Topline:
We have long a list of some of the best pozoles that the city offers, with each pozole showing its own distinct identity.
The backstory: The pre-Hispanic dish remains one of the most popular dishes in Mexican gastronomy, associated with celebrations, gatherings, and holidays.
The basics: . There are three common iterations throughout Mexico: red, green, and white. The differences are seen regionally, with their variants in proteins, spices, and chiles.
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Pozole season is nigh!
Studies show that fridges in Mexican households are a game of chance around this time of year. Is this margarine in the margarine container? No. It’s pozole. Sour cream here? Nope. You ran out three weeks ago. It’s pozole, again.
Pozole is a dish associated with celebrations, gatherings, and holidays, and comes from the Nahuatl word pozolli, which translates to “frothy” or “boiled”.
It remains one of the most popular dishes in Mexican gastronomy. There are three common iterations throughout Mexico: red, green, and white. The differences are seen regionally, with their variants in proteins, spices, and chiles.
We have a long list of some of the best pozoles that the city offers, with each pozole showing its own distinct identity.
We’re starting strong with this Los Angeles gem, Pozolería Doña Ana, in Panorama City and Pacoima. The family behind the restaurant believes that Mexican food provides more than just a meal. They believe it offers a celebration of life, and you can taste that.
The business makes their famous pozole rojo estilo Nayarit with your pick of pork and chicken. To try a mix of the best, we suggest getting their loaded pozole rojo mixed with pork meat, pata (pork foot), and cuerito (pork skin). This is the only dedicated pozolería in Los Angeles County and the best pozole in the San Fernando Valley.
Doña Ana started selling pozole in the streets to help her with her mental health and now she's developed a huge following. She sells both red and green varieties made with pork or chicken. We definitely recommend pairing her pozole with her tacos dorados de picadillo for the complete pozole-induced euphoria effect.
Location:
14551 Nordhoff St, Panorama City, 91402
10345 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, 91331
Hours: Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
While primarily known for its phenomenal birria de chivo, El Parian's secret weapon is an exceedingly good pozole. It has no business being so good, in fact. The pozole is a classic pork-based red, the caldo rich with pork, chiles, and spices, which are never overbearing.
The most intriguing thing about this pozole is the use of a particularly large variety of hominy that looks like freshly popped popcorn. A server explained that they start cooking it very early in the morning for several hours to achieve this glory in a bowl. It should go without saying that an order of birria is also mandatory.
Location: 1528 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, 90015
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. - 8.30 p.m.
This neighborhood Oaxacan eatery offers pozole made from pork head. Once the bowl arrives you’ll notice a faint funk that becomes more prominent in the caldo, adding an extra dimension to the broth, and reminding us of the strong fishy flavors found in the best bowls of ramen.
The first bite of pork head bursts with concentrated porkiness; the meat is tender and slightly chewy. A thick layer of rendered, stained pork fat consistently floats on top of the bowl. This pozole is one of the most unique on the list because the offal adds a dimension that isn’t present with traditional proteins.
Location: 3337 1/2 W. 8th St. Los Angeles 90005
Hours: Daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Tamales Elena is one of the first regional food trucks in L.A. to celebrate Afro-Mexican influences from the state of Guerrero. While this place is recognized and named for for its signature tender banana leaf-wrapped tamales, its pozoles, offered in green, red, and white varieties, are equally famous, including a pork pozole topped with chicharrón, one with chicken, and a veggie-filled pozole.
The family behind these great bowls were even featured on Netflix's Taco Chronicles for their regional Mexican sazón.
Location: Wilmington Ave & E. 110th St. Angeles, 90059
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Shrimp pozole is a staple in coastal communities in Mexico, such as Baja, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Sinaloa. Yet for some reason, a seafood version never caught on in the States. That is until Cefishé came around and rectified this crime against L.A. County's mariscos and pozole-loving communities. If you love brothy, Mexican-style shrimp cocktails and need something that is a little bit more substantial during winter, then consider this your new addiction.
Location: 197 E. 2nd St. Pomona, 91766
Hours: Mon - Wed closed; Thurs - Sunday 12 noon - 8 p.m.
Contrary to what Chicharroland's name might suggest, it is not a theme park dedicated to fried pork skin, though this charming restaurant in South Central does specialize in chicharrón. On weekends they offer two different pozoles: a pork-based rojo and a chicken-based verde.
The pozole verde has a formidable broth that is more subtle than what you’ve probably encountered before. It leans more on the strength of the chicken broth, spiked with a subtle taste of tomatillos and cilantro. Little greenish beads of rendered chicken fat swirl after each hearty spoonful. It can be probably a little spicier, sure, but it’s nothing a scattering of chile flakes from the table's shaker can’t fix.
Location: 4714 S. Main St. Los Angeles, 90037.
Hours: Daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m; closed Thursdays. Pozole is only served on weekends
Cacoa Mexicatessen is a few years shy of classic L.A. restaurant status. They were the first on the scene to bring duck carnitas here back in 2010, and their pozole verde is equally enticing. From a glance alone, you can sense the weight of the pozole. The caldo is cloudy green with a spicy punch. It has a strong porky presence and plenty of granos hidden under the broth, cooked just right —slightly firm and not overly gummy: al diente. This place gets bonus points for offering a super-solid local craft beer list and Mexican wine to go with the food.
Location: 1576 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, 90041
Hours: Closed Mondays; Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Pez Cantina has a fantastic pozole verde. This place flies low, mostly catering to downtown power lunchers and executives blowing off steam after work over their enticing happy hour menu. But don’t sleep on their pozole. The broth is on the thicker side and there are moments when you wonder what percentage of the caldo is just salsa verde. (If you’ve caught yourself with tendencies to sip on your taqueria’s salsa verde cups, this pozole is for you!).
It is a smaller portion, but don’t let the size fool you because it packs a punch; slightly acidic from the tomatillos but spicier than expected. While it’s not ridiculously spicy, the heat builds with each spoonful of the thick green broth. It’s a chicken-broth but not overly chicken-y.
Location:
DTLA: 401 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, 90071
Pasadena: 61 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, 91103
Hours:
DTLA: Mon 11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m.; Tues, Wed, Thurs 11.30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri 11.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sat 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun closed. Pozole is only served on Sat.
Pasadena: Mon closed; Tues – Fri 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m –10:30 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m. - 9.30 p.m.
Antojitos Los Cuates' small, peach-colored, Compton restaurant is decorated with yellow lettering and iconic scenes of Jalisco. Upon entering, you automatically know some amazing antojitos are about to pull your heartstrings from the feel of the dining room alone. While their tacos de requesón are what people come for and are highly recommended by L.A. TACO contributing writer Xitlalic Guijosa, their pozole blanco doesn’t stay behind.
It is a bowl of love made with nixtamal de maiz morado (purple corn nixtamal) and topped with repollo (cabbage), cebolla (onion), rabanos (radishes), and limon (lime). The perfectly simmered pork in your bowl makes for a broth so good you’ll be sucking on the bones to get every bit of it out.
Location: 1811 N. Long Beach Blvd. Compton, 90211
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
This neighborhood spot is great for breakfast, but on weekends they offer white pozole made with pata (pork feet), which means some of the collagen is rendered into the broth, though not to the point of palpable thickness.
The pozole is served with plenty of accoutrements: onions, cilantro, tostadas, avocado slices, rabanos, oregano, lettuce, and a specially tailored red salsa to crank up the heat. The floating bits of avocados offer a nice creamy texture that pairs pleasantly with the chunks of pork. The grano is on the tougher side, call it al dente. If you have the inclination to order a huarache with carnitas, I’d urge you to follow that intuition.
Location: 6480 Santa Fe Ave. Huntington Park, 90255
Hours: Daily 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
This green pozole from Guayaba Kitchen will fool you. Recommended by L.A. TACO contributing writer Noe Adame, this vegan bowl of pozole is so popular that, in the past, it sold out in just one hour. It has all that a good bowl of green pozole has to offer, made with mushrooms (the star of the show) and spices and herbs homegrown in the owner's backyard. You can top it with the classics, chopped red onion, and a couple of squeezed limes, and top it all with chopped repollo for that familiar crunch. Y sin faltar, you can’t forget some chili de arbol oil to add extra heat.
Noe tells L.A. TACO: “I didn’t think a vegan pozole would ever taste like the real deal, much less, dare I say, better than any meat-based pozole I have ever had! Spicy, earthy, flavorful, and best of all, piping hot—just the way I love it.”
Location/hours: DM for curbside pick up
Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on eating some of your favorite Mexican dishes. Pozole is one of those meals that can be made meat-free and packed with a flavorful and rich broth. And that’s what you will find at El Cocinero Restaurant: a bowl full of vegan pozole rojo made with jackfruit cooked just right, leaving you with tender strips of what might as well be chicken.
Location: 6265 Sepulveda Blvd. #12. Los Angeles, 91411
Hours: Mon closed; Tuesday - Sunday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Across the street from El Mariachi Plaza stands Un Solo Sol Kitchen. Its Latin-American menu (there are also Asian and Middle Eastern influences here) features plenty of meaty recipes, but the vegan options are about as vast. One of the best items has to be its veggie tacos. But as the weather gets cooler, the vegan pozole, be it the red or green one, rises to the top. Their green pozole is made out of mushrooms; the red with soft pieces of tofu.
Location: 1818 E. 1st St. Los Angeles, 90033
Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 noon - 8.30 p.m. Closed Tues and Wed
Topline:
This Sunday, a special donation concert at Pasadena's Healing Force of the Universe record store helps fire survivors get their vinyl record collections back.
The backstory: The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s musical instruments in the Eaton Fire. Now, he has turned his efforts on rebuilding people's lost record collections.
Read on ... to find details of the show happening Sunday.
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena’s music community have really shown up to support fire survivors, especially fellow musicians who lost instruments and record collections.
That effort continues this weekend with a special donation concert at a Pasadena record store, with the aim of getting vinyl records back in the hands of survivors who lost their collections.
“You know, our name is Healing Force of the Universe, and I think that gives me a pretty clear direction… especially after the fires,” said Austin Manuel, founder of Pasadena record store, where Sunday’s show will be held.
The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s instruments in the Eaton Fire. Through Altadena Musicians’s donation and registry platform, Jay said he and his partners have helped some 1,200 fire survivors get their music instruments back.
Now, that effort has fanned out to restoring vinyl record collections.
“All of that stuff evaporated for thousands of people,” Jay said. “Look at your own record collection and be like, ‘Wow, what if that whole thing disappeared?’”
You might know Jay from several bands over the years, including Lutefisk, a 1990s alt-rock band based in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, composed music for TV shows, including Orange is the New Black and Weeds.
Jay plans to play some holiday tunes at Sunday's record donation show (which LAist is the media sponsor), along with fellow musician Daniel Brummel of Sanglorians. Brummel, who was also a founding member of Pasadena’s indie-rock sensation Ozma, said he was grateful to Jay for his fire recovery work and to Manuel for making Healing Force available for shows like this.
Brummel, who came close to losing his own home in the Eaton Fire, recalled a show he played at Healing Force back in March.
“The trauma of the fires was still really fresh,” Brummel said. After playing a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s “Going to a Town,” that night — which includes the lyrics “I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down” — Brummel said his neighbors in the audience told him the rendition hit them hard. “It felt really powerful. And without that space, it just wouldn’t have occurred.”
Healing Force of the Universe Record Donation Show
Featuring: Quasar (aka Brandon Jay), Sanglorians (Daniel Brummel) and The Acrylic.
Sunday, Dec. 14; 2 to 5 p.m.
1200 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
Tickets are $15 or you can donate 5 or more records at the door. More info here.
Topline:
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has a new neighbor — a star dedicated to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Why it matters: The Fire Department has been honored with an “Award of Excellence Star” for its public service during the Palisades and Sunset fires, which burned in the Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods of L.A. in January.
Why now: The star was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard on Friday at a ceremony hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation.
Awards of Excellence celebrate organizations for their positive impacts on Hollywood and the entertainment industry, according to organizers. Fewer than 10 have been handed out so far, including to the LA Times, Dodgers and Disneyland.
The backstory: The idea of awarding a star to the Fire Department was prompted by an eighth-grade class essay from Eniola Taiwo, 14, from Connecticut. In an essay on personal heroes, Taiwo called for L.A. firefighters to be recognized. She sent the letter to the Chamber of Commerce.
“This star for first responders will reach the hearts of many first responders and let them know that what they do is recognized and appreciated,” Taiwo’s letter read. “It will also encourage young people like me to be a change in the world.”
The Award of Excellence Star is in front of the Ovation Entertainment Complex next to the Walk of Fame; however, it is separate from the official program.
What officials say: Steve Nissen, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement Taiwo’s letter was the inspiration for a monument that will “forever shine in Hollywood.”
“This recognition is not only about honoring the bravery of the Los Angeles Fire Department but also about celebrating the vision of a young student whose words reminded us all of the importance of gratitude and civic pride,” said Nissen, who’s also president and CEO of the Hollywood Community Foundation.
Go deeper: LA's wildfires: Your recovery guide
Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
Topline:
Today marks el Día de La Virgen de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgen of Guadalupe, an important holiday for Catholics and those of Mexican descent. In Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana builds an elaborate altar in her honor that draws hundreds of visitors.
What is the holiday celebrating? In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman, wearing a green veil with her hands clasped in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak. Every year on Dec. 12, worshippers of the saint celebrate the Guadalupita with prayer and song.
Read on … for how worshippers in Santa Ana celebrate.
Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.
Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.
Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.
In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.
To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.
Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.
The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).
“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”
Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.
“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”
Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.
“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.
Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the Virgin Mary represents strength.
“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”
The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.
