains aren’t going to satisfy your yen for authentic Mexican food. The celebration of the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over the French Empire in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, deserves more than just an excellent margarita.

In California, you’ll find the best Mexican food in Costa Mesa, Inglewood, La Jolla, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond.

Whether your preference is for upscale burritos — again, forget everything you read on a fast-food menu board — a seafood dish or something marinated with a spicy Mexican adobo paste or sauce, you’re sure to find some gastronomic jewels at these restaurants.

The regional cuisines of Mexico are tantalizingly diverse, and some have taken on the influences of America to make them distinctive, according to Thrillist, which put together a list of the best 31 Mexican restaurants in America, several of them right here in the Golden State, according to Thrillist.

California Thrillist Mexican Restaurants (full list below):

Costa Mesa: Taco Maria

This upscale taco shop has recently won the 2018 Best Restaurant in Los Angeles. The fact it's in Costa Mesa is beside the point. Chef Carlos Salgado never disappoints with his ever changing pris fixe menu. At Taco Maria, find tacos jardineros with shitakes, chorizo, queso fundido and crispy potatoes.

Location: 3313 Hyland Ave. Ste C21, Costa Mesa
Hours: Closed Monday. Lunch Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. t0 2:30 p.m.; Dinner Tuesday - 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday - 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday Brunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Phone: 714-538-8444
Reservations: No
Website: www.tacomaria.com

Inglewood: Coni's Seafood

Western Mexico's Nayarit in Los Angeles, this seafood restaurant is legendary to foodies. Whole headed shrimp aguachile will roast your senses while the grilled or fried fish will linger in memory. Known for their ceviche and shrimp dishes, this spot is worth the trouble you might have finding parking.

Location: 3544 W. Imperial Highway, Inglewood
Hours: Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone: 310-672-2339
Reservations: no
Website: no

La Jolla: Galaxy Taco

This place is out of this world, with wild colorations of the blue corn biscuits and gravy topped with crumbled chorizo, but this La Jolla gem with executive chef Christine Rivera is a must stop. If you're adventurous, try the quesadilla with corn fugus huitlacoche. If you're not, there's always the tacos.

Location: 2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla
Hours: M-Sa 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Su –10 p.m.
Phone: 858-228-5655
Reservations: No
Website: www.galaxytaco.com Los Angeles: B.S. Taqueria

Location: 514 W. 7th Street, Los Angeles ; Also at the Staples Center
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. - 1o p.m.; Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Phone: 213-622-3744
Reservations: Yes
Website: www.BSTaqueria.com

Los Angeles: Broken Spanish

At Broken Spanish, find rustic interior design as the setting for delicious and rare delicacies such as squid filled with mixed rice, chorizo, fava leaves and rivgavote topped with a flavorful sauce. According to Thrillist, the king oyster mushrooms and lambs neck in queso Oaxaca is a must.

Location: 1050 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; Happy Hour: Monday - Friday 5:30PM-7 p.m.
Phone: 213-749-1460
Reservations: Yes
Website: www.BrokenSpanish.com

Los Angeles: B.S. Taqueria

Found in downtown Los Angeles and at the Staples Center, B.S. Taqueria is the sister of Broken Spanish. A must stop if you are heading into town, you'll find reasons to return. Any appetizers referred to as snacks are all right with us. Try the Mole Fries before your show or game, covered in chile vinegar, cotija and black mole. Delicious.

Location:
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 10 pm.; Friday 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 5 p.m. -7 p.m.
Phone: 213-622-3744
Reservations: Call Ahead
Website: www.bstaqueria.com

San Francisco: CALA

It is a taqueria by day, a Mexican-style seafood dining experience by night. Enjoy tacos, market fish, fresh and delightful. Try the tostadas with whole shrimp over a smashed avocado bed.

Location: 149 Fell Street, San Francisco
Hours: Lunch: Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. ; Dinner: Sunday - Wednesday 5 p.m. -10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Phone:(415) 660-7701
Reservations: yes
Website: www.calarestaurant.com

San Francisco: Nopalito

Two locations across San Francisco, each with a separate but amazing menu for lovers of traditional Mexican fare. If you're lucky, enjoy the grass-fed beef stew with ancho chile and roasted tomatoes.

Location: Nopalito on Broderick St between Oak and Fell is open every day from 11:30am to 10:00pm; Nopalito on 9th Ave between Irving and Lincoln is open every day from 11:30am to 10:00pm

Reservations: Wait List, if you call ahead

Website: www.nopalitosf.com/

Here are the 31 restaurants cited by Thrillist:

Avila’s Mexican Food, El Paso, Texas
Barrio Cafe, Phoenix, Arizona
BS Taqueria/Broken Spanish, Los Angeles, California
Cala, San Francisco, California
Cantina La Viente, Miami, Florida
Carnitas Uruapan, Chicago, Illinois
Casa Enrique, Long Island City, New York
Coni’Seafood, Inglewood, California
Cosme, New York, New York
Del Fuego Taqueria, New Orleans, Louisiana
El Atoradero, Brooklyn, New York
El Charro Cafe, Tucson, Arizona
El Chingon, Denver, Colorado
El Naranjo, Austin, Texas
Galaxy Taco, La Jolla, California
Ki’Mexico, Shreveport, Louisiana
La Choza, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Maicel’s Tortas Y Tacos, Memphis, Tennessee
Mezcalerio Oaxafa, Seattle, Washington
Mezcalero, Washington, D.C.
Mi Lindo Oaxaca, Dallas, Texas
Nopalito, San Francisco, California
Pollo Norte, Portland, Oregon
Ray’s Drive Inn, San Antonio, Texas
Revolver Taco Lounge/Purepecha Room, Dallas, Texas
Taco Maria, Costa Mesa, California
Taqueria Del Sol, Atlanta, Georgia
Topolobampo, Chicago, Illinois
Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que, Brownsville, Texas
Xochi, Houston, Texas
Zacatecas, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Photo by Carolina Arroyo via Shutterstock