La Elegante

What's it like?

Okay, I have to say it: the name of the restaurant is more than a bit misleading. La Elegante is a textbook example (should such textbooks exist…they would be delicious) of a hole-in-the-wall. But, in a good way.

It's also located in Chinatown, which I realize is a major deterrent to many locals. But if you can move beyond a fear of downtown, and get past the outer decor—okay, the inner decor, as well—the food is well worth it. In fact, one local taco aficionado rates La Elegante the second best in town, next to Guadalajara, of course.

For lunch, I ordered an assortment of tacos (each $1.45, I believe): one carne asada, one barbacoa and one carne adovado. Each was loaded with cabbage, onion, cilantro, guacamole and a spicy chipotle salsa. The barbacoa (pork) was good, but a bit bland a fatty. The carne asada was much better, but still shy of Guadalajara. The adovado (marinated pork), on the other hand, was pretty spectacular. By the time I finished all three, I had used up half a dozen napkins, and my sinuses were completely clear. Just writing this out I'm started to crave them again.

If you dare venture to La Elegante (I'm being facetious, in case you can't tell), don't forget to bring cash—that's all they take.