Mexicali Taco & Co.

Northern Baja-style tacos reign supreme at Mexicali Taco & Co, which has locations in both Chinatown and San Gabriel, thanks to head chef Esdras Ochoa’s housemade tortillas and excellent salsas made with ingredients from just across the border. While you can’t go wrong with their regular tacos ($3.75) and, of course, their wonderfully crispy, crema-laden Baja-style fish taco ($4.50), the real draws here are more gluttonous dishes like the triple meat and cheese-filled Zuperman ($7.95) and the garlic-lashed vampiro ($6.75) stuffed with with hand-chopped carne asada. Then again, when everything on the menu’s a winner, it’s pretty hard to pick a true favorite.