pacific restaurant

Cabo San Lucas is such a quick lil jaunt from Los Angeles, so it has been my husband’s and my getaway of choice whenever we can sneak away for a long weekend (like we did for our babymoon!). We have come to love the beautiful oasis that is Nobu Los Cabos, as it's far removed from the busy touristy area, and the perfect spot for those looking to totally chill, get pampered, and eat good food! Pacific Restaurant at Nobu Los Cabos is a fine dining Mexican concept, featuring lots of fresh seafood and local ingredients, along with traditional taco & mezcal pairings. So basically right up our alley… Fancy Mexican food is one of my husband’s all-time favorite cuisines (remember Cosme?), blending casual street food flavors he loves along with elevated techniques he was trained with. Pacific checks all the boxes, so it’s no surprise we’ve made reservations here every time we stay at Nobu Los Cabos. Not to mention the beautiful seaside views and sunsets you get to take in as you dine- so heavenly!

Now onto the food. We really haven’t had a bad dish here. Everything has been flavorful, well-executed, and truly memorable. From the light and fresh pacific style scallop aguachile with green apple, mango & spiced seeds, to the rich and hearty corn mini sopes with beef bone marrow, black beans & pork chorizo, the appetizers are always a hit. I loved my perfectly cooked branzino with green mole & pumpkin seeds, and both the bone-in short rib and baked peking duck leg were absolutely mouthwatering. My husband raved about our meals. And not to mention how picturesque is each dish?! Be sure to scroll through the slide show to get more details on our meals at Pacific- it’s definitely a feast for the eyes as well. I’m already looking forward to our next trip to Nobu Los Cabos, and you can bet that a meal (or two!) at Pacific Restaurant will be on our agenda!

qué padre

Mexican food is a fan favorite in our house. While there is some debate as to what style or rendition is best- my husband is from New Mexico, I’m from Texas, and we live in California- we can definitely appreciate a good taco, margarita and some chips & guacamole! From super casual to fine dining, you can really get good Mexican food across the board these days, and I was pumped to try a new spot in our area called Qué Padre. Specializing in street-style tacos, this coastal cantina packs its menu with the freshest of flavors from all over Mexico. There’s a bit of Cali influence thanks to the locally-sourced ingredients, and I have to say I really enjoyed this modern take on all your Mexican favorites. Located in Palisades Village, the atmosphere at Qué Padre is totally chill and laid back, allowing you to sip on some tasty tequilas while dining out in the sun. Totally up my alley! Not to mention it’s adjacent to the grassy, park area so kiddies can play as well.

My boys and I got to enjoy a delicious taco feast soon after the grand opening, and we all left completely satisfied- and perhaps a bit too full! If you like a fun beverage, I definitely recommend browsing the cocktail & drinks menu. So many unique offerings (whether you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or not)- from horchata (spiked or kid-friendly) to aguas frescas to an extensive tequila list to refreshing cocktails and more! I can’t resist a negroni, so tried their tequila version, which was super smooth and totally hit the spot. My hubby went the more traditional route, and was also quite pleased with his spicy margarita. Now, on to the food! Do yourself a favor and order the scallop ceviche, plus the lobster en nogada, camarón, and carnitas tacos. The little details (think mexican coke-braised pork, charred pineapple, jalapeño ash, poached lobster tail, morita black bean purée…) really allow the quality and flavors to shine through. So delish! You can totally taste the difference in the house-made corn tortillas too. And of course, since no meal of mine is complete without dessert, we had to indulge in the Mexican chocolate churros and the tres leches flan. My son & I couldn’t get enough of the chocolate dipping sauce. Heaven! Feel free to click through the photos for more details on each dish, and next time you’re in the Palisades, be sure to swing by Qué Padre for a taco.

tropical juice

For a refreshing juice or smoothie on the east side, definitely stop by Tropical Juice in Highland Park. This no-frills shop whips up everything from green juices to ice cream milkshakes to seasonal fruit bowls to Mexican style desserts out of its beautiful and brightly colored stand on Figueroa. The fruit cocktail- a bowl of diced cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, cucumber, pineapple, and coconut topped off with lemon, salt and chile- is especially refreshing on a hot summer day. I’m also a fan of the jugo verde- made of parsley, celery, cucumber, kale, pineapple and spinach- so healthy! Everything is super affordable as well, so feel free to add it to your daily routine ;) Can’t wait to stop by again next time I’m back in my old stomping grounds.

restaurante tierra caliente

There’s not much better than a consistently good neighborhood joint. You know the place. The one you can pop in anytime, and while you aren’t expecting to be blown away by anything super out of the box, you can pretty much guarantee a delicious, satisfying meal. In our old hood in Brooklyn, that was Cafe Mogador, and we still make it a point to go back anytime we are in town. Our new neighborhood of Mount Washington has less going on food-wise, but just down the hill in Cypress Park, you’ll find a ton of tasty, authentic Mexican food. Restaurante Tierra Caliente is one place we keep returning, and what’s better is that we can walk there! A bit of Brooklyn in LA ;) This tiny spot has a chalkboard menu up on the wall, and only a few small tables. We like to sit outside amongst the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood, and enjoy our tacos al fresco! Our fave time of day to come eat at Tierra Caliente is in the early mornings before they get busy, as they make a killer breakfast! My huevos a la Mexicana never disappoints, and those homemade tortillas are super fresh and hot off the press! My husband is a fan of the chilaquiles and smothered burritos (among manyyyy other things), but I think next up I need to try the tamales and pozole verde now that the weather is cooling off! So grab yourself a horchata con cafe, why don’t ya, and dig in!

trois familia

When you're tired of the same 'ol thing, and really craving something outside the box, I highly suggest you head to Trois Familia. This French-Mexican fusion spot comes from Chef Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo, and is part of the highly acclaimed Trois Mec/Petit Trois family, so you know going in that it's got a lot to live up to. Just browsing through the photos above will show you how colorful and creative the dishes are, and I can attest that everything is just as flavorful and decadent as it looks. Some items on the menu may sound a little out there- beet tartare tostada? Parisian gnocchi? hashbrown chilaquiles?- and I wouldn't fault you for questioning if they'll work. Chef Ludo does what he does best, however, and blends the flavors and techniques of Mexican and French cuisines seamlessly. Each dish offers the comforts of what you'd expect, plus a surprising flair to make it something entirely different. The beet (not beef!) tartare tostada was a personal fave- the crunchy tostada was complemented perfectly from the fresh lime and avocado crema. Also, how much does it look like real beef tartare?! The mussels Marinière were packed full of garlic, white wine, and herbs, and the grilled bread was perfect for soaking up every last drop of sauce. Don't miss their signature tres leches birthday cake for dessert! 

jajaja

New York City- the land of endless food options. There's literally something for everyone here, which great, but there's also a lot of average places to filter through to find the true gems. When it comes to vegan restaurants, it seems like there's a new place at every corner, but many of them serve standard veggie cuisine (think fresh, seasonally-inspired American eats). Jajaja thinks outside the box, by creating a vegan menu full of unique and flavorful Mexican dishes. I stopped by with my vegan bestie Stephanie (of Ripe Cuisine) on her recent trip to NYC, and we noshed on some seriously delicious eats. Their taco menu offers some classics like housemade "chorizo" and heart of palm "carnitas", but also gets creative with mezcal mushrooms and chayote "fish" tacos! I love that they make their own tortillas, and infused them with vibrants colors and flavors like turmeric and blueberries! I also highly recommend the Sikil Pak, a Mayan pumpkin seed dip served with plantain chips that was so up my alley and totally addicting! Please excuse the poor lighting, but the restaurant is a bit dark with a fun, nightlife vibe to it (and since it's right in the middle of the Lower East Side, why not?!). Click through the pics to read more about our tasty meal. We have a return trip planned for a fun dinner for Steph's 30th birthday, and I'm already counting down the days!