Guelaguetza

11/19/06

fantastic

by jrush at Citysearch

the food here is no b.s., straightforward, totally authentic, very flavorful, extremely reasonably priced, and super delicious. i visit this restaurant frequently as it is a welcome change from trendy LA spots that hide mediocre food quality behind a trendy, pretentious dining environment. this place is the real thing

10/14/04

Peek into a Oaxacan kitchen and taste its awe-inspiring moles.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Hidden away on a busy Koreatown street, this gastronomic gem boasts a mostly Mexican clientele, but Guelaguetza's legendary mole also draws culinary pilgrims from all over the city. The dining room is a sparkling-clean, no-frills space.

The Food
Guelaguetza is famous for its spectacular mole sauces, Oaxacan concoctions made from complex blends of nuts, herbs, chiles and ground seeds. Start with the clayuda, a pizza-sized disc of crisp tortilla slathered with bean paste and a smattering of crumbled queso fresco. The minty verde de espinazo (green) mole livens up a stew-like concoction of juicy chicken breast brimming with chayote squash and potatoes. The granddaddy of all moles, the chocolaty mole negro, is deeper and darker than any pale American imitations. For the more adventurous, there are three more delightful mole sauces: sweet-spicy coloradito (red), tangy-sweet estofado (yellow), and the clove- and cumin-flecked amarillo (also yellow).

07/05/03

Mole!

by savila at Citysearch

artha Stewart had Guelaguetza on her TV show as one of the best places to eat mole in Los Angeles, so I went expecting "good" mole, but nothing close to what I get at moms. What I got was awesome & came awfully close! Their moles are authentic & delicious, and they even have a small shop at the entrance where you can buy a variety of the food items they serve in the restaurant. If youre looking to try authentic Oaxacan food at really good prices I highly recommend this place.

02/25/03

classic Oaxacan

by mmontgomery at Citysearch

This Guelaguetza is larger than the one on 8th St. and their menu is more extensive. The Tamal Oaxaqueno is one of my favorites at either location - a huge banana leaf wrapped corn masa tamale filled with unctuous mole negro and chunks of chicken. All the moles are great. There are many regional dishes here that are different from what many usually associate with Mexican food. BTW, I love the crickets (they're crunchy).

• Pros: Parking lot in rear, Crickets!!!

09/25/02

good made even better

by monkfishliver at Citysearch

This place is just like the other Guelaguetza on 8th street except better. The menu is more extensive, the place is much bigger, has better A/C, has multiple TV's and live band during dinner hours. The food taste great as ever!

07/09/02

A slice of heaven from the Gods.

by izelmorena at Citysearch

Oh for the love of all things mole. I love this place. No joke, I didn't like the taste of mole...that is of course until I came to this joint. I had their Tamale plate and it was so good. The masa on the tamale was just a tad sweet, mixed with mole and the tender chicken...oh was I in heaven. Their horchata was the yummiest thing. I've had the traditional kind with the vanilla, but this stuff had pieces of melon and nuts....oooooh soooo good. The place was bright and clean and the prices were cheap. This is THE place to go around Wilshire for some good ol' Oaxacan food.

• Pros: Chips and mole, Mole, oh and the Mole

05/17/02

Holy Mole

by mphillips_citysearch at Citysearch

Guelaguetza is the Zapotec word for "offering," and the mole sauces could only be the result of culinary devotion. The sauces are authentic -- especially the classic (chocolate) mole negro. These are good: the corn tortilla with bean paste and cheese, the salted beef rounds with mushrooms and onion, the tamales, and the cactus salad.

• Pros: selection
• Cons: no cons