Mexic-Angeles

Growing up in South Florida, Cuban food was my vice (even though I'm Colombian). When I go home, it still is even though I have found some pretty good Cuban fare here in town to quench my fix. But in LA, Mexican is the way to go because nothing beats killer guac and a big ass marg! Oddly enough I'm probably as close to Mexico where I live now as I was to Cuba in when I lived in Miami, haha! So whether you're a local or planning a visit to the city of Angels, I've compiled a list of my favorite taco, burrito and enchilada spots in town that are not only boss, but healthy too! Get your GPS's ready and map out your taco crawl!

In no special order (as they all have rockin' choices):

• The Taco Spot in Eagle Rock - offering a bunch of veggie and vegan options, the Taco Spot has choices like soyrizo, tofu, sauteed veggies and/or potato filling for their tacos, burritos, enchiladas and breakfast items. The rice and beans are all vegan as they do not use lard and everything is veganizable if you just ask for no cheese or sour cream. They've got traditional food as well so it's a great place for a mixed crowd as no one will be left out and no one will leave hungry!
  
• Hugo's Tacos (2 locations) - Not your typical taco stand, Hugo's boasts fresh, organic food for all types of hungry folk. For the greenies, we have a few delish options of fillings such as veggie or soy chorizo with potatoes. The Torta Ahogada can be veganized and at the Atwater Village location, they've got soy cheese for quesadillas, etc. You get a choice of heat on your meal, from wimpy to the flames of hell! oh, and the Atwater location has soy soft serve ice cream!!!
  
• Mexicali in Studio City - This place is great for a night out with a group of pals for fun, celeb watching and margatinis. Yeah, I said it right ; ) Those are awesome and their regular margs are pretty close to perfection too. They too are very veggie friendly with veggie burritos and potato tacos along with some large, veganizable salads. The best night to go is Monday for their 30% off the entire menu and bar happy hour, all night long. Find them at 12161 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 985-1744
• Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks - Best margs in town and they are great for the long waits to get in this joint. It's a fun vibe and the secret yum dish here is their vegetarian Mexican pizza (veganizable by holding the cheese and then slathering on a ton of guac). With a little vegan manipulation, their spinach enchiladas are incredible with green sauce. I ask for no cheese or sour cream, extra everything else. This, like Mexicali, is a place to see and be seen but the food and libations are what draw out the Angelenos ; )
  
• Tacos at Real Food Daily (2 locations) - Some of the first vegan tacos I ever had, were these. They are a vegan classic in my book. Melt in your mouth seitan taco meat with fresh veggies, vegan cheese, stuffed into an extra crispy hard shell and a side of their ridiculous guac - dude! I dare you to just eat 1. I don't think you can ; )
  
• Machos Tacos in Los Feliz - Another taco stand to be reckoned with. The veggie taco and burrito are pretty standard and veganizable but the sweet potato taco will knock you off your feet for sure. Check them out at 1670 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (323) 665-6677
• Pure Luck Cafe in Hollywood - Ok, the whole damn menu is fantastic here but since we're chatting Mexican food, the picks here are obvious. The jackfruit carnitas or tofu tacos are phenomenal but man can they do a great faux fish taco, their baja taco is to die for. All of these can be made as burritos as well so get over to Pure Luck with an empty belly!
  
• Sky's Gourmet Tacos in West LA - Their newly added veggie menu is also vegan. No lard, vegan cheese, 100% tasty goodness. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas and burgers with all of the fixin's, Sky's is one of the best choices in town for South of the Border scrumptiousness!
  
• Alegria in Silver Lake - A full on healthy Mexian restaurant, Alegria is a cute diner with an innovative menu. I'm a sucker for the vegan tostada; prickly pear cactus sauteed in cilantro, garlic, onions and tomatoes served on crispy tortillas, vegan beans and salad. Soooo yummy! The tacos and burritos can all be veganized and the veggies there a mega fresh as is every dish that comes out of Alegria's kitchen ; )
  
• Leonor's Vegetarian (3 valley locations) -Leonor's is a great place but if you're vegan, you need to let them know as their soy cheese is not vegan and some of their soy meat dishes aren't either. But you can still have awesome meals there like their burgers and tacos, the broccoli or spinach empanadas are great and their pizzas are delectable. You can visit them at 1 or all of their valley locations and make sure to ask before you order if you're vegan ; ) You'll be very happy you did!
  
• El Torito (various locations)- I know, it's sacrilege to do chain Mexican in LA but sometimes you gotta go and it ain't so bad. I happen to think the fresh, table side guacamole is some of the best in town. And their veggie burrito is no joke as it is fully stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, squash, zucchini, and avocado and served with vegetarian pinto beans. That all goes down really well with one of their icy margaritas ; )
  
• El Cholo (several locations) - Somewhat of a chain, El Cholo is an LA staple. ANother place with yummy table side guac, they have a yummy veggie fajita plate (veganizable when you hold the cheese and sour cream). Not a sizzling heap of filler veggies either, it's quite the harvest on a smokin' skillet. Not to be missed!!

Love, Peace ad Taco Grease - and a happy belated Cinco de Mayo!!

Los Angeles On The Go

One of the coolest things about living in LA is the access to unique services and just plain old cool stuff. People visiting LA normally hit up tourist spots and restaurants mentioned in their guide books. But to really experience LA, it's best to follow the advice of a local, as they've got the skinny on the secret spots and things to do. For instance, LA boasts some rockin' mobile food and I've got all of the info for you be you a tourist or an Angeleno!

One of the newest, coolest and biggest things to hit the LA scene is The Kogi Taco Truck. It's not your typical roach coach and nothing comes close. Be prepared to stand in mega long lines at their secret locations that are shared with salivating customers via twitter. You can also find their weekly stops on the Kogi BBQ website if you want a leg up on the crowds. This Korean BBQ Mexican fusion phenom has taken LA by storm and there's no sign of it slowing down. And it's not just hype cuase the food kicks ass! For the vegan, no need to fret, they've got Kogi Tofu tacos and Kogi Tofu Burritos. They are kogified in the marinade that the tofu is prepped in and they are filled with delicious kimchee. They are definitely worth the wait but plan your day and get to the locations early so you are sure to get a taste of killer Kogi!

Another boss mobile eatery is Franken's (also lovingly referred to as The Frankenstand). A 100%, horror themed, vegan hot dog stand with selections like The Wolf, The Witch and the Franken. From vegan beer brats to tomato basil awesomeness, there is something for everyone at this gouhlishly great wiener cart! They got all the fixin's and sauces too that will turn your dog into carnival in your mouth. Check out the Franken's site to find out where it will materialize next, oooooooooooohhhhh!!!

Tourist or not, The Melting Pot Food Tours are a fun way to spend an afternoon. With a route starting at the famous Farmer's Market on Third and Fairfax and coming soon, an Old Town Pasadena tour, this is a great way to taste the different flavors of LA in a neat fashion. It's super neat as your tour guide tells you all about the history of each place you visit and you are able to sample items from each of the locations. Another great aspect of the tours is that they are all on foot so you really get to savor being in each place as well as walking off all of the goodies you taste so you can make room for more. It's a great treat for a local as well as anyone blowing through town. Make your reservations today and hop on the next Melting Pot Food Tour!

Passin' Time in Pasadena

Home of the Rose Bowl and some beautiful architecture, Pasadena is one of the prettiest areas in Los Angeles. It is swarming with people every day as their Old Town section is perfect for a nice walk, shopping and unique restaurants.

One of the first places I ate at as a vegan 8 years ago was Orean. It is like a vegan dairy queen with ice cream, shakes and wicked vegan junk food. I love their tacos and burgers!! They are at 817 N Lake Ave,(626) 794-0861.

Among the many chain restaurants in old town like Cheesecake Factory, Louise's Trattoria and so on, there is one that I adore and that is Le Pain Quotidien. In the recent years they have sprung up across LA but it's so damn good ; ) Their soups are almost always vegan, their salads fresh and their tartines delectable. My choice is always the black bean hummus tartine. Look them up at Le Pain Quotidien.

Despite the commercial, mainstream shops and restaurants, there are still many unique places such as this terrific Brazillian spot, Chiara, 43 E Colorado Blvd,(626) 564-8696. I was able to munch on some plantains and rice and share some of their hummus that was actually very good. I had a little to much of their caipirinas as they went down super smooth!

Just outside of Pasadena, you can find one of the best veggie places around, Fatty's. Fatty's, despite the name, is veggie fine dining in the heart of Eagle Rock. It really is amazing and I urge you to try their ravioli, moussaca or strudel. You must stay for dessert and have their Fudgey!! All info for them is online at Fatty's Cafe & wine bar.

So whether you live across town or across the country, if you find yourself in Pasadena, there is no shortage of yumminess ; )

S-deux-dio City ; )

So I couldn't leave out the rest of my top places to chow in my old neighborhood. And might I add that it just keeps getting better and better. The nightlife, shopping and dining is becoming more and more hip and bringing the valley some good street cred ; )

All around town, I've been seeing these vegan thai places pop up. 2 of my faves are in Studio City. Vegan plate, 11943 Ventura Blvd(818) 506-9015 and Vegan Express, 3217 Cahuenga Blvd W,(323) 851-8837, have similar menus but are equally good. Plate has lots of combo dinners and sandwiches as does Express but they have breakfast all day ; ) The cowgirl breakfast with tofu scramble, faux chicken and pancakes will fill you up all day. And at Vegan Plate, I love their chicken wrap and chicken satay.

Tapas are super cool and trendy and Ole hits that spot. They have flamenco dancers a good music most nights as well as some tasty sangria. They have veganizable dish that will fill you up as will their yummy wine! 13251 Ventura Blvd,(818) 986-3190.

I know this is a chain but it's oh so good to us greenies! Panera has the bomb vegetarian soups like black bean, garden vegetable and southwest stew. Their salads and sandwiches can be veganized and their iced green tea is extra zingy!! Look for their Studio City location online at Panera.

Lastly, for nightlife, definitely Firefly. This bar and restaurant has a neat atmosphere that is library meets Moroccan patio chic.If you need to munch they have wonderful salads and the occasional garlic fry won't kill you. But the drinks are reasonable and the vibe is rockin' Firefly is at 11720 Ventura Blvd,(818) 762-1833.


Luckily, I'm only a 15 minute drive away from all my old faves ; )

Ode to Studio City

Ahh, the view from my daily hike at Wilacre Park that overlooked my old hood ; ) Studio City is a great little area in Los Angeles and jam packed with healthy and yummy places. This valley town is right at the base of the hill and offers shi-shi shopping and dining but with the feel of a small community. Some of my most favorite eateries are in Studio City so if you live in town or are visiting, it's just a stone's throw away from Hollywood, Universal Studios and just off the 101 freeway.

My first fave is Kung Pao Bistro. When I'd have a hankerin' for Chinese take out, this was the only way to go as they have a a fully vegan menu in addition to their traditional fare. Their veggie chicken drumsticks would make a carnivore salivate as do their veggie beef and broccoli and veggie orange chicken. They have all kinds of veggie stuff like shrimp, skewers, dumplings and more as well as plenty of real meat for your non veggie pals. They have 3 locations however, the one is Studio City is at 11838 Ventura Blvd, (818) 766-8686 .

My next addiction is Leonor's vegetarian Mexican. Yumm-alicious! They make the bomb vegan pizzas, enchiladas, empanadas and so on. Their guac could use a little salt but other then that it's really cheap and they give you a boat load. They have great sandwiches as well as again, non-veggies will enjoy this place as well. They have 2 locations, in Studio city you can find them at 12445 Moorpark St Ste C, (818) 762-0660.

Mexicali & Casa Vega are valley staples for killer mexican food and nightlife. Both places are always busy and full of hotties for those of you singles trollin' for love ; ) Mexicali has fantastic salads as well as awesome veggie burritos, enchiladas and more. If you are in town to star gaze, this is a prime place for it too. Be sure to come by on Monday's for their all night happy hour where the whole menu is 30% off - 12161 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 985-1744. Vega has my favorite spinach enchiladas (I order with no cheese) and the most ridiculous vegetarian mexican pizza!! And of course, huge Margs ; ) Casa Vega is at 13301 Ventura Blvd, (818) 788-4868.

For brunch, lunch and dinner, Hugo's is the place. It's quite busy so expect a wait but it's totally worth it. Vegans and non-vegans can enjoy great meals from pancakes to pizzas to yummy entrees. They also specialize in great teas and juices and opened a taco stand across the road that is so good you'll want to run around the block screaming ; ) Hugo's valley location is at 12851 Riverside Dr, (818) 761-8985 and the Hugo's Taco Stand is at 4749 Coldwater Canyon Ave, (818) 762-7771.

And for those every now and again treats, Studio Yogurt and Humphrey Yogart are an absolute must. Trying to satisfy your sweet tooth and stay healthy is very difficult but either of these places can hook you up. Studio Yogurt always has a dairy free yogurt selection and each day is a new and unique flavor. You can choose any toppings you want from fresh fruit to sprinkles and carob chips. Humphrey's is just as delish with soy yogurt options that you can mix in any toppings and they also have wicked vegan milk shakes!! The mystic union is to die for - chocolate and peanut butter!!! Studio Yogurt is at 12050 Ventura Blvd Ste 105, (818) 508-7811 while Humphrey's is just up the road in Sherman Oaks at 4574 Van Nuys Blvd, (818) 906-2490.

There are still some of my Studio City haunts left to mention so check them out next week!!

Glorious Glendale ; )

So, this is no travel for me but it may be for non LA folk ; ) We just moved from "The Valley" to Glendale so exploring our new place of residence has been somewhat of a trip ; ) It's still LA but a cute city in itself. It's got a great downtown area with a grip of high rises that give some small towns across the U.S. a run for their money. There is some awesome shopping, theatre, galleries, the historical Brand park and library as well as http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gifsome good eats!!

Driving through our picturesque little neighborhood, I found this quaint commercial area right in the middle of the residential hood. It looks like a gingerbread village with cute shops and a small market. This small market happened to be a gem! The Village Market is a natural grocery store and cafe. They have a deli that makes RIDICULOUSLY good vegan sandwiches!! It is a must if you are popping into LA or live here and want to jump on over to Glen-dizzle for some yumminess on bread! Their info can be found at The Village Market Place .

Another gem that I found is right on the border of Glendale and Burbank and it brings me back to my hometown of Miami. Mambos is the closest thing to real Cuban food you can find in LA which means it kicks some serious butt!! Not only is the Cuban food super authentic, they have a vegetarian section on the menu to boot!! They have the staples: black beans, rice, plantains, yuca and awesome bread; but they also have veggie tamales and a veggie version of the Cuban favorite, picadillo. It really is the bomb!! Mambos is at 1701 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201, (818) 545-8613.

Keeping in the vein of delish Cuban food, there is Porto's Bakery. They have 2 locations, 1 in Glendale and 1 in Burbank. When I saw there was one in biking distance from my "casa" I almost lost it! They have the bomb mariquitas which are thinly sliced plantain chips with garlic, lemon and olive oil dressing. They are finger licking good! As are their veggie sandwiches and variety of fresh made juices. Check out Porto's and go to their about us page for address and info.

I'm off to unpack some more stuff but keep an eye out for the next installment of The Healthy Voyager!!