A friend from out of state is visiting next month and he keeps saying he wants to eat something he cannot get back home. I landed on Oaxacan, because I have had tlayudas a couple of times and mole once, and both times I walked out thinking I had no real idea what I had just eaten.
So where would you send someone who has never had it before? And what do I tell him to order so he gets the actual version and not the safe one?
Tlayuda LA Cafe on Santa Monica Blvd is the easy answer and it is ten minutes from me. Get the tlayuda with cecina and an agua fresca, and split it, they are bigger than they look.
Go on a weeknight before eight. Parking on that stretch is street only and it thins out after nine.
Poncho's Tlayudas in West Adams is where I would take a first timer and I say that as someone who drives across town for it.
Order one tlayuda with tasajo and one with chorizo so he can taste the difference in the meats, and get the memelas to start because they are the cheapest way to understand what masa is supposed to taste like. The whole thing runs about twenty five dollars for two people.
Tell him not to ask for a fork. And go hungry, those are not polite portions.
Everyone is probably naming sit-down restaurants. If your friend wants the real thing, send him to Alejandra's Quesadilla Cart de Oaxaca on Logan St in Echo Park, which is a cart and not a restaurant. For a few dollars, you get a quesadilla with squash blossom or mushroom, made in front of you on the comal. Bring cash and go at lunch. It is not an all-day operation.
Sabores Oaxaqueños on Santa Monica Blvd is legit. My Mexican bestie showed me that place and I actually liked it. She said it's super authentic. All I know is it's super tasty.
LA sandunga oaxacan cuisine in DTLA.
Small, but authentic.
I love these little hidden gems.
I will check it out myself, as I prefer to sit down with him (unless he prefers a quick bite). Thanks.
There's a place called Lindo Oaxaca on Pico Blvd. It doesn't look pretty from the outside (bars in front of the windows 
), yet the food is outstanding. Quiadaiyn on Venice Blvd isn't bad either. I prefer Lindo, though.
I haven't had southern Mexican food in a while. 