LAist: Mexicali? Or Porn Valley?!?

Chris Ullrich

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:02:17 -0800

that's funny. i was there the same day. not my favorite either but a friend insisted on going and i'm not sure why. as zach said, casa vega is much, much better.

Zach Behrens

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:03:28 -0800

Okay, now I am going to really chime in. For clarification to Guest's [3] comment, Boneyard Bistro is not on or near that corner of Ventura/Laurel Cyn. That is more of the Woodman/Ventura corner, East Sherman Oaks area. I don't eat meat, so I don't know anything about the rest of the comment. Carrie, now that you are a Valley girl, time to check out Casa Vega (I'll join you) and Senor Fred (I'll join you again). Then there are tons of little crappy places that ara excellent! Okay, I'm done now.

Zach Behrens

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:58:29 -0800

go valley!

NathanBowers

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:37:36 -0800

It doesn't get more bland than Mexicali. Casa Vega is always good but crowded. If you're in Echo Park try El Compadre; I think the food is even better than Casa Vega's.

guest

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:15:47 -0800

That corner of the valley is home to some of the most over-hyped and underachieving restaurants in all of LA. First there's Nozawa, where low-grade fish are cut up by a bully whose sushi credentials are highly suspect. Then there's Boneyard Bistro, where fake barbecue is served by a clueless staff to customers who've never had the real thing. And finally we hit rock bottom at Mexicali. That such a restaurant can survive in a town filled with astonishingly good Mexican food is a tribute to the power of buzz. In a just world, these three places would all have the Russian Mafia's "for lease by Piken" signs in the window.

Lindsay William-Ross

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:02:55 -0800

do you ever get asked "what's the worst restaurant in los angeles?" i get asked that all the time, and my answer, without a moment's hesitation, is MEXICALI. it is a travesty of scene and be seen in a place where no one needs to be seen. the food does not merit the "oooh, mexicali is so fabulous hype" and the service is HORRIFIC. my famous "i hate mexicali" story features the lady at the table next to me throwing up all over the place, and the myriad of ways in which the management and waitstaff did a piss poor job of handling her and those who had the misfortune of dining near her.

polaroidgirl

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:18:59 -0800

Without a doubt my LEAST fave Mexican joint in this entire city. Think service was bad for brunch?? Try going there in the evening. Since the food is so unremarkable I am perplexed by the popularity of this place. My guess is that people come for the large selection of Tequilas? I agree the photos are the best thing this place has to offer. In related news, I ate at the nearby and always packed Casa Vega this weekend for the first time in years (I mean it's always packed) and it was FANTASTIC.