Tamales Elena Y Antojitos - Los Angeles

Tamales Elena Y Antojitos is LA’s pioneering Afro-Mexican restaurant, serving authentic Guerrero-style cuisine from the Costa Chica region where chef Maria Elena Lorenzo’s family originates. The highlight of their menu is the crispy fish tacos called pescadillas – thin, crispy tacos filled with perfectly stewed fish that The Infatuation recommends ordering “at least three orders – one for you now, one for you in five minutes, and one for five minutes after that”. They also serve exceptional tacos dorados that are fried-to-order and dipped into salty, chile-stained consommé, featuring rich barbacoa seasoned with the perfect amount of salt and topped with zippy salsa verde. Their specialty tamales come wrapped in both corn husks and banana leaves, made with fluffy, well-seasoned masa following traditional Costa Chica preparation methods. The family has been serving the Watts community since 1996, starting as street vendors and evolving into one of LA’s most unique food trucks. Operating cash-only from their colorful truck in front of a recycling center, they offer excellent meals at reasonable prices, including their famous tamal especial #2 bathed in barbacoa consommé with chunks of beef.