The green curry pad Thai initially had me scratching my head - it feels sacrilegious to recommend pad Thai with zucchini in it. That said, the noodles have chew and get seared with wok hei; the permeating green curry flavor feels abundant and herbaceous thanks to fistfuls of fresh Thai basil.
"The response to our Frank's RedHot® Spicy Gummy Bears proved that consumers are ready and excited for swicy done right. With Cholula Chamoy, we're leaning even further into flavour mashups that feel authentic, craveable, and completely differentiated in the candy aisle."
Chef Aarón Sánchez stated, "It's actually something that's super inaccurate ... I think it's the destruction of humanity," referring to fried tortilla bowls and their lack of authenticity.
There were many things that drew me to California. There was the sunshine, of course, as well as the endless coastline and vibrant culture. But what I remember being most blown away by was the food - in particular, the Mexican food. Much like Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex varies all over the state, and every area has reimagined the specialties in its own way. One of the best examples is San Francisco's Mission-style burrito - a ginormous, foil-wrapped mammoth filled with meat, rice, beans, and more.
Alemán, originally from Cabo San Lucas, has toured most of South America, bringing his Spanish-language rap to millions of fans. According to Spotify, Alemán is 2026's most popular Mexican rapper. Gera MX, originally started by freestyling on the streets of San Luis Potosí and then joined the collective, the Mexamafia. But it was his co-penned "Botella Tras Botella" that was the first Mexican single to break into the US Billboard Top 100.
Mamacita, a fast-casual Mexican spot, has opened in Emeryville's Public Market following C Casa's departure in February, the E'ville Eye reports. Mamacita serves staples like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, but reviewers on Yelp are most thrilled about the pozole. (Both red and green are on offer). Mamacita, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville
Though they were only serving in town for one night, the chefs and staff behind the Mexico City supernova Masala y Maíz managed to cause what felt like a temporary ripple in L.A. dining during their pop-up last week. It reminded this diner that despite the era's current dedication to culinary and cultural boundaries - you should only cook what you know, write what you know - a spirit of mixture and melding can actually lead to something extraordinary, and not cringey, in practice.
East Bay hardcore outfit Manos De Fierro is part of a new wave of bands pushing the Bay Area scene back toward something raw, physical and community-driven. Pulling from hardcore, metal and beatdown influences, their sound is confrontational without feeling performative, rooted in real experience rather than image. The band has built a reputation through local shows that thrive on intensity and shared energy, where the line between band and crowd all but disappears.
I remember standing in rapt attention at the edge of the stovetop as my mom tossed fresh, thinly sliced beef into an oiled pan set on maximum heat. The steak hissed and leaped in a dramatic dance as flames licked the pan from underneath. My mom turned to me and said, "This is why it's called lomo saltado: the lomo is the steak, and watch how it's saltando - jumping."
Saucy Chick Goat Mafia began as two separate pop-ups at Smorgasburg that teamed up to run their businesses in a shared restaurant space in Pasadena (a previous co-residency in the Fairfax district ended in August 2023). Goat Mafia specializes in birria de chivo; Saucy Chick offers Mexican-Indian riffs that never feel forced. The result? A menu that effortlessly blends Indian spices and sauces over Mexican American classics. Think Chicken tinga masala tacos and lamb tamales.
The best restaurants in Albuquerque tell a greater story of this city and state. Albuquerque's rich blend of traditional New Mexican cuisine and Route 66 roadside fare has evolved into one of the most unexpectedly diverse dining scenes in the Southwest. The Duke City's working-class vibes and demographic breadth has led to a tremendous spread of establishments- from hole-in-the-wall lunch spots to James Beard-recognized fine dining joints defining their own categories of place-based cuisine. So whether you're in pursuit of dishes that will transport your tastebuds around the world, or simply looking to sink your teeth into the best huevos rancheros or handheld burrito in the city, you can find it all here in the heart of the Land of Enchantment.
Nearly half of the Top 100 taco spots are based in California. Texas, Arizona, and Hawaii also make impressive showings, with nine, eight, and seven spots, respectively. Hawaii's presence on the list underscores just how deeply tacos have permeated food cultures from coast to coast. Together, the list showcases everything from Tex-Mex and Sonoran-style favorites to seafood-forward Baja tacos and inventive fusion creations.
The Mexican Pizza has been a Taco Bell fan favorite since it was first introduced to the menu back in 1985 - though it went by a different name back then, the Pizzazz Pizza. In its current form at the fast food chain, this dish consists of two layers of crisp flour tortillas with refried beans and seasoned ground beef sandwiched in the middle, and "Mexican Pizza Sauce," melted cheese, and diced tomatoes on top.
These days, if you're splurging to dine out, you want the whole package. Not just incredible food, but the atmosphere - a place that's worth meeting up with friends to catch up over a bite, or the ideal detour on a day trip. From seafood platters to elevated pizzas and breakfast bites, January did not disappoint. Here's a look at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, according to our reporters.
If you're starting the year with a healthy reset, then Japanese- Mexican restaurant Los Mochis has just the menu for you. Partnering with author and health and sustainability advocate Melissa Hemsley, the restaurants have given their classics a nourishing boost to support gut health, immunity and reduce inflammation. The partnership stems from both Melissa and Los Mochis working with The Felix Project, London's biggest food redistribution charity, to champion sustainability and prevent food waste.