It's not like I eat a lot of Mexican food in LA: I grew up eating quesadillas like other people eat I dunno, Ramen in college. And most Mexican Restaurants don't offer the cuisine I indulge in these days...mainly wannabe vegan (wannabe because, yeah, I'll eat a little cheese, perhaps eggs, and just maybe some chicken...though not for the most part). So cheesy chicken enchiladas or beef filled cheesy chile relleno don't sound as appetizing anymore. That is until...La Casita came into my life.
Owned and run by two awesome men: Ramiro and Martin: who are some of the loveliest people I've met who are truly passionate about food and what it represents for Mexican culture.
La Casita is a small space in Bell, California, snuggled next to a 24 hour panaderia with some awesome looking Quince cakes. You probably wouldn't know that these two men are revolutionizing Mexican cooking in the US, and the image of Mexican food in other countries as a fine cuisine, by looking at the space. But one taste of the Chile Enogado-a perfectly sized large Moron pepper filled with tender ground beef, and covered with a pecan cream sauce topped with pomegranate seeds- and you'll also be driving alllll the way down to Bell to taste everything on the menu.
My friend Dara and I got to...Ramiro kept bringing out the food for us to taste. A three Mexican cheese pastry like thing filled with Mushrooms and peppers (no monterrey jack, cheddar or mozerella included, in fact, nothing melty.) Nopalitos (cactus) soup, tostadas with three moles, three moles enchiladas, A cotijo cheese authentic enchilada, Mexican Rice, a chile enogado (dating back to the 1800s, not the food but the recipe), and the biggest clue to La Casita's wonderfulness.......the fish of the day...whatever it was....if you know me.....I hate fish, I hate it, I won't eat it, and I can't stand the smell, and it gives me "asco" to think about eating it.....but I tried this finished, and as Dara as my witnessed....I almost finished it, it was so good, I wouldve finished it if it wasn't for the Kahlua flan on its way.
La Casita changed my life-seriously. I look forward to rediscovering fish again, and getting my Omega-3's from a source other than capsules and walnuts.
If you've got 25 minutes(in no traffic) to spare in driving, no even if you don't have the time...make it to La Casita to taste some of the most authentic Mexican food I've found in LA. And simply, the best I've tasted.
From a Mexican Food expert...
(All Mexicans are Mexican Food experts. We just know how it's supposed to taste.) :-)
www.CasitaMex.com
La Casita Mexicana
4030 East Gage Ave.
Bell, CA 90201
Tel. (323) 773 - 1898
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I think I am going to go over to that restaurant and eat there the next time I'm in Los Angeles. I haven't had wonderful Mexican food since my mami and my suegrita died. Gracias por la recommendacion.
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