Broken Spanish Comedor

Housed within the short-lived Best Bet space, Broken Spanish Comedor is the triumphant revival of Garcia’s signature “authentically inauthentic” Mexican restaurant. Unlike the Downtown original, the bulk of Broken Spanish Comedor’s menu consists of more accessibly priced dishes in the $15 to $22 range. The additional name modifier nods to Mexico’s classic comedores: small, typically mom-and-pop restaurants and street stalls serving homestyle cuisine. During my meal, I loved the pesto-like fideo flavored with avocado and hoja santa and classic enchiladas verde inspired by Garcia’s childhood meals. The critically acclaimed Mexican American chef has also brought back a handful of signature dishes, including the refried lentils (an earthy, flavorful mashup between dal and traditional refried beans) and the must-try crispy, crackly chicharrón in garlic mojo, which comes with a beautiful red cabbage slaw and a fiery salsa morita. Given the price point and wealth of memorable dishes, there isn’t another new opening I can recommend more highly in Los Angeles right now than here.