Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published December 1, 2023 5:00 AM
Many of the prepared dishes at Mercado González's food stalls start with the market's giant tortillería.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Costa Mesa's Mercado González, the newest store from Mexican grocery chain Northgate Market, is part hipster food hall, part traditional Mexican mercado, part watering hole, part cultural center, and yes, part grocery store.
The concept: Joshua González, one of the third generation members of the González family who owns and operates the Northgate chain, says the new market/food hall is inspired by the great mercados of Mexico, like Coyoacán in Mexico City and 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca.
What you can find: At the food stalls, traditional Mexican dishes like birria, menudo, chilaquiles, tacos, tamales and champurrado. In the grocery sections, fresh-made tortillas, salsas, Mexican cheeses, and a good selection of dried chiles and sometimes hard-to-find fresh herbs like verdolaga, berro (watercress) and epazote.
Mercado González, the newest store from Mexican grocery chain Northgate Market, isn't really a grocery store. It's part hipster food hall, part traditional Mexican mercado, part watering hole, part cultural center, and yes, part grocery store.
Here you can grab a margarita from bar Entre Nos and then stroll through the produce section. You can eat fresh ceviche, menudo, tacos, birria or chilaquiles at one of the many food stalls, or puestos. You can pick up housemade mole or, if you prefer, the ingredients to make it at home.
Birría is one of the many regional dishes you can pick up at the market's food stalls or "puestos."
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
But there's more! You can buy a piñata, snack on churros from Mexico City favorite El Moro — the churrería chain's first U.S. franchise — or sit down for an elegant, modern Mexican meal at Maizano (I'm eyeing the pulpo encacahuatado (fresh octopus with peanut mole).
All of this and more under the same roof — a former Albertsons store seemingly magically transformed into a spacious foodie paradise.
And it's in Costa Mesa. Take THAT, L.A. friends!
I spent several hours exploring — and eating at — Mercado Gonzalez during its grand opening just before Thanksgiving and a few more hours earlier this week. Here's what you can find, and what makes it unique.
El mercado
Joshua González, one of the third generation members of the González family who owns and operates the Northgate chain, told me the new market is inspired by the great mercados of Mexico, like Coyoacán in Mexico City and 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca.
"We wanted to bring that to the United States," he said.
Mercado González is the upscale, American strip mall version of these markets. But hey, you gotta work with what you have.
Giant clay pots of dry beans at Mercado González.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
The first thing shoppers see when stepping through the doors is a massive, open tortilleria.On one of my visits, I counted 14 people working behind the tortilla counter — one stirring corn in giant vats, others working the machines that grind up the cooked corn into masa, flatten it, cut it into perfect discs, and then bake the tortillas.
The tortilla operation, like much of the food prep at Mercado Gonzalez, is on public display for shoppers. Behind the window at the carnitas stand, pork butts boil vigorously in a trio of huge copper pots.
A variety of freshly made salsas
(
Jill Replogle/LAist
)
Murals commissioned from local and Mexico-based artists brighten the inside and outside of the store. All around, colorful signage explains to newbies — in English and Spanish — how traditional foods like tortillas are made and the origins of regional dishes. If your Spanish is rusty, or non-existent, it's a great place to learn, and to practice using Spanish — the vast majority of Northgate's employees are bilingual.
Atole, tamales y tortas
For breakfast, I headed to the stand offering tamales and atole, a hot, comforting corn-based drink. I was hoping for one of the tamales wrapped in banana leaves, which are much less common in Southern California than their usually drier, corn husk-wrapped cousins, but they were out.
Still, the pork tamales were flavorful and moist. The atole de nuez, which was new to me, was perfectly sweet and nutty. I've been craving it every day since.
Banana fans, go wild
Most of the market stalls are part of Northgate, but a few are run by outside restaurateurs. These include Chiva Torta, which has a popular food truck that specializes in tortas ahogadas, sandwiches drenched in hot salsa, and other specialties from Guadalajara.
Chiva Torta used to set up its truck outside of the now-shuttered Northgate supermarket in downtown Santa Ana. "We finally convinced them to come in here," Northgate's Teresa Blanco told me as she gave me a tour of the store.
I had my heart set on a torta ahogada for lunch, but the line on opening day was too long so my husband and I headed to the shortest line we could find. He ended up with pozole, which was good, but missing the crushed oregano that's typically offered as a topping. My chicken flautas were OK.
The grocery section of Mercado González includes sometimes hard-to-find ingredients for Latin American dishes.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
It would take a year to sample everything Mercado González has to offer so I'll reserve further judgment on the food (plus, I'm no food critic).
Chiles, salsas y ambiente
With so many food stalls (did I mention the sushi? The carne asada? The aguas frescas?) I kept forgetting I was in a grocery store. But I did need to pick up some things for home.
The aisles of packaged food that dominate a typical American grocery store are relegated to a back corner at Mercado González. There are only a few of them. Everything else is fresh.
Chile lovers heaven
(
Jill Replogle/LAist
)
To my delight, I found fresh Salvadoran cream, Guatemalan beer and wine from Baja's Valle de Guadalupe. Also, fresh hojas de mashan for my family's holiday tamales (we usually have to get them frozen from a Central American specialty store).
The meat counter is extensive. It includes chorizo made in-house and marinated meats that you can throw right on the grill for tacos.
The bulk section includes giant towers of cinnamon sticks, barrels of dried chiles, and different types of beans spilling out of giant clay pots.
Whole cinnamon sticks at Mercado González.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
There's a stall for Mexican cheeses and creams and another for red and green salsas and several types of mole. Reportedly, they'll mix up guacamole however you like it (hold the tomatoes?), but when I asked, they were out of avocados. Instead, I picked up a freshly packaged batch, and it was delicious.
Sitting at a table in the store's pleasant back patio, I heard one woman call the market "like a Mexican Whole Foods" — not the first time I've heard this description of Northgate.
Lisa Sandoval, as we were chatting in line for churros, said the store had the feel of a plaza, a place for people to gather, eat, shop, and listen to music (there's a stage in the food court area). "I feel like I'm in Mexico," Sandoval said. "And the first grocery store with a bar, so that made it fun."
Veronica Tomasina Flores could hardly contain her enthusiasm as she exited the store with bags full of tamales, nopales, chorizo and a candle emblazoned with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe. "I wanted to cry," she said in Spanish. "The atmosphere, the people, the food, the smell, the energy … se pasaron de lanza" — they outdid themselves, she said.
Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published July 21, 2026 2:50 PM
The Marshall High School Jazz Band opened the 2026 Los Angeles Unified Opening of Schools event.
(
Mariana Dale
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Los Angeles Unified students showed improvements on the state’s reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year.
Why now: Superintendent Andrés Chait announced the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve.”
Why it matters: Student achievement, as measured by test scores, plummeted during the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified’s growth in 2025 outpaced the state as test scores exceeded pre-pandemic levels. This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science.
It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
Read on ... for more information from the address. This story will be updated.
Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorities announced Tuesday.
Superintendent Andrés Chait revealed the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve. These are collective accomplishments.
"They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community,” he said.
Jai Gant-Leau, principal of Eagle Tree Continuation High School, said the “back-to-basics” focus of Chait’s speech was a welcome departure from the tone of recent opening addresses.
“We will continue to rise for the outcomes and expectations for the success of our students. That's the message I got,” Gant-Leau said. “Very different than the others where it was a lot of… bells and whistles.”
This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science. It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
“The decisions will be hard, but we cannot lose sight of what defines us,” Chait said. “We are the system that lifts students to opportunity, turns potential into achievement, creates spaces of belonging, healing, growth.”
Cato Hernández
covers important issues that affect the everyday lives of Southern Californians.
Published July 21, 2026 2:41 PM
The program will focus on homes that survived the Eaton Fire.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
Altadena residents with homes that survived the Eaton Fire will soon have a chance at getting their soil cleaned up. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new remediation program focused on lead contamination.
Didn’t this already happen? The federal government previously remediated properties where homes burned, although that thoroughness has been scrutinized. Helen Chavez Garcia, a spokesperson for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, said the county’s new program will be for properties that are still-standing, to help residents facing insurance obstacles.
What we know: The program will use $3 million of state and county funds for administrative and remediation costs. It will prioritize applicants who live with pregnant women or children under 6 years old. These groups face serious health risks with lead exposure.
What’s next: The program structure is being figured out, but it will be under the L.A. County Development Authority. A cohort of community organizations and researchers are helping design it. That's expected to launch this fall.
Keep up with LAist.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published July 21, 2026 2:37 PM
A beach vendor takes a break under the Santa Monica Pier last week. More heat is in store for Southern California this week and into next.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
A heat advisory is in place for much of Southern California from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday.
The heat: Temperatures are expected to climb steadily this week. Inland valleys in L.A., Riverside and San Bernardino counties will see highs between the mid-90s and about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and most of Orange County, will hit the 90s, while beaches hover mostly in the upper 70s. Humidity also continues to add to the discomfort, making it harder to cool down.
Fire risk: Despite higher-than-normal humidity, a combination of dry brush and wind will also increase the likelihood of fires sparking in some places. The risk will be concentrated in places prone to high winds, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and southern Santa Barbara County.
Beach conditions: Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to persist through the weekend along the Southern California coast.
Read on … to learn more about what’s driving these uncomfortable conditions.
We hope you’ve gotten used to the hot weather, because it’s going to be here for a while.
The National Weather Service has issued yet another heat advisory for much of Southern California, less than a week after other high-temperature warnings were lifted.
This week’s advisory will be in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb steadily over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.
The San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and other inland areas in L.A., as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, will likely see highs ranging from the mid-90s to about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and much of Orange County, will hit the 90s. Beaches will hover mostly in the upper 70s.
Humidity will also add to the discomfort. Even though it’s decreasing slightly, it makes cooling down harder, especially at night.
People who work outdoors or do not have air conditioning are especially at risk from the heat and humidity, along with people over 65, young children and other sensitive populations.
Making sense of heat forecasts
Southern Californians are no strangers to hot weather in the summer, but heat waves are getting hotter, longer and more frequent as the climate changes.
So you should know the words forecasters use to describe these weather events — and the risks they pose.
Heat advisory: Advisories are issued when temperatures are expected to be hot enough to cause discomfort and potentially lead to heat-related illnesses, especially for more vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly.
Extreme heat watch: Watches are essentially forecasts for upcoming periods of extreme heat. Forecasters say heat watches often cover wide areas and will be revised into more focused warnings and advisories as conditions become clearer over time. Watches are a good time to prepare for extreme heat.
Extreme heat warning: Warnings are issued when heat levels are or will likely become extremely dangerous. Under extreme heat warnings, it's a good idea to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, stay hydrated and help loved ones and pets stay cool.
Forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for fires, driven by a combination of wind and dry vegetation.
Southern California hasn’t seen much rain recently, despite the humidity, leaving plants with little moisture and turning them into the perfect fuel.
“Even though the air feels kind of moist, we're in the time of season where it doesn't matter. The fuels are dry and they're ready to go,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell.
Kittel said people should take extra care with anything that could create a spark, and residents in fire-prone areas should remain aware of their surroundings in case a fire starts.
The fire risk is likely to be concentrated in a few specific areas that will experience higher winds than others, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and in southern Santa Barbara County.
For most of the region, though, winds should stay fairly mild.
Dangerous beach conditions
Southern Californians also have to contend with some ocean-specific risks this week.
Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to hit the coastline at a time when the heat may drive more people to the beach. The conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
If you decide to head to the beach, it’s a good idea to ask a lifeguard for advice on the conditions before entering the water. It’s also recommended to swim only near occupied lifeguard stands, stay off of rock jetties and avoid turning your back to the waves.
South-facing stretches of coastline will bear the brunt of the swell, which is being driven by two tropical storms churning hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
“Those two systems generated the winds and the waves locally that are pushing towards us, and so that's creating elevated surf and some stronger currents than normal,” Kittel said.
The swell is not expected to cause significant coastal flooding as high tides remain relatively low.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
(
Jackie Ramirez
/
Boyle Heights Beat
)
Topline:
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Why now: More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
Free rides begin Wednesday: Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale. Pickup locations are at select Eastside parks.
Read on . . . for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday at select Eastside parks so residents can enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.
More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
To ensure families still have access to summer recreational activities, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directed resources toward providing the “beach bus” program to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale.
Read below for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Pickup locations
Belvedere Aquatic Center
5035 1st St. East Los Angeles, CA 90022
Obregon Park Pool
4021 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Salazar Park Pool
3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023
City Terrace Park Pool
1126 N. Hazard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Shuttle dates and times
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
Friday, July 24
Saturday, July 25
Morning trip:
Check in at 8:30 a.m.
The bus departs East LA at 9 a.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 12 p.m.
Afternoon trip:
Check in at 12:30 p.m.
The bus departs East LA at 1 p.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 4 p.m.
What to know
No registration or proof of address is required, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own food and drinks. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
