LA County: Holy Mole

Growing up in Southern California, I had Mexican food at least a couple of times a week. Needless to say, it takes a lot to impress me. I rarely go back to the same place twice.

There's one restaurant in LA that keeps me comin again and again: Guelaguetza in Koreatown. It's always packed with Mexican families sitting at long tables right next to a stage with live mariachi. On a typical weekend night, there's usually around four or five musicians in festive garb playing guitar, bass, piano and singing over an overmodulated sound system which was probably intended for karaoke.

The lively atmosphere is full of people dancing in between tables, diners laughing and shouting over the music and waiters swiftly navigating through the crowded restaurant with large platters of sizzling fajitas, mole and steaming fresh corn tortillas which are being made by hand at a station in the corner.

If you can't decide which mole to get, try them all with the "festival of moles."

There are four different kinds of homemade mole all seasoned differently, but equally as flavorful. The dish takes hours to make properly, but Guelaguetza churns out pots of the stuff. It's so good that people often pick up small jars at the front on the way out.

They also have other rarely seen specialties like: marinated pork feet with jalapenos, grilled cactus and crickets. If there's a place to expand your culinary horizon, it's here. Everything is patiently cooked to perfection.

Their variety of spirits is no less impressive than their menu. They have over 60 kinds of mezcal and 80 kinds of tequila ranging from $6.00 to $50.00 a shot. They also have killer mango margaritas garnished with fresh slices of fruit.

From the music to the drinks to the food, Guelaguetza is an experience. Even Jonathan Gold says, it's the "best Oaxacan Restaurant in the country."